The St. Augustine Art Association will be transformed into a nature lover’s paradise with the installation of the 9th Annual Nature & Wildlife Art Exhibition, July 21 through August 26. The juried exhibit features an array of unique interpretations of the natural world, including birds and botanicals, marine life and landscapes, wild beasts and endangered species expressed in paintings, ceramics, sculpture, photography, drawings, mixed media, glass art, fiber works and more.
130 original works of art were selected this summer from over 400 online entries submitted by fine artists from across the U.S. and locally. The St. Augustine Art Association recognizes the top artists with $5,000 in artistic achievement awards, to be presented during the “Summer Swan Soiree” opening reception banquet, July 21, 5 to 8pm.
“Viewers will be captivated by this exhibit. It’s both stunning and thought-provoking,” said Elyse Brady, Executive Director. “And the exhibit programming will engage audiences more deeply with the subjects and diverse artistic viewpoints.”
Free programs include a “Go Wild For Art” Scavenger Hunt, which challenges kids to find clues in the artwork, and an Audubon Florida Bird Talk on Friday, August 3, at 7pm. Also, an entertaining storytelling evening, “Wild St. Augustine: Musings on Art,” will feature bygone artists Le Moyne, Audubon, and Heade musing on the flora, fauna, and folklore of wild St. Augustine that inspired their iconic works of art. The performance takes place Friday, August 24, at 7pm. Reservations are required.
The 9th Annual Nature & Wildlife Art Exhibition is sponsored in part by the Tourist Development Council and LeShane CPAs. Proceeds from events and a portion of art sales benefit Audubon Florida and the art education programs of the St. Augustine Art Association, one of the oldest non-profit art organizations in the region.
The exhibit is open free to the public, Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4pm and on Sundays, 2 to 5pm. Docent-led tours are offered daily.
For event reservations and more information about the 9th Annual Nature & Wildlife Art Exhibition, call the St. Augustine Art Association at (904) 824-2310 or visit www.staaa.org/nature.