Newswise — The Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC) is pleased to announce that the Wildlife Conservation Society will become the official beneficiary of AFC's forthcoming annual juried exhibition and conservation fundraising event.
On this, its 10th anniversary year, the AFC will launch its first annual juried exhibition -"The Art of Conservation - An International Exhibit of Nature in Art" - featuring the nature art of its members. The Art of Conservation was created to celebrate artistic excellence in the depiction of nature, raise awareness of conservation issues, and directly support organizations dedicated to addressing them.
The AFC is the world's leading artist collective, dedicated to the environment. Its membership represents 500 of the world's top artists from 27 countries, who focus primarily on nature and wildlife. It represents a "Who's Who" of nature art, and includes the top names in the field, such as Robert Bateman, John Banovich, Guy Coheleach, Pip McGarry, Pollyanna Pickering, John Seerey-Lester and David Shepherd.
Jeffrey Whiting, President and Founder of the AFC comments, "We are very proud to support WCS in our inaugural exhibition. As world leaders in front-line conservation field science, WCS is directly engaged in saving the species and habitats that provide so much inspiration to artists and others who have the privilege to experience them."
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.
"WCS is proud to take part in the Art of Conservation exhibit featuring the beauty of the world we work so hard to preserve. Wildlife inspires our work as it inspires the artists whose work is presented at this exhibit," remarks Olivia van Melle Kamp, Director of National Councils and Travel Program for WCS.The exhibition will be launched in September 2008 at 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 HBAM will host this four-month, inaugural exhibition along with some exciting associated events, including a special weekend reception. The WCS will host show artists and invited guests at a special pre-weekend field trip and luncheon at the world-renowned Bronx Zoo, where it is headquartered.
An independent jury will select approximately 120 works by AFC Signature Members, a large number of which will be for sale. WCS will receive a share of the revenues resulting from the sale of artwork in the show and the exhibition will showcase WCS projects and initiatives.
Accompanying the exhibition will be a high-quality, hardcover book reproducing in color all the works selected for the exhibition. A portion of the book will highlight the work of the WCS.
Following the opening exhibition at the HBAM, a selection of the show's artworks will be included in a touring exhibit for approximately one year.(Dates and venues to be announced.)
About the Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC): The Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC) is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the natural world. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the Foundation represents the world's leading collective of artists focused on nature and wildlife, with a membership spanning five continents and twenty-seven countries. The organization's mission is to support wildlife and habitat conservation, biodiversity, sustainability and environmental education through art that celebrates our natural heritage.
The AFC fulfills its mission through programs and exhibitions that raise funds for conservation. The AFC also operates a unique fellowship program supporting artistic field study and rendering of unique, threatened habitats, and rare or endangered species in remote parts of the world. For more information about the AFC's innovative initiatives, visit http://www.natureartists.com.
About the Wildlife Conservation Society: 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 further information:
Artists for Conservation (AFC) http://www.natureartists.comWildlife Conservation Society http://www.wcs.org
RSS