Wildlife Discovery
New paintings and sculpture
The annual Wildlife Discovery exhibition at Trailside Galleries in Jackson, Wyoming, is a celebration of the natural world, in particular the mammals that inhabit North America. There are a variety of species from around the globe featured, but these animals—elk, deer and bears—tend to captivate because of their local proximity. The exhibition, which will run February 17 through 29, will include both paintings and sculpture by artists such as Ken Carlson, Veryl
Goodnight, Shawn Gould, Bonnie Marris, Ralph Oberg, Ezra Tucker, Kent Ullberg and Sarah Woods.
“Wildlife art continues to be one of the most collected genres of art in the country,” the gallery explains. “With the heightened awareness of climate change and fragile ecosystems, the genre has taken on a whole new dimension, as artists strive not only to create an aesthetically pleasing image, but to have it serve as an educational tool to bring more awareness to preservation.”
Adam Smith will be represented in the exhibition by his new work Under the Big Sky. Describing the piece he says, “This particular storm was brewing behind my home last spring. It is a scene that plays out quite frequently as clouds build over the Bridges Mountains. I knew as soon as I saw it I had to paint it someday. I have always wanted to paint a thunderhead and a pronghorn was a perfect subject to pair with it.”
Mick Doellinger’s bighorn sculpture Incoming shows the animal bucking straight toward the viewer. “The ultimate ‘head-butt,’” says the artist. “Like a missile, he focuses on his opponent’s head and begins to launch.”
Lazin’ Around by Bruce Lawes is another piece that will be available. It depicts a lynx “that has probably experienced a night of hunting,” Lawes explains. “The lynx hunt by actively walking, flushing and chasing prey, and by using resting or hunting beds to wait for prey to come close, and then giving chase.
It appears my lynx has just spotted some movement.”