Download 2008 Art of Conservation Exhibit Brochure

On Exhibit at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum Until December 19th, 2008

Opening Weekend: September 26-28, 2008

On September 28th, 2008, on its 10th anniversary year, the Artists for Conservation Foundation officially launched its first annual juried exhibition - "The Art of Conservation - An International Exhibition of Nature in Art". The exhibit features the nature art of its members. A share of the revenues resulting from the sale of artwork in the show benefits the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – one of the world’s largest and most respected conservation organizations, based at the Bronx Zoo. 

The exhibition celebrates artistic excellence in the depiction of nature, raises awareness of conservation issues and directly supports organizations dedicated to addressing them.

The exhibition is being hosted by the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum (HBAM) – one of the world's leading museums for nature and wildlife art – situated half an hour from New York City. The exhibition will be open to the public from Sept 15, 2008 to December 19, 2008.

The purpose of the exhibition is three-fold: i) To support conservation through fundraising and education; ii) To showcase the extraordinary pool of artistic talent in the AFC; and iii) To expose the nature art genre to new prospective collectors in audiences outside the conventional nature/wildlife art collecting circles.

The exhibition features 112 original artworks selected by an independent jury and includes 96 paintings and 16 sculptures. Most artworks are for sale, ranging in price from $500 to $59,000 US. A total of 89 artists are represented in the show, from 9 countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Sweden, UK and USA. Many of the exhibiting artists were present to meet collectors and media during a special invitation-only opening reception at the Blauvelt Museum on Sunday, September 28th.

The HBAM will host the opening leg until December 21st, 2008.  Following this, approximately half of the artworks will be assembled for a tour through 2009. Accompanying the exhibition is a beautiful hardcover coffee-table book reproducing in color all the works selected for the exhibition.

Show Companion Book
The show companion book, as it is being called, merits much more than being labeled merely as a show catalog. It is a true coffee-table book – 10-1/4” square, 188 pages, hardbound, and in printed in full color. The stock used for printing was from an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) –certified and sustainably managed source. The contents feature not only every single artwork from the show, but also several additional chapters that provide context and information about the show itself, The AFC, the Blauvelt Museum, WCS, the AFC Flag Expeditions program and the Simon Combes Conservation Award. The book sets a new standard in quality as a show companion and is testament to the quality of the show and the dedication of the organizations involved. Proceeds from the sale of the book support the AFC. It is very reasonably priced, at $US 39.95, plus shipping and applicable taxes. A limited number of copies of the book are available for order, directly from the AFC by emailing info@natureartists.com.

Award Results
Several awards honoring individuals for artistic merit and contribution to the advancement of the conservation agenda were presented as part of the opening reception weekend. A three-part video stream is now available for viewing. Click on the screen below to view the first of three clips... Visit the Special Awards Page for full video coverage

Read the full report on the Opening Weekend celebrations.

Touring Exhibit
Immediately following the opening exhibition at the HBAM, a selection of the show’s artworks will be included in a touring exhibit (locations TBA) for approximately one year. While venues have not yet been finalized, the AFC is working to establish a tour involving top-notch venues that reaches a broad audience and wide geographical range.

Conservation Beneficiary - Wildlife Conservation Society
An important part of the exhibition will be to serve as a public relations and fundraising vehicle for a leading, internationally-oriented conservation organization. The exhibition will educate the public and highlight the projects and initiatives of our annual conservation beneficiary partner. In addition, the beneficiary will receive a share of the revenues resulting from the sale of artwork in the show. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), based in New York City, has been selected as our beneficiary for 2008 and will be actively promoting the exhibition to their membership.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide.  We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.  Together, these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony.  WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

They uniquely combine the resources of wildlife parks in New York with field projects around the globe to inspire care for nature, provide leadership in environmental education, and help sustain our planet's biological diversity. Today WCS is at work in 60 nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and the world’s oceans, protecting wild landscapes that are home to a vast variety of species from tiny toads to tigers.

Their pioneering environmental education programs reach millions locally, nationally and internationally. They also produce the magazine Wildlife Conservation six times per year, which is distributed widely.

For more information about WCS, please visit their website.

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