In our galleries we tell the stories of our relationship with wild animals and nature. Not many of the images in our collection show humans and wild animals together. One shows two children looking at tigers in the Tower of London’s menagerie and the other shows a scene from the Bible where wild and tame animals live peacefully together with humans.

What do these two works tell us? What do they tell us about our history, our culture and our need to be near these animals physically and symbolically?

Human/Nature: Exploring Humanity’s Relationship with Wildlife will be on exhibit in the Kuhn Gallery from October 20, 2012 – April 21, 2013. This exhibit will include images from the Museum’s permanent collection depicting humans and animals interacting.

Bronwyn Minton, Assistant Curator of Art

Image Credits: James Northcote (United Kingdom, 1746 – 1831), A Tiger’s Den, 1816. Oil on Canvas. 40 x 47 inches. JKM Collection©, National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Edward Hicks (United States, 1780 – 1849), The Peaceable Kingdom, 1822-25. Oil on Canvas. 26 5/8 x 32 inches. Generously Sponsored by Donations from Anonymous Museum Benefactors; National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Would you get in the water now? Bob Kuhn’s brightly symmetrical creature eyeballs viewers as if to say “better not!”  This image and a host of other sketches, paintings, and sculptures are part of a new exhibition and companion publication, Bob Kuhn:  Drawing on Instinct.  The project illustrates the marvelous progress from the sketches of a master to the finished product, and shows why Kuhn is preeminent among wildlife artists for his drawing talent. The Field & Stream cover on which “Tiger” appeared in 1955 also reveals that the “fearful symmetry” could even scare hardboiled magazine editors into flipping. Image Credits: Robert Kuhn (United States, 1920-2007), Tiger, 1955. Original art for cover of Field and Stream magazine, March 1955. Acrylic on Board. 14 × 10 inches. Collection of Frank and Lana Petersen. Field and Stream magazine cover, March 1955. Collection of Frank and Lana Peterson. James C. McNutt, Ph.D.President & CEO View high resolution

Would you get in the water now?

Bob Kuhn’s brightly symmetrical creature eyeballs viewers as if to say “better not!”  This image and a host of other sketches, paintings, and sculptures are part of a new exhibition and companion publication, Bob Kuhn:  Drawing on Instinct.  The project illustrates the marvelous progress from the sketches of a master to the finished product, and shows why Kuhn is preeminent among wildlife artists for his drawing talent.

The Field & Stream cover on which “Tiger” appeared in 1955 also reveals that the “fearful symmetry” could even scare hardboiled magazine editors into flipping.

Image Credits: Robert Kuhn (United States, 1920-2007), Tiger, 1955. Original art for cover of Field and Stream magazine, March 1955. Acrylic on Board. 14 × 10 inches. Collection of Frank and Lana Petersen.

Field and Stream magazine cover, March 1955. Collection of Frank and Lana Peterson.

James C. McNutt, Ph.D.President & CEO

Inspiration takes Flight John James Audubon’s “Grand Idea” was to paint every bird in North America in life-sized dramatic action. He succeeded with over 400 paintings of bird life known at the time. It took 18 years of monumental effort. At the Jackson Hole Eco Fair I listened to twelve-year-old Olivia Bouler, of NY describe her grand idea. Olivia loves birds. She was devastated when she heard of the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Inspired by her hero, Audubon, Olivia started painting birds to give to people who donated to the Audubon Society. 500 paintings later, Olivia has raised $200,000 for the clean-up effort. I asked Olivia if she had grown tired of birds as subject matter by now. She said no, she is even more interested and motivated now. She sees how much better her paintings have become and she has been able to make a difference. Practice makes perfect, and art inspires action. Thank you, Olivia, for reminding me how powerful these simple truths can be. Jane Lavino, Curator of Education

Inspiration takes Flight

John James Audubon’s “Grand Idea” was to paint every bird in North America in life-sized dramatic action. He succeeded with over 400 paintings of bird life known at the time. It took 18 years of monumental effort.

At the Jackson Hole Eco Fair I listened to twelve-year-old Olivia Bouler, of NY describe her grand idea. Olivia loves birds. She was devastated when she heard of the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Inspired by her hero, Audubon, Olivia started painting birds to give to people who donated to the Audubon Society. 500 paintings later, Olivia has raised $200,000 for the clean-up effort.

I asked Olivia if she had grown tired of birds as subject matter by now. She said no, she is even more interested and motivated now. She sees how much better her paintings have become and she has been able to make a difference.

Practice makes perfect, and art inspires action. Thank you, Olivia, for reminding me how powerful these simple truths can be.

Jane Lavino, Curator of Education

I’m frantically looking for my pen. Have you seen it? It’s my favorite – bold, black ink that leaves a slight impression in the paper. I am pretty sure that my day will be completely dysfunctional without it.  Artists must feel this way too. Their medium (oil, pastel, pencil, charcoal, clay) is specific and likely dines with their family at dinnertime.  Sometimes, Bob Kuhn liked to sketch with conté which is a drawing pencil that combines clay and graphite (think crayon-like). The coloring in these Kuhn sketches is an earthy brick. His sketches are so striking and convey a powerful sense of movement.   Want to take a closer look? You know you do! The Museum opens several galleries with Bob Kuhn’s gorgeous sketches and paintings today. Double your fun and come to Mix’d Media tonight. And if you see my pen, will you bring it?  Image Credit: Robert Kuhn (United States, 1920 – 2007), Coyote Chasing Rabbit, n.d. Conte on Paper. 4 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches. Gift of the Artist, National Museum of Wildlife Art. Shawn Meisl, Associate Director of Development View high resolution

I’m frantically looking for my pen. Have you seen it? It’s my favorite – bold, black ink that leaves a slight impression in the paper. I am pretty sure that my day will be completely dysfunctional without it.  Artists must feel this way too. Their medium (oil, pastel, pencil, charcoal, clay) is specific and likely dines with their family at dinnertime. 

Sometimes, Bob Kuhn liked to sketch with conté which is a drawing pencil that combines clay and graphite (think crayon-like). The coloring in these Kuhn sketches is an earthy brick. His sketches are so striking and convey a powerful sense of movement.  

Want to take a closer look? You know you do! The Museum opens several galleries with Bob Kuhn’s gorgeous sketches and paintings today. Double your fun and come to Mix’d Media tonight. And if you see my pen, will you bring it? 

Image Credit: Robert Kuhn (United States, 1920 – 2007), Coyote Chasing Rabbit, n.d. Conte on Paper. 4 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches. Gift of the Artist, National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Shawn Meisl, Associate Director of Development