Since 1976 the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum of Wausau, Wisconsin, has held the annual exhibition called Birds in Art. Both the museum and exhibition have gained an inter- national reputation attracting wildlife artists from around the world as well as lovers of "bird" art.

Each year an outside jury selects approximately one hundred works in various media —paintings, sculpture, and graphics, to name a few— for the exhibition. With approximately 1,000 worldwide entries the task is formidable. Artists may submit two works for the jury to consider, but only one may be chosen for exhibit.

Birds in Art opens with the gorgeous Autumn colors in Wausau on the second weekend in September. It is a gala event with many of the artists present to greet and interact with the public. A beautiful color catalog of the exhibition is available, and the artists are always honored to autograph it for the public in attendance.

A Master Wildlife Artist is honored on opening weekend. These have included Roger Tory Peterson, Robert Bateman, Richard Sloan, Dino Paravano, Guy Coheleach, Charles Greenough Chase, Ray Harris-Ching, Lars Johnson, Anne Senechal Faust, Carl Brenders, Tony Angel, Elliot Offner, Nancy Howe, Andrea Rich.and many other great talents. The 2007 Master Artist will be Walter Matia.

When the exhibit closes at the museum approximately sixty pieces are selected to go on a year-long touring exhibition. Various museums around the United States ,and occasionally abroad, have hosted the event. I have been fortunate to have my work included in this tour all four times. Each time my work is selected for this event, it is the highlight of my year. You can learn more about my pieces below. For more information on the exhibit, contact the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.

CAPTURE

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CAPTURE
1989

Capture was one of 114 artworks selected from over 850 international entries. The touring exhibition went to the Houston (Texas) Museum of Natural Science; Arnot Art Museum , Elmira, New York; Anchorage (Alaska) Museum of History and Art; and the Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Capture is carved from rare dendritic soapstone found in Montana. It weighs approximately 20 pounds and is about 9 x 9 x 9 inches. Large pieces of this stone are difficult to find.

In the collection of
Dr. Michael Hartman
WISCONSIN

 FIGHT OR FLIGHT

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FIGHT OR FLIGHT
1993

Fight or Flight is Montana dendritic soapstone. The stone has more of a yellowish cast which is probably caused by iron. The touring exhibition went to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque; the Dayton (Ohio) Museum of Natural History; and the Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.

The piece weighs about 15 pounds and is approximately 9 x 9 x 8 inches. It is mounted on a dark-stained oak base.

In the collection of
Judy Kern and Tom Slawson
Michigan

 IMPRESSION ON
A WINTER'S EVE

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IMPRESSION ON
A WINTER'S EVE
1995

Impression on a Winter's Eve is rare Montana soapstone, but of a mauve color. There are no dendrites present even though it came from the same region as those above.

The year-long touring exhibition included the Waterfowl Festival of Easton, Maryland and the Wendell Gilley Museum of Southwest Harbor, Maine.

The piece weighs about 20 pounds and is 9 x 7.5 x 6.5 inches. It is mounted on a dark-stained cherry base.

In the collection of
Ted and Bev Smith
UTAh

MIDNIGHT MOUSER

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MIDNIGHT MOUSER-1997

Midnight Mouser was one of 92 pieces selected from over 1,000 international entries. As with the three earlier pieces, it was included with 59 other artworks for the touring exhibition. It went to the Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Peoria, Illinois; the Michelson Museum of Art, Marshall, Texas; and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown, New York.

The sculpture is Montana dendritic soapstone. It is approximately 14 inches high.

In the permanent collection
of  the
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
WAUSAU, WISCONSIN

PRAIRIE HOME COMPANIONS

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PRAIRIE HOME COMPANIONS
2000

Carved from a piece of soapstone from India, Prairie Home Companions is one of my largest pieces to date. As the other photos indicate, it is carved in all dimensions. The sculpture is approximately 13 x 5 x 11.5 inches high and weighs 35 pounds. (And to think, I do all my carving in my lap!)

Prairie Home Companions was one of 114 international works accepted in the 25th Annual Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau in the year 2000.

It was also included in the year-long touring exhibition and was exhibited at the Sordoni Art Gallery, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery of Art, Bolivar, Missouri; The John L. Wehle Gallery of Wildlife and Sporting Art, Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, New York; and the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art

In the collection of
Paul and Donna Gazillo
ILLINOIS

TUNDRA TALONS

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TUNDRA TALONS
2003

Tundra Talons is carved from a very heavy piece of Montana, dendritic soapstone. Tundra Talons earned me my sixth opportunity to exhibit in the annual Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau in 2003.

In the collection of
Drs. Walter Baranowski
and Diana Kruse
Wisconsin

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FULL MOON TONIGHT
2005

Full Moon Tonight was one of 98 juried artworks selected from over 995 entries submitted by 610 international artists. Those selected were exhibited with the works of 18 Master Artists at the 30th Annual Birds in Art exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.

Full Moon Tonight is carved from rare Montana, dendritic soapstone. Large pieces, this size, have become extremely scarce. In fact, this owl is a bit contorted simply due to a lack of stone. On its wooden stump, it is approximately 15" high, 9" wide, and 8" deep.

In the collection of
The Bradshaw-Knight Foundation
WISCONSIN.00