Art Wolfe and Zoomazium at the Woodland Park Zoo
Nature photography at play in an interactive exploration zone for children.
The latest addition to Seattle's world-renowned Woodland Park Zoo, is Zoomazium -an indoor, all-weather facility that incorporates interactive nature-themed areas and activities with spectacular multimedia features designed for early childhood learning. These features include expansive photographic murals donated by Art Wolfe, Inc. and utilized throughout the facility.
The Art Wolfe photo research staff worked closely with the exhibit designers to find ways to use photography in place of traditional signage to help identify specific areas.
Zoomazium is loosely divided into interactive exhibits filled with surprises
and learning tools to engage young minds. In one corner a giant strangler
fig tree offers a playful habitat for kids and agile adults to climb through
and slide down. Lush photos are an integral design element, illustrating
the rainforest environment from the forest floor to the canopy. At the
waterhole, kids can drink along side a life-sized mural of an African
elephant. 
The Toddler Zone is safely enclosed by a series of seven-foot long murals of
animals and their habitats, and the Mountain Play Space is appropriately
presided over by a misty, forested Cascade Range landscape. Photos of
nursing animals in the Parent Place give leave to mothers and fathers to
comfortably care for their own hungry children.
In all, Art Wolfe, Inc. donated over thirty images for use in Zoomazium. We are very proud to be part of this fun, educational and important project!
Photos © Julie Chung