Artists inspired by wildlife, nature

Leave it to Portland to combine fun and supporting the arts, while donating to the cause of helping the environment.

The Audubon Society of Portland is hosting its Wild Arts Festival this weekend. It celebrates nature in the work of regionally and nationally known artists (70 total) and writers (35), including the works of painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, woodworkers, glassblowers, poets, photographers and writers of nonfiction. The underlying theme includes natural materials as medium and art promoting environmental sustainability.

One featured artist is Shannon Buckner, a blacksmith.

“Often inspired by seed pods and insect bodies, my work explores our interconnection with nature and how human concepts of incubation, birth and evolution are present in organic forms,” Buckner wrote on her website. “Using the ancient art of blacksmithing, I render steel into imaginary-metaphoric plant species to ponder this idea. Also a lover of mythology, some of my sculptures come with fictional stories about their unique purposes and where one would find them if they were to exist.”

The steel worker hopes her art will “delight the viewer’s imagination,” and also improve structural and aesthetic elements in one’s home, she writes.

Dean Crouser, also featured, is a painter from Gresham, born and raised in Oregon, who tries to keep his work simple. His post says, “I am always striving to say the most with the least and like to keep my work loose and spontaneous.”

Several companies worldwide license Crouser’s work and his watercolor paintings of hummingbirds, fish and wildlife are enjoyed by thousands of art enthusiasts and collectors around the world. “My goal is to capture the beauty and simplicity of a scene in a manner that people haven’t seen a million times before,” he continues in his post.

Wood turner Jim Piper started his woodworking as a hobby while working as a professional photographer. Starting in 2011, he “continued to find wood turning both mesmerizing and obsessive,” he said. He now sees trees in a completely different manner:  “I have learned to recognize the nuances of each piece of wood that I acquire and the different characteristics of various species of wood.”

A clay sculptor by the name of Babette Harvey will also be featured. She uses juxtaposition of natural imagery and human-centered objects creating outlandish scenes within her sculpting.

She wrote, “Animals with planets and books on their head or women dancing on bears are a way of keeping hope and humor alive,” in describing some of her art. It’s important to her that while she is playing with the imagination within her art she is also addressing issues she deeply cares about, she said.

Jeffrey Zigulis is a mask artist who has displayed in over 60 galleries across the U.S. He seeks inspiration from African, Mexican, and Micronesian culture along with objects and creatures from nature, he said. Using clay, he carves his masks and fires them, then uses acrylic paint and colored wire for the finishing touches.

The proceeds of this show go towards helping the environment, while promoting talented artists.

The Festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Montgomery Park building, 2701 NW. Vaughn St. in Portland. Tickets are $8 for adults; children ages 16 and under are free.