Nygren Wetland Preserve art exhibit opens Sept. 24

From press release

Forty-three works of art by professional and amateur artists depicting the natural beauty of the landscape and wildlife at the Nygren Wetland Preserve west of Rockton, Ill., will be on display in a juried art exhibit opening from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 24. The show at the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Mahlburg Auditorium, 737 N. Main St., in Rockford runs through Nov. 30 and features the work of artists in oils, acrylics, watercolor, photography and fiber.

“The quality of the artwork submitted to the exhibit is very strong and truly celebrates the beauty of the Nygren Wetland Preserve,” said Sheryl Almquist Hall, coordinator.

Judges for the juried exhibit are Sherrie Dorr, Tom Heflin, Carol Jacobs and John V. McNamara. Stillman Bank is sponsoring cash awards for Best of Show in the Professional Division of $750 and Amateur Division of $250.

All of the artwork will be for sale with a percentage of each sale going to support the Nygren Wetland Preserve. Prices range from $50 to $3,600. Competitive bidding will be allowed at the opening reception Sept. 24 beginning at 7 p.m. and closing promptly at 8:45 p.m.

The public is invited to select the People’s Choice Award during the opening reception.

Hall said: “Our judges have made their determination as to Best of Show in both the professional and amateur categories. The People’s Choice Award gives the public an opportunity to weigh in on the piece that they believe best depicts a natural setting in the open air, which piece evokes a sense of place and mood, and most importantly, which piece demonstrates a respect for the natural land and all that inhabit it.”

The People’s Choice Award of $100 is being donated by the Natural Land Institute.

Children were invited to submit artwork for the exhibit. Each entrant in the Children’s Division will receive a certificate of participation.

The Natural Land Institute is hosting the exhibit to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Nygren Wetland Preserve and the restoration of natural vegetation to the 721-acre wildlife sanctuary on the banks of the Pecatonica and Rock rivers. The group is a not-for-profit land conservation organization based in Rockford.

Exhibiting artists include the following: Dwight Alton, Jean Apgar, Judy Barnard, Mark Blassage, Rick Brown, Paul Burkholder, Deb Dietz, Ingrid Dohm, Dave Donahue, Gail Faber, Roger Gray, Helen Hoselton, Matthew Irwin, Jerome Jones, Tom Linden, Jeanne Ludeke, Barbara McNamara, Jessica McQuay, Craig Michelsen, Deborah Newton, Bradley Nordlof, Amelia Olson, David C. Olson, Nancy McManus Olson, Christine Rogalin, Anthony Sell, Janet Shingleon, Margo Shryack-Pagh, Thomas Trausch, Jenny Vogt and Dave Watts.

From the Sept. 22-28, 2010 issue