GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Society of Animal Artists will host a new event this coming Saturday at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids.
Organizers say the inaugural National Animal Art Experience event on May 3 will bring artists to the zoo to demonstrate their award-winning wildlife painting techniques beginning at 11 a.m.
Remy Bemis is the Society of Animal Artists president. She told WOOD Radio in a telephone interview the animal artists will be working in various areas around the country.
"In about 30 different sites, all creating either sculptures, paintings, drawings, sketchings on site in different areas," Bemis said.
Artists from West Michigan Urban Sketchers will be there, too.
Zoo visitors will be able to observe the artists working and ask questions about their work and their techniques.
Bemis said she would like to see the event keep growing with more and more artists participating.
"And who knows? Maybe two or three years from now, every zoo and every park ... will have an artist out there, creating," she said.
Here are more details from an SAA news release:
“John Ball Zoo is excited to welcome artists to the Zoo to showcase their amazing work that captures the wonder of wildlife,” said Mariah Malone, events coordinator at John Ball Zoo. “This unique experience will give guests another way to appreciate the beauty of wildlife and inspire them to take part in the Zoo’s mission of preserving wildlife and wild places.”
The artists include Anni Crouter, an award-winning Flint-based artist whose work has been exhibited across the country. Crouter earned second place during the 2014 ArtPrize festival in Grand Rapids through the public vote, with her three paintings of polar bears.
Rich Tesner, a Roscommon-based artist, has displayed his wildlife art in numerous galleries and exhibitions in the United States. Artists from West Michigan Urban Sketchers will also join the SAA artists from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the event. Artists will be spread throughout the Zoo, with Crouter and Tesner displaying their work on Central Stage.
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Photo: Source: Society of Animal Artists by permission from Remy Bemis.
