Artists for Conservation Exhibit at the Sonoran Desert Museum

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This weekend I visited the Sonoran Desert Museum to view the current exhibit by the Artists for Conservation – the world’s leading artist group dedicated to supporting conservation. Annually they present a juried exhibition and benefit titled “The Art of Conservation: an international exhibit of nature in art”.  The event recognizes artists for their commitment, involvement and passion to artistic excellence coupled with conservation while directly supporting conservation organizations around the globe through the sale of their work.

While the entire show at the Desert Museum this year was quite stirring and beautiful, my favorites included an incredibly moving while warmly calming large oil painting by Kathleen Dunn titled Last Night with two owls; a smaller beautiful acrylic titled Black-throated Sparrows and Silver Leaf Sunray  by Sharon Schafer; Migrating Cranes by Hans Kappel; Trumpeter Echelon by Gregory McHuron; and Robert Bateman’s capturing and alluring oil, Pacific Northwest Snow Laden Scene with a Pack of Seven Wolves.

While this visit was focused on the AFC exhibit, I, of course, had to take advantage of being there again and spend time throughout the museum’s renowned habitat and wildlife exhibits. The museum is an excellent avenue to gain acquaintance and a plethora of knowledge about the often hidden gifts of the quiet desert. If you plan a visit to Arizona, it is definitely a “must see” on your touring schedule. One could easily spend the better part of day to fully explore all they offer. For more information please visit www.desertmuseum.org.

If you’ve not yet visited the Artists for Conservation website (www.artistsforconservation.org), I invite you to take a few minutes and visit their website of diverse and talented international artists dedicated to wildlife and habitat conservation and outstanding artistic expression. I was juried into Artists for Conservation in 2011 and am delighted to be a part of their outstanding mission.

Michael Dumas

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If you have not yet discovered the incredible work of Michael Dumas, a Canadian artist, I invite you to do so soon. His profound awareness of nature and its natural beauty mirror my sense in working with the simplest forms of nature as the deepest, richest seeds of inspiration. He was born and raised in a small town in Ontario, developing his drawing skills at a very young age. He practices a beautiful approach to his work – simply paying grave attention to the quiet, natural moments in his life, and allowing these elements to envelope and enrich his working studio experience. Much of his work intimately reflects his concern for the health and welfare of our natural world. The current issue of Arabella magazine (http://www.arabelladesign.com/) presents a fine, personal article profiling his life and work.

He is internationally recognized through The National Museum of Canada, The McMichael Canadian Collection, The Royal Botanical Gardens – Hamilton, The Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site – Buffalo, N. Y, The Suntory Museum of art – Tokyo & Osaka, Japan, The Yamanakako-Takamura Museum of Arts – Japan. Mitsukoshi Gallery- Tokyo, Matsuya Gallery – Tokyo, Sogo Gallery – Osaka, Nature In Art, the International Museum of Wildlife Art – Gloucester, England.

Looking at his images, it is challenging to choose a favorite piece of work. The attention to detail and manner on both the human form and wild animals, is breath-taking as it profoundly captures the true spirit of the subject. To learn more about Michael, visit: http://www.natureartists.com/artists/artist_biography.asp?ArtistID=54