Tour Director, David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Announces the Itinerary

of the 2014 - 2015 Annual Exhibition and Art and the Animal.

THE SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS, INC.
54th ANNUAL EXHIBITION
& ART AND THE ANIMAL

TOUR ITINERARY
(Subject to change.)

PREMIERE

The Wildlife Experience

Parker, CO

August 23 - October 22,  2014

TOUR

 

Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

Oradell, NJ

November 15, 2014 - January 4, 2015

    

The Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art

Bolivar, MO

February 1 - March 15, 2015

The National Sporting Library and Museum

Middleburg, VA

April 17 - August 30, 2015

DAVID J. WAGNER, L.L.C., ART AND THE ANIMAL TOUR OFFICE

(414) 221-6878; davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com

David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Tour Director

MEMBER, AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS; INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MUSEUMS

Recipient, 2010 SKBF Black-Parkman Award for Art Industry Leadership

Author/Curator, AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART

davidjwagnerllc.com

If you have any suggestions for future venues, please email them to davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com or call the Tour Office at (414) 221-6878.

AMERICA'S PARKS II

Produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C. 

A number of members of The Society of Animal Artists have been selected for display in AMERICA'S PARKS II, an international competition and exhibition, the purpose of which is to recognize and promote excellence in original art depicting parks in North America.  And several have received top awards and honors.

SAA Major Award Winners in AMERICA'S PARKS II

 America’s Parks Sculpture Award:
Eva Stanley, "Eyes on the Prize"


The Priscilla V. and Michael C. Baldwin Foundation Sonoran Desert Art Award:
Morton E. Solberg, "Desert Bighorn Sheep"


Society of Animal Artists' Wildlife Art Award:
Carel Brest van Kempen, "Greater Roadrunners & Canyon Towhee"


Wildlife Art Journal Juror’s Choice Award:
John Agnew, "Stones and Bones"



Honorable Mention Awards went to: Chris Bacon, George Bumann, Kim Diment, Christine Knapp, Brent Langley, Pokey Park, Bryce Pettit, Anne Peyton, Paul Rhymer, Sherry Salari Sander, Sandy Scott, Rachelle Siegrist, Wes Siegrist, Morten E. Solberg, Eva Stanley and Ezra Tucker

Works included in the AMERICA’S PARKS II exhibition were selected from a competition open to all artists, the purpose of which is to recognize and promote excellence in original artworks depicting any park (national, state, provincial, county, city, or private) in Canada, Mexico and The United States, with an emphasis on parks in the Southwestern U.S. & Northwestern Mexico. Selections were made by a professional jury consisting of:

Pam Dean Cable, Executive Director, Susan Kathleen Black Foundation
M. Stephen Doherty, Editor, PleinAir™ Magazine
Todd Wilkinson, Managing Editor, Wildlife Art Journal

New for AMERICA'S PARKS II is the eligibility of sculpture.  



AMERICA’S PARKS II will premiere in Bolivar, Missouri from March 16 - April 13, 2014 at the Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art; it will then be displayed at The Wildlife Experience in Parker (Denver), Colorado, from May 24 - Aug. 10, 2014; and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ from September 13 - October 26, 2014.

March 16 - April 13, 2014
Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art
Bolivar, MO

May 24 - August 10, 2014
The Wildlife Experience
Parker (Denver), CO

September 13 - October 26, 2014
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tucson, AZ

For a complete listing of works featured in AMERICA'S PARKS II, visit:
http://davidjwagnerllc.com/competitions.html


For further info, contact:      
David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director  
AMERICA'S PARKS II, Tour Office David J. Wagner, L.L.C.
Phone: (414) 221-6878
Email: americasparksartexhibit@yahoo.com
Website: davidjwagnerllc.com

AMERICA'S PARKS II  AWARDS

CASH AWARDS

America’s Parks Sculpture Award ($1,000.00)
Eva Stanley, Eyes on the Prize

The Priscilla V. and Michael C. Baldwin Foundation Sonoran Desert Art Award ($1,000.00)
Morton E. Solberg Desert Bighorn Sheep

Susan Kathleen Black Foundation Floral Art Award ($1,000.00)
Cheryl Price, Blues at Dusk

PleinAir™ Magazine Juror’s Choice Award ($1,000.00)
Carol Swinney, Trail Ridge View

Society of Animal Artist’s Wildlife Art Award ($1,000.00)
Carel Brest van Kempen, Greater Roadrunners & Canyon Towhee

Wildlife Art Journal Juror’s Choice Award ($1,000.00)
John Agnew, Stones and Bones

HONORABLE MENTION

Armendariz, Tony     Illinois & Michigan Canal, Lock 1
Bacon, Chris        Stillness
Bumann, George     Gentleman Caller
Bumann, George    Patience is a Virtue
Clayton, Pat        Canyon Glow
DePaulo, Dorothy    Mesquite Bones
Diment    , Kim        Three Amigos
Helsaple, Mary     Desert Dwellers
Knapp,    Christine    Sleeping Legends
Langley, Brent     Inspiration Point
O’Connell, Kathleen     Rosette
Park, Pokey        Kit Fox
Parsons, Roger    Afternoon Glow
Pettit, Bryce          Keystone
Peyton, Anne        Beach Boys
Peyton, Anne        In Perfect Balance
Peyton, Anne        On His Territory
Peyton, Anne        Return to Arizona
Rhymer, Paul        Flying Gambel's Quail
Rhymer, Paul        Prickly Pair
Sander, Sherry Salari    Wild Horses
Scott, Sandy        Nesting Heron
Siegrist, Rachelle    Sally Lightfoot
Siegrist, Wes        Sonoran Sunbather
Solberg, Morten E.    A Time That Was
Stanley, Eva        Beaded Lace
Stanley    , Eva        Desert Denizen
Swinney, Carol    Arizona Canyons
Timmins, Muriel J.     Luncheon at Sabino Canyon, Tucson
Tucker, Ezra         Sonoran Redtail and Rattler
Turgeon, Jim        Shadows
Wheeler, Rick     Grey Hawk
Wilson, Nicholas    Tumacacori Mission

Artists Travel to Africa to Help Combat Poaching

Nine artists from four countries, including seven SAA members (and four board members), joined together on an safari to Tanzania to work on a project to benefit the African Wildlife Trust. AWT is on the front lines of the fight against poaching, especially the desperate situation regarding elephants. 
The group of artists will use their trove of reference photos, sketches and plain aire paintings to produce a body of work that will benefit the African Wildlife Trust, and they will take advantage of speaking engagements and social media to spread the word about the poaching crisis.  We have reached a critical point where we may lose our wild elephants in just a few years. The artists hope that as Artist Ambassadors for the AWT,  they can raise awareness of this crucial time for elephant conservation. 
Hosted by Pratik Patel, founder of the African Wildlife Trust, the artists spent 12 days at Kikoti Camp, near Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.  They spent every day, from dawn to dusk in the bush, gathering references for future artwork. While the artists took thousands of reference photos, some also sketched and painted in the field. Expert guides helped them find almost every species that they could have hoped to have seen. The experiences they had with the wildlife will never be forgotten.

 

Artist Ambassadors for the African Wildlife Trust, L-R: Sandy Scott, 

Tony Pridham, John Agnew, Jan Martin McGuire, James Hines, 

Robert Louis Caldwell, Paul Dixon, Julie Askew, and Dale Weiler

SAA Members on safari in Tanzania:  Dale Weiler, Jan Martin McGuire, 

Robert Louis Caldwell, John Agnew, Sandy Scott, Paul Dixon, Julie Askew

The group inspecting the skull of an elephant whose 

face was hacked off to remove the ivory. 

The amazing abundance of wildlife provided a wealth 

of inspiration and references for the artists

Most of the artists took photos, but Julie sketched, 

even from a moving vehicle.

 An armed escort was necessary to keep John Agnew working 

(actually, he was there to protect against lions).

Julie Askew painting a Baobab tree

 

 

The escort, Thomas, watches Jan paint.

Thirsty bees, one of the hazards of painting in the wilds of Africa.

 

The escort, Thomas, Jan Martin McGuire, John N. Agnew and Julie Askew, 

with their paintings of the Baobab tree.

Impressions from some SAA Board Members of the 53rd Annual Exhibition and Board Meetings:

Doug Allen, Diane Mason and Bob Mason at the Awards Banquet

 Diane D. Mason (SAA President): "We all owe Elizabeth Small, Bruce Laumeister, and Shirley Hutchins of The Bennington a huge "Thank You" for their warm welcome and hosting our 53rd Annual Exhibition in a first-class style. The wedding of Clarence Cameron to his long-time partner, Bob, following our annual Members' Meeting on Saturday was a special moment that set this opening celebration apart from all others and added to the fun. I always love it when we have a good turnout of our members for an opening as we did this year, as it always feels like the reunion of an extended family. And it was extra fun to have seven of the award winners present when the awards were announced.  Our Awards Jurors, Robert J. Koenke, James Gurney, and Patricia Kernan really took their job seriously and made excellent choices - and their explanations as to WHY they selected each of the award winners were a highlight of the Awards Banquet.  Since this was my 'Swan song' as the Board President, it was also most exciting (for me) when the Board presented me with the 'service award' of a beautiful graphite drawing of a chicken perched on a fence by Terry Miller.  It was NOT something that I saw coming!! Nothing makes a better gift for someone like me than great artwork, of a species I adore, by an artist that I totally admire. A GREAT weekend, and one to remember fondly."

James Coe:   "As the new Jury Chairman of the SAA, I was particularly proud of the uniform high quality of the work that was accepted into this year's annual show.  And the originals looked even better than I expected,  on display in the beautiful galleries of the Bennington Center of the Arts.  It was a memorable weekend, and I was glad to see such a good turnout by our members."

Jan Martin McGuire and her painting, "Beastly Battles"

Jan Martin McGuire: "I am extremely proud to be a member of SAA and a member of the board.  I have been for about 18 years or so.  Being on the board, with lots of exciting new members who have lots of energy and vision of where SAA can go is VERY exciting!  The exhibition, as usual, is spectacular.  Many say it is one of our best and it was fabulously presented in the beautiful gallery at the Bennington."

Terry Miller:     "Having rejoined the board after a dozen years' absence, I felt privileged to be a part of the decision making for an ongoing progressive future for the Society and its members. I've always felt that the board should consider the wishes of the membership, their needs and desires as to how, through the Society's sponsorship, their careers and artistic endeavors can prosper and grow. I felt the decisions that were made  for both immediate and long term goals, will indeed foster more opportunities for our members and continue to move the Society toward ever increasing recognition and appreciation for our genre of art. The Bennington Center did a great job of hanging the show and the works selected did credit to our stated goal of exhibiting the very best of animal art."
 

John Agnew with his scratchboard drawing, "Is it Safe Yet?" which received an Award of Excellence.

John Agnew: "I went with some trepidation… new people, a new involvement in an organization that I had only participated in from the edges, and a long drive to a new part of the country for me.  The artist's reception and awards banquet for the annual show of the Society was almost just a distraction! 
I came back feeling exhilarated.  Not only was the show fantastic, but I made new friends, and felt that I had participated in a progressive,  productive meeting of some very good minds.  I believe that the SAA is in good hands, and as some of the "new blood" in the room, I hope I contributed something worthwhile.  It is always great to meet artists that have previously only been a name in a catalog or a Facebook friend.  The SAA is not only a way to exhibit our work on a national stage, but to enjoy fellowship with our artist friends and artist heroes. "

Wes Siegrist with his miniature painting, "Going, Going, Gone!"

Wes Siegrist: "My initial impression of the 53rd Annual Exhibition was WOW and this feeling was only reinforced as I walked the galleries and studied the works more carefully.  I never cease to be amazed at how our members manage to bring fresh approaches to rendering animal art and find it fun to see which new species have found their 15 minutes of fame on the wall.  While I was greatly disappointed in not being able to spend more personal time with the members and my own family while in Vermont I nonetheless enjoyed taking part in the GREAT SAA MEETING MARATHON that lasted nearly 19 hours over two days!  The Board debated and discussed so much and I'm excited about all the upcoming additions and changes to our group.  I have already updated many areas of the website and will continue to do so over the next few months.  Hope to see as many of you as I can at the Wildlife Experience next year!"

Rachelle Siegrist with Wes's parents, George and Jeanie Siegrist, and her miniature painting, "Birds and Art."

Rachelle Siegrist: "I was totally impressed with the over all quality, as well as the numerous unique and fresh approaches to many subject matters in the works exhibited at the SAA show this year! As usual I greatly enjoyed talking and laughing with the artists and patrons attending both the opening and the awards dinner.  I must say that the highlight of the weekend for me was the two days I spent with Wes' parents, George and Jeanie, seeing the sights and exploring the beautiful area around Bennington, all donning fall splendor.  I especially enjoyed our visit to the Clark Museum, and to a Norman Rockwell museum located in a unique and interesting store called the "Sugar Shack".  The stunning views from the top of Mt. Equinox were a real visual treat, and a visit to the Lincoln Home, known as the Hildene House, were most enjoyable as well!  Of course there were a few delectable treats such as a fresh homemade apple cider doughnut, pumpkin walnut cookie and maple ice cream to top off the entire experience!"

Some photos from the weekend at the Bennington Center for the Arts in Bennington, Vermont:

"Art and the Animal" at the Bennington Center for the Arts

"Art and the Animal" at the Bennington Center for the Arts

"Art and the Animal" at the Bennington Center for the Arts

Kim Diment gave a wonderful program on her field work and reference gathering techniques

At the Member's meeting on Saturday

A wedding in the gallery after the Member's Meeting! Clarence and Bob finally tie the knot after 52 years together.

At the Awards Banquet

The Artist's Reception at the Bennington on October 4th.

 

The Artist's Reception at the Bennington on October 4th.

AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART Premieres to Rave Reviews

David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Author/Curator, American Wildlife Art at Exhibition Premiere, Allentown Art Museum

Exhibition Synopsis: http://american-wildlife-art.com/site/?page_id=307 http://www.allentownartmuseum.org/exhibition/american-wildlife-art
Reviews:
Arts Around Town: ‘Best of the best’ in American Wildlife Art exhibit at Allentown Art Museum ~ Review http://www.wfmz.com/features/Arts-Around-Town/arts-around-town-best-of-the-best-in-american-wildlife-art-exhibit-at-allentown-art-museum/-/674928/22130982/-/arj5jrz/-/index.htmlhttp://www.wfmz.com/features/Arts-Around-Town/arts-around-town-best-of-the-best-in-american-wildlife-art-exhibit-at-allentown-art-museum/-/674928/22130982/-/arj5jrz/-/index.html

http://articles.mcall.com/2013-09-28/entertainment/mc-american-wildlife-art-allentown-museum-exhibit-20130928_1_wildlife-art-art-lovers-allentown-art-museumhttp://articles.mcall.com/2013-09-28/entertainment/mc-american-wildlife-art-allentown-museum-exhibit-20130928_1_wildlife-art-art-lovers-allentown-art-museum

http://www.zvents.com/allentown_pa/events/show/351996863-american-wildlife-arthttp://www.zvents.com/allentown_pa/events/show/351996863-american-wildlife-art

 http://blog.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2013/09wildlife_art_exhibit_bird_seed_sale_gardening_for_wildlife_and_more_outdoor_insider.html

Book Review: http://american-wildlife-art.com/site/?page_id=12

http://american-wildlife-art.com/site/?page_id=12

Left to right: David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Author/Curator American Wildlife Art; Diane Fischer, Ph.D., Chief Curator, Allentown Art Museum; Susan Pavlik, Curator, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services, Lender; Nancy S. Powell, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, and Jean Bochnowski, Director, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Lender.

 

TOUR ITINERARY FOR AMERICA'S PARKS II ANNOUNCED.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES TO BE POSTMARKED IS OCTOBER 15.


AMERICA'S PARKS II
Produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C.
David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Tour Director

TOUR ITINERARY

March 16 - April 13, 2014
Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art
Bolivar, MO

May 24 - August 10, 2014
The Wildlife Experience
Parker (Denver), CO

September 13, 2014 through October 26, 2014
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Tucson, AZ


For further information, contact:

David J. Wagner, L.L.C., AMERICA'S PARKS Tour Office
 (414) 221-6878;  davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com
or visit davidjwagnerllc.com

Member: AAM, American Alliance of Museums
ICOM, International Council of Museums

Darin Miller Designs Logo for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory

Darin Miller recently designed the logo for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s spring bird migration event “The Biggest Week in American Birding.”  The event occurs in early May of each year during the prime time for birds in northern Ohio, and attracts thousands of visitors to the area.  The original art was sold in a silent auction with the proceeds going to BSBO’s conservation programs.  T-shirts with the printed logo on them sold so rapidly during the festival that more had to be printed to keep up with the demand.  This years event was featured in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning.  More information on the festival can be found at: http://dev.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/default.aspx

SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS MEMBERS WITH ARTWORK FEATURED IN AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART

SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS MEMBERS

WITH ARTWORK FEATURED IN

AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART 

based on the book of the same title by David J. Wagner, Ph.D.

Allentown Art Museum 

September 29 through December 29, 2013

Among watershed exhibitions to survey the history of wildlife art was ANIMALS IN ART at The Royal Ontario Museum in 1975. Copies of its catalogue are still available on-line for purchase at Amazon.   One emerging artist to be invited to display his work in that exhibit was Robert Bateman. This Fall, nearly 40 years later, a new retrospective entitled AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART, will be displayed at the Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania. This new exhibit is a one-off; in other words, it is an exlusive showing that will not be toured or replicated anywhere else. In addition to old masters from John James Audubon to contemporaries Carl Rungius and Louis Agassiz Fuertes, a very short list of noteworthy artists living and working today will have their work included in this new exhibition. Among them will be Robert Bateman.One emerging artist to be invited to display his work in that exhibit was Robert Bateman. This Fall, nearly 40 years later, a new retrospective entitled AMERICAN WILDLIFE ART, based on the book of the same title by David J. Wagner, Ph.D., will be displayed at the Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania. This new exhibit is a one-off; in other words, it is an exlusive showing that will not be toured or replicated anywhere else. In addition to old masters from John James Audubon to contemporaries Carl Rungius and Louis Agassiz Fuertes, a very short list of noteworthy artists living and working today will have their work included in this new exhibition. Among them will again be Robert Bateman and the following members of The Society of Animal Artists:

John Agnew, Diamond in the Rough, 2001, Acrylic on Illustration Board, 11 x 20

 John Agnew, Morning in the Mangroves (Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egrets and American
Crocodile), 2011, Acrylic on Panel, 12x24

Robert Bateman, Along the Coast-Bald Eagle, Graphite on Board 22x30 
Lender: Gallery Jamal 

Robert Bateman, Evening Light (Elk), 1995, Acrylic on Board, 28x48 
Lender: Gallery Jamal

Julie Bell, The Order of Wolves, 2010, Oil on Wood, 18x24, 
Lender: Art Renewal Center

Eric Berg, American Toad, 2008, Painted Fiberglass, 48x30x24

Carel Pieter Brest van Kempen, Prairie Sentinel, 2002, Acrylic on Illustration Board, 15x40

Carel Pieter Brest van Kempen, Three More Worlds, 1998, Acrylic on Illustration Board, 30x20

Andrew Denman, Primary, 2008,  Acrylic on Board, 23.5x22.5

Andrew Denman, Mr. Tom-Tom Remains Unimpressed, 2009, Acrylic on Board, 17x15.5

Terry Miller, Good Friday Spell, 2009, Graphite, 7x24

Terry Miller, Time Keepers, 2002, Graphite, 13x9

    

Rachelle Siegrist, At Peace, 2012, Opaque watercolor on Gesso Board, 3.5 x 3

Rachelle Siegrist, Hey Look What I Caught!, 2008, Opaque Watercolor on Clayboard, 
3.5 x 3.5

Wes Siegrist, The Pollinators, 2009, Opaque Watercolor on Crescent Rag Board, 
4.5 x 2.5

 

Wes Siegrist, Basking Broad-headed Skink, 2009, Opaque Watercolor on Clayboard, 
3.5 x 4.5

Mark Susinno, Flat Out (Tarpon), 2000, Oil on Linen, 24 x 36, Lender: Dr. Gary Sherman 

Mark Susinno, Beset On All Sides (Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling Size). 2013, Oil on Linen on Panel, 22 x 48

Francis Sweet, Morning Glory (Mute Swan) 2013, Scratchboard, 18x24

Lee Jason Tako, Grey on Warm, 2012, Oil on Linen, 24x48

Lee Jason Tako, Crossing Denali, 2010, Oil on Linen, 24x36

Kent Ullberg, Evolution, 1992, Bronze, Triptych, Maquette

Kent Ullberg, Journey's End, 1992, Bronze

Kent Ullberg, Ring of Bright Water, Bronze, 1998 

Kent Ullberg, Wind In the Sails (abstract), Polished Stainless Steel, 1999, Maquette