The National Museum of Wildlife Art
A visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art (http://www.wildlifeart.org/mobile/) was high on my list of priorities on this phase of the trip. It came highly recommended by people who know the area well and is an outstanding building, set above Elk plains just North of Jackson. It houses the largest designated collection of wildlife art in the world and I was lucky to catch an exhibition which has selected the best portrayals of the American West to appear in the National Geographic Magazine‘s long history. It was great to see a couple of Henry Jacksons photographs chosen to be featured.
The museum also has a number of purpose built sculptures which integrate into the architecture, one in particular is an oversized Cougar which is poised at the top of the staircase surveying the large entrance hall. My favourite of the painted exhibits was an imposing painting called ‘The Chief’ by Robert Bateman and a stunning Landscape piece by Edwin Landseer called ‘The Deer Pass’. I also discovered the work of Carl Runguis for the first time, with a whole room in the gallery dedicated to a retrospective of his paintings.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rungius). The visit was very inspirational and my hope is to perhaps produce a small series of studies of the wildlife, I encounter here, which may be included in the final exhibition.
Looks amazing Jim – more photos please!
It must be a wonderful experience doing what you are doing. What an exciting and interesting project and journey you are on. The American West has some breath taking scenery and it’s on a scale that has to be seen to be believed. I must confess to not having seen Moran’s work or in fact having stepped inside Bolton’s Public Gallery, but I eagerly await to see your work side by side and I shall proudly shout MY FRIEND PAINTED THOSE 🙂
Thanks Linz, hope you’re not getting too burnt in the sunshine!