Go Wild
Those with a penchant for the wild side can get their fix as the Associated Artists of Butler County presents its annual Nature and Wildlife Exhibit at The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.
The show will open Friday with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Winners will be announced at 8 p.m.
“This show is one of Butler's favorites,” said Paul Scanlon, president of AABC. “We have more than 50 works of art on display ranging in price from $35 to $2,300,” said Scanlon who also noted this show drew more out-of-town artists than any other.
Favorite area artists will be representing their craft as well.
Don Bear of Butler Township has been a member of the AABC for more than 15 years. His acrylic “Mighty Mean Moose” is the culmination of much research and fascination with the creature.
“I've been quite taken with the moose, and in researching other artists, I came across an artist from Alaska whose uses moose as a common theme in his works,” Bear said.
The long time nature painter has three offerings in the show and two of them feature moose in water. The other portrays buffalo and wolves.
Tina Shearer of Butler has several entries in the photography category, most notable is her “Merlin's Eye,” a closeup portrait of an owl which she captured while at a talk at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
“He had such an intense look of concentration on his face. He looked almost uplifted and I wanted to capture it,” she said.
Primarily a self taught, artist, Shearer enjoys using her camera to freeze a moment in time. “In fact that seems to be what photography is all about: The ability to represent time and the world around me to show it to the people around me,” she said.Shearer also has two seascapes and two flower photographs in the show.In addition to photography and acrylics, show entries include a variety of other disciplines: watercolor offerings by Mary Kay Richardson of Prospect and Carroll Klingensmith of Ford City, mixed media pieces by Glenshaw artist Mary Bittner, and oil paintings by Dona Boots of Ellwood City and James Hulings of Zelienople.Also look for digital paintings, pen and ink drawings, oils and fiber arts all representing the best that nature has to offer.The Nature and Wildlife Exhibit continues through Oct. 7. Admission is free.The Underground Gallery at The Art Center continues “The Underground Circus” showing works with a circus or carnival theme through Sept. 30.
<B>WHO: </B>Associated Artists of Butler County<B>WHAT: </B>Nature and Wildlife Exhibit<B>WHEN: </B>Opens at 7 p.m. Friday and continues through Oct. 7. Regular gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.<B>WHERE: </B>The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.<B>INFO: </B>724-283-6922 or www.aabcartcenter. com
