Oxford resident Dorie Petrochko’s paintings will be on exhibit at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s “Birds and Their Habitat” Art Exhibition and Sale Sept. 28 – 29.
The exhibition will take place at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center, located at 2325 Burr St. in Fairfield.
Petrochko is among 18 gifted artists working in a variety of media who have been selected to display and sell their works by a jury of specialists to ensure quality and professionalism.
Petrochko is among 18 gifted artists working in a variety of media who have been selected to display and sell their works by a jury of specialists to ensure quality and professionalism.
According to Petrochko, nothing can rival the beauty of birds.
“What I attempt to convey in my work, is a sense of energy, vitality and character into the birds I depict,” states Petrochko, “Bird art is a journey into a world, which we, as humans, will never fully understand. As an artist, I am captured by the sheer beauty of form, flight and feathers and in my own way, try to interpret what I feel. It is a highly emotional, as well as an artistic experience.”
Perochko is now focused on combining abstract backgrounds in mixed media, with birds, to create an element of tension and intrigue.
Also featured is Connecticut Audubon Society 2013 “Artist of the Year” Sean Murtha, who is a master of wildlife painting whose early training involved work on the murals and dioramas of the American Museum of Natural history in New York City.
“Just as plein-air work is the foundation for my landscapes” writes Murtha, “so too is sketching birds from life for my bird paintings; by relying on direct observation of my subject, I seek to capture more of the essence of a bird than merely its appearance.
On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29 at 11 a.m., Sean Murtha will be speaking on “The Artist and His Habitat”. He will discuss his approach to art, including a bit of his history and how that played into his artistic development.
Murtha will also discuss his commitment to field-work, sketching birds from life, and “plein air” painting.
“I’ll include my focus on the birds and habitats of the Long Island Sound, with details about my involvement with the Great Gull Island tern colony,” states Murtha. “I will touch upon the history of birds as subjects for art, and its relevance today.”
“We are delighted to announce the 2013 Birds and Their Habitat sponsors. To date the following organizations have signed on as sponsors: Gallery Arts Guild, Granville Printing, W. Jennings Company, Moffly Media, J.McLaughlin, Pequot Library, William Pitt, and Seaman Schepps,” stated Nelson North. “This is an exceptionally fine list of organizations whose philanthropic support is indicative of their commitment to the Connecticut Audubon Society and our community at large.”
See below for a complete schedule of activities.
2013 Birds and Their Habitat Schedule of Events:
Friday, September 27, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Preview Party with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction.
Tickets are $75; call 203 – 259-6305 ext. 109.
At the CAS Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT, 203 – 259-6305 ext. 109.
Saturday-Sunday, September 28 – 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.:
Artwork on display. Admission is $5 (good for both days!), free for children 10 & younger.
Connecticut Audubon Society’s naturalists will present live “Birds of Prey” demonstrations at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
“The Artist and His Habitat” – Presentation by Sean Murtha 11:00 am
Refreshments by the Butterfly Garden Café Committee
Artist’s work will be for sale and on display throughout the weekend. At the CAS Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT, 203 – 259-6305 ext. 109.
Participating Artists
PAINTERS
Sue deLearie Adair: Etching
Del-Bourree Bach: Acrylic
Vincent Legg: Watercolor
Sharon Rowley Morgio: Oil and Watercolor
Sean Murtha: Oil and Watercolor
Dorie Petrochko: Watercolor
Kelly Leahy Radding: Gouache and Watercolor
Carolyn K. Smith: Graphite and Watercolor
SCULPTOR
Fiona Pritchard: Bronze
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Linda Kane Brinkerhoff
Lori Bolle
Lois Csedrik
A.J Hand
Margaret Harris
Vincent Legg
Ed Soderberg
POTTER
Judith Taylor: Earthenware
WOOD CARVING
Dave Farrington
Bill Rice: Basswood and Oil
For more information call 203 – 259-6305 ext. 109 or visit the website at www.ctaudubon.org