SAA 63rd Annual Exhibition at The Stifel Fine Arts Center

 

WOW!... That was the first word from the mouths of attending SAA Artists upon entering the Society of Animal Artists 63rd Annual Exhibition at the Stifel Fine Arts Center. Nestled in the picturesque town of Wheeling, West Virginia, it was truly a stunning venue for this year's Annual Exhibition. From the way the art was hung and arranged to the perfect lighting projected on everything, I must congratulate the friendly staff at the Stifel, for a job well done. And a big congratulations to all participating SAA members whose work was included to produce this year's outstanding show! 

Attending SAA Members

The charming, architectural elements in this stately, historic mansion, lended a feeling of elegance to the atmosphere. As we walked about viewing the exhibit, the building itself was a large piece of art. Here are several photos for you to enjoy as you take a "virtual tour" of the exhibition. 

*Many thanks to Frank Soos for taking several of these photos 

The air was lively and filled with excitement during the opening reception, which was well attended by guests and patrons, and we were delighted to see numerous red dots scattered about, denoting purchases which had been made. The food was most enjoyable as well, with several large, wooden charcuterie boards laden with delectable treats artfully arranged, and tempting all to partake and enjoy!

Those attending were given a warm welcome by the president of Oglebay Institute, Danielle McCracken, followed by a few words from the SAA Executive Director, Wes Siegrist.

A BIG congratulations our Award Winners at the 63rd Annual Exhibition!

Next week I'll be sharing photos and stories of our artists' dinner, games, adventures in Oglebay Park, and of all of the fun everyone had during the weekend in Wheeling. 

You can see the entire exhibition online HERE

CLICK HERE for a membership application to join the Society.

CLICK HERE to become a Patron Member of the SAA.

 

Until next time ~ SAA member Rachelle Siegrist :)

SAA's Encounters with the Animal Kingdom Exhibition

 

What do you get when you mix some of the world's best animal art with a beautiful setting... Pure elegance! What a delight it was recently attending the opening for the Society of Animal Artists exhibition "Encounters With the Animal Kingdom" at the lovely Janice Mason Art Museum. Located in the picturesque community of Cadiz, Kentucky, we were welcomed with friendly smiles and open arms by the museum staff, making us feel instantly at home. 

"Wow... it's so beautiful!" were the first words out of our mouths as soon as we entered the exhibition space. The artworks were hung and arranged to create a nice flow as you walked throughout the exhibit. Everything was beautifully illuminated in the pleasant, bright space. Having your artwork well lit is always a big plus as an artist.

 SAA attending artists: Wes Siegrist, Rachelle Siegrist, Leslie Hutto, and Jennifer L. Cook

We were impressed with the attendance at the opening and received constant compliments on the quality of the artwork in the show. One gracious lady said "She absolutely loved the variety in the styles and different types of work, and felt it was the best exhibit she had seen at the museum." A high compliment for the participating SAA members indeed!

The gorgeous, long, antique table was adorned with a stunning collection of fresh daffodils that had been handpicked that morning for the important occasion. Numerous edible treats covered the table as well and  were all totally delicious, especially the margarita cups, which were a creamy margarita flavored filling inside a white chocolate cup, topped with bits of fresh lime zest, tasting like a scrumptious wee key lime pie! Can you say YUM!

It was truly a wonderful afternoon spent enjoying great art, conversation and delicious food!

Many thanks again to The Janice Mason Art Museum and their delightful staff for such a stunning show and a truly wonderful time during the opening. The exhibition will be on display at the museum through April 8th, 2023. So if you or someone you know is near Cadiz or will be visiting the area, I highly recommend a visit to the museum, to see the show!

You can view the show online BY CLICKING HERE. 

Enjoy this short video with an exciting overview of the well attended and fun opening on the SAA's YouTube channel! Remember if you enjoy this and other SAA related videos, please "Like" and "Subscribe" to the channel, as it really helps us as a Society to reach a wider audience. 

Click here for a membership application to join the Society.

Click here to become a Patron Member of the SAA.

 

Until next time ~ SAA member Rachelle Siegrist :)

The Society of Animal Artist's 62nd Annual Art and the Animal Exhibition

The jury was recently held for the Society of Animal Artist's 62nd Art and the Animal Exhibition, and excitedly 125 SAA artists had their artwork juried into the show. The Annual Exhibition for 2022 will be held at the beautiful Turtle Bay Exploration Park located in Redding, CA. The exhibition will be on display September 24, 2022 – January 1, 2023, with the opening weekend taking place October 7-8th.

During this recent jury for the annual exhibition, two SAA long-time members achieved Distinguished Signature Member status. This happens once a member has had their work juried into at least 15 annual exhibitions. We want to congratulate Linda Rossin and Sean Murtha for achieving this milestone in the world of art! 

There is more great news for six other SAA members. These members were promoted from Associate membership to Signature level, as each had attained that promotion through earning points in SAA exhibitions. We want to congratulate these six artists: Mans Bergendal, Mark Dedrie, Sharon Hester, Michael Pape, Tamara Pokorny, and Amy Bartlett Wright!

Click HERE to see a list of the Featured Artists and Artworks in the 62nd Annual Exhibition.

The 62nd Tour Venues

Works featured on the tour below will leave the exhibition on October 30, 2022. 

The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

November 19, 2022 – January 15, 2023
Oradell, NJ

Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art

February 11 – April 2, 2023

Bolivar, Missouri 

Click HERE to see a list of the Artists and artwork in the tour.

 Visit the SAA website for more information about this exciting exhibit, and to view the featured artwork in the exhibition HERE.

Click here for membership application to join the Society.

Click here to become a Patron Member of the SAA.

Special thanks to the SAA's Terry Miller for the graphics on the blog which he created for the Society's Facebook page!

 Until next time ~ SAA Artist Rachelle Siegrist

Highlights From SAA's THE KINGDOM Opening Reception

 

SAA Members Michael, Rusty, Deborah, Kim, John, Justin and MCFTA Curator of Visual Arts, Regina Schreck 

Several Society of Animal Artists members recently attended the opening of the SAA's Special Show "The Kingdom" at the beautiful Midland Center For The Arts in Midland, MI. As with all of our SAA shows or exhibitions, this current show is comprised of a group of strong, well rendered artworks, that delight and at times emotionaly move the viewers. 

"This selection of artworks comes from members of the world’s oldest and most prestigious international animal art organization. These juried works feature diverse species and habitats from artists around the globe. From the commonplace to the rarely seen, from the abundant to the endangered, the artwork depicted will engage and bestow upon the audience a greater appreciation and awareness of the species with whom we share our planet." ~Midland Center For The Arts

Attendees admiring the artwork

Although there was only a small group in attendance for the opening, due to current situations with COVID, it was a lovely one with culinary delights, and an entertaining talk given by SAA artist Kim Diment, as well as a chance to enjoy seeing the artwork in person. 

Six of the SAA artists that were in attendance and had works in The Kingdom are shown below with their artwork. You can view the entire show online HERE

Kim Diment ~ "Sundowner"

Justin Kellner ~ "Listen for the Prothonotary at Maple River"

Deborah LaFogg Docherty ~ "Patio Princess"

Rusty Frentner ~ "Peaceful AM"

Michael Todoroff ~ "Grey Day Nuthatch"

John Plishka "Dreamer"

The Society wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Midland Center For The Arts and Regina for hosting this exhibition, which can be seen now through January 16th 2022.

Two Special Society of Animal Artists Shows

Art That Matters to the Planet

With a very moving theme, the Society of Animal Artists exhibition "Art That Matters to the Planet", consists of SAA member's artworks dealing with issues that our wildlife and the environment face today. Climate change, pollution, overpopulation, and the destruction of habitat are just a few of these serious problems. Many of the works juried into this exhibition, cause the viewer to stop and ponder what's happening to the planet and its inhabitants, hopefully inspiring them to make positive changes whenever possible, and to do their part to help our wildlife and planet. 

"Art That Matters to the Planet" is currently on exhibition at the beautiful Roger Tory Peterson Institute, located in Jamestown, NY, where it will be displayed through October 25th. From there it will travel to The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell, NJ, where it will be exhibited from November 20th, through January 16th, 2022. From there it will travel to The Sternberg Museum of Natural History located in Hays, KS, exhibiting there from February 5th through May 5th, 2022. 

Enjoy this video below of the exhibition and view the entire show online here 

Animal Impressions Show

This SAA Special Show is currently on display at The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, located in Tucson, AZ, where it will be exhibited through November 7th.   

See the virtual online gallery here

View the entire show online here

Click here for membership application to join the Society.

Click here to become a Patron Member of the SAA.

Until next time ~ SAA Artist Rachelle Siegrist