Refuge, DDWS to host inaugural Art in the Wild
In celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week and Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling’s 146th birthday, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will introduce Art in the Wild on Oct. 21 at the Sanibel refuge. The refuge originally scheduled the inaugural event for last year, but canceled it after Hurricane Ian closed the refuge in September.
There will be free art activities honoring the 2023-24 Duck Stamp artists and legacy of “Ding” Darling, the refuge’s namesake and a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist during the early 20th century.
The famous Hautman brothers, multiple Federal Duck Stamp Contest winners, will make personal appearances. A special exhibition of their nature art also will be on display in the Visitor & Education Center auditorium during the month. Joe Hautman won the 2023-24 contest and will be signing his winning stamp depicting three tundra swans.
Refuge Artist-in-Residence Jacqui Roch will be on hand to lead nature-art demos and workshops, plus expect the announcement of the 2023 “Ding” Darling Amateur Photo Contest winners, unveiling of The Roost outdoor pavilion, and a traveling Federal Duck Stamp exhibit, which will be on display Oct. 10-29. Admission to Wildlife Drive will be free on Oct. 21.
“This will become an annual fall tradition to celebrate ‘Ding’ Darling’s art legacy and role in creating the Federal Duck Stamp Program, which has continued for nearly 90 years and preserved six million acres of sensitive wetlands and wildlife habitat,” Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland said.
The DDWS is seeking event sponsors. For more information, contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety.
For more information about Art in the Wild, visit dingartinthewild.com.