Tom Oliver photo “A Passport and a Past Life,” an exhibit of photographs by Tom Oliver, will be featured in the Kerredge Gallery through Wednesday.

HANCOCK — “A Passport and a Past Life” exhibit of photographs by Tom Oliver will be on display through Wednesday in the Kerredge Gallery of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy St. in Hancock.

The gallery includes images that connect Oliver’s history as a wildlife biologist and growing up in the U.P. to what he has experienced in his travels abroad, especially as it relates to conservation.

“Since I was a child, nature, wildlife and the outdoors have always been my deepest passion — the intrinsic force which drives me,” Oliver said. “That force led me to study wildlife ecology and then into a career as a wildlife biologist. I just happened to be a wildlife biologist who decided to pick up a camera to help me learn more about the plants and animals in which I was so interested. So, it was not photography that lured me outdoors; rather, it was the outdoors which guided me to photography. As my career shifted to education and the opportunity to travel presented itself to me, I quickly realized that much of what had always intrigued me about wildlife could also be seen in the unique human habitats I was encountering. This background formed my approach to photography and embodies what I try to show in my pictures.”

The photos in this exhibition were taken in South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Paris, Colorado and Au Train, Michigan. The exhibition includes an exotic array of rich color photographs depicting places both dense with humanity and quiet in nature.

“The fundamental goal of my photography is for the viewer to come away with a greater respect toward, appreciation for, and knowledge of 1) the world in which we exist, 2) the starkness and beauty integral to survival, and 3) to inspire people to learn about the diverse world surrounding us,” The artist said.

Oliver was born and raised in Menominee County surrounded by forests, lakes, and wildlife. He and his wife currently live in South Korea but their permanent home is in Au Train.

This exhibition is supported by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, call 906-482-2333 or go to www.coppercountryarts.com.