Page 17 - ARTS Montco - 2019 Fall/Winter Guide

The “Drawn from Nature” gallery houses Audubon’s renowned “The Birds of America” collection of 435 life-size watercolor portraits of North American birds. The collection is displayed in print format, touchscreen digital form, and 3-D print for visually-impaired visitors. Every month, the pages of Audubon’s “Double Elephant Folio” are turned to unveil a new bird for visitors to see. The intent is to present the art in an inclusive and immersive manner.
Visitors can learn about the step-by-step process of producing print replicas of Audubon’s original watercolor paintings. The fascinating print process includes copperplate etching and engraving and an assembly line procedure that requires specialization and expertise to transition to print.
Audubon’s original goal for his collection was to paint every bird in North America. His art included the life- size bird itself and incorporated its environment, food source, or opposite gender to show the distinction of features. To create the life-size paintings of the birds, Audubon would utilize Double Elephant Folio paper – named for its gargantuan dimensions – to correctly capture the bird’s size.
The way Audubon observed and painted birds was very unorthodox. Unlike many artists, Audubon used a visual grid instead of recording measurements of scale to adjust the bird’s dimensions. Audubon would pin up the bird against a grid background for accurate measurements and would utilize the pinning for realistic posing and observation.
Audubon’s “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America” collection of mammal drawings, which he worked on with his two sons, is also on view at the center.
Aside from Audubon’s historic works, the center is also home to contemporary pieces by Grainger McKoy, who specializes in sculpting, carving, metalwork, hand painting, and jewelry. McKoy’s handcrafted bird sculptures are stunningly life-like. He begins his bird sculptures with sketches and metal frames to engineer his sculptures, which helps him visualize his concepts and readjust the wings. Each feather is individually sculpted, and the pieces embody balance and detail.
Drawings by Alice Sharp are also on display. Her series, “Both Downy and Durable: Feathers of Native to distinguish from a real bird’s feather. This unique collection presents a wide range of bird feathers that is sure to please the eye.
The John James Audubon Center is an ideal destination for bird lovers, art enthusiasts, and curious learners of all ages and abilities. The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and the Mill Grove grounds are open year-round from dawn to dusk.
ARTS Montco Fall & Winter 2019 Guide · artsmontco.com
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Plan your visit at johnjames.audubon.org.