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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 Exhibit 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.
Stay informed! Join our mailing list for email updates and future mailings. Click here to sign-up. |
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| Field Trip to the Bronx Zoo (Friday 26 Sept) |
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On the first day of the three-day weekend event, approximately 60 AFC members and their guests rendezvoused at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton. From there, attendees were shuttled in a convoy of three buses to the world-renowned Zoo and headquarters of the show’s beneficiary conservation organization – the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Attendees were treated to a special guided tour of main Zoo attractions, including the brand new highly anticipated Madagascar exhibit. The day was punctuated by a buffet lunch (courtesy of WCS) in which WCS senior management and key staff mingled with the artists to share more about the organization and the important conservation and research work they do around the globe. Attendees were then left the remainder of the afternoon to peruse the Zoo grounds at their leisure. The day started off rainy, but traffic was better than anticipated and we arrived a good 25 minutes before the Zoo gates were open. Although this made for a damp start, WCS received us at their Southern Boulevard entrance with a special tent where they distributed personalized name tags, courtesy entrance tickets and ponchos for those without raincoats or umbrellas. Fortunately, by late morning, the rain subsided and we were able to walk freely around the grounds. The day was a wonderful start to a jam-packed weekend. |
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| Friday Lecture Evening & Dessert Buffet (Friday 26 Sept) |
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In what was the first official AFC members’ meeting, the evening kicked off with a special show preview and dessert buffet for AFC members, hosted by the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum.
As attendees arrived, they were greeted not only by the beautiful historic building, but also by an eye-catching and larger-than-life sign mounted above the Museum entrance. In addition a 2.5 meter(10 foot) AFC flag flew from a flagpole at the entrance.
Shortly after 7pm, the largest gallery room in the museum was filled wall-to-wall with 84 guests, to hear 5 lectures. AFC President, Jeff Whiting welcomed attendees and gave a introductory talk about the AFC’s beginnings through to the launch of the first show and book. Jeff also informed attendees of the AFC’s current programs, the leadership role that the AFC plays in bringing the arts and conservation communities together and his future vision for the AFC.
Four lectures followed, including one from Kat Combes, widow of late AFC member and renowned artist/conservationist, Simon Combes. Kat flew to the event from her home near Lake Nakuru in Kenya’s Rift Valley, to participate in the awards ceremony and to share latest developments in the important local conservation work she continues to pursue in Simon’s memory.
The crowd was then treated to three very different and equally fascinating talks by AFC members: David Kitler, Pollyanna Pickering and Alison Nicholls. was All were extraordinary speakers and shared their unique experiences from around the globe under the AFC’s Flag Expeditions program through slideshow presentations. David spoke of his and his wife Ly’s experiences with the endangered Harpy Eagle in the remote jungles of Panama. Pollyanna shared some fascinating and often humorous stories of her and her daughter Anna-Louise’s travels through the remote, Yeti-inhabited, forests and mountains of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Finally, Alison shared her experiences on her Flag Expedition to Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe to study the highly endangered Painted Dogs. Adding drama and education to her talk, Alison enlightened the audience by demonstrating the threats and horrific realities of poaching with a genuine snare, disabled and brought back from her trip.
David Kitler's Slide Presentation.
Pollyanna Pickering's Slide Presentation.
Alison Nicholls' Slide Presentation. |
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| Field Trip to the American Museum of Natural History (Saturday 27 Sept) |
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Saturday was to be the “Big” day, and started with our second field trip, this to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Steve Quinn, AFC artist member, Senior Exhibitions Manager at the AMNH and world authority on museum dioramas, provided courtesy passes for over 60 attendees to what became a true highlight of the entire weekend. Steve wowed the group with a truly extraordinary and highly educational day, starting with a fascinating lecture about the history of dioramas and the combining of art and science in the creation of exhibits. Steve then walked us through the famous Akeley Hall of Mammals and introduced us to the intense detail and background work involved in the creation of each dramatic diorama. In what was a true bonus, Steve gave us a behind-the-scenes look at exhibitions department studios. Finally, artists were then left to explore for the remainder of the day, with special passes for the whole group to visit the temporary Horses exhibit, which Steve himself helped create – involving a 42-foot mural painting and diorama backdrop.
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| VIP Dinner & Awards Evening (Saturday 27 Sept) |
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Saturday evening was the night for which many artists travelled great distances. 135 guests (including artists) were present for the evening celebration, exceeding any previous dinner attendance at the Museum. To accommodate the number a new sound system installed. The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum hosted a top-notch VIP cocktail reception, three course dinner and awards ceremony for exhibiting artists, special patron guests, and WCS, Museum and AFC representatives. Guests were welcomed by the Museum’s Executive Director, Marijane Singer. AFC President, Jeff Whiting, as Master of Ceremonies, echoed the welcome and spoke in brief about the show, the “triangular” partnership in the creation of the show as well as the AFC and its programs, beginning with a special unscheduled “thank you” presentation of copies of the show companion book in custom handmade display cases bearing the AFC butterfly insignia to the Blauvelt Museum and WCS.
Chairman of the Blauvelt Art Museum, James Bellis Sr., spoke briefly about the Museum and presented the Blauvelt purchase award to Dale Weiler for his marble sculpture of a Polar Bear, titled “Nowhere To Go”.
Next, five AFC artists were presented with the very first set of AFC “Medals of Excellence”, for their artworks in the show – the show jury reconvened at the Museum in late August to select the 5 awards. The five award-winners, in alphabetical order were Eric Berg for his life-sized sculpture titled “Japanese Giant Salamander”, Derek Bond for his egg tempera painting titled “Little Snowy Plover”, Jay Johnson for his oil painting titled “Sun Glows on the Land”, Alison Nicholls for her watercolor titled “Sable Drinking”, and Linda Rossin for her acrylic painting “Silhouettes Along the Shore”. Each award recipient of the Medal of Excellence received a pewter medal, mounted in a custom velvet-backed wood and Lucite frame displaying a silver plate bearing a description of the award and the name of the recipient. Accompanying each award was a special award certificate, with border specially designed by AFC artist Aleta Karstad.
The final award of the evening was the Simon Combes Conservation Award – the AFC’s top honor – given to an artist member who has shown extraordinary support for the conservation cause through his or her art. This year’s recipient was world-renowned artist Robert Bateman of Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada. Mr. Bateman, accompanied by his wife, Birgit, was presented with a certificate and a special bronze sculpture trophy, designed by AFC artist Peter Gray of South Africa.
Mr. Bateman addressed the audience with an inspirational speech about a societal role in conservation.
Mr. Bateman took the opportunity to reflect on what he termed his two major activities these days – “painting and ranting”. Well, his ranting was in fact an impassioned plea that society “pay attention” and “be prepared to pay a little more to save paying a lot more later”. Like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand (they do not really put their head in the sand) people are not being informed. Scientists are being muzzled by politicians and interest groups, while nature pays the price. What is particularly alarming to him is that journalists are not taking these people to task for hiding the bad news. He referred to his painting called “Drift Net” as one of his most important paintings as it attempted to draw attention to the horrific slaughter of fish, birds and mammals by the fishing methods of today even though there are better alternatives. Mr. Bateman concluded his talk by emphasizing there is no free lunch for society and it is certainly worth paying a bit more now to save nature than to pay a much higher price later. His entire address will be posted as a video shortly.
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| Artist Group Photo (Sunday 28 Sept) |
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| Day three was more relaxed in pace and involved a special outdoor group photo shoot by the AFC flag of attending AFC members. Fortunately, the weather improved enough to allow the session to occur out-of-doors. It was a sight to behold such attendance at the organization’s very first event of its kind. |
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| Opening Reception (Sunday 28 Sept) |
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| At 2pm, the Museum doors officially opened to what may have approached 400 guests over the afternoon, which also broke attendance records for an opening reception at the Museum. Artists mingled with collectors and patrons and with each other, and numerous artworks were sold, ensuring that funds would be raised for conservation – the true acid test of the weekend’s success. |
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