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Redlin Rendezvous Recap This August we decided to check out the 2nd annual “Redlin Rendezvous” being held in Watertown, South Dakota. The event boasted a free concert by Lee Greenwood, followed by South Dakota’s “largest fireworks display ever.” Lee Greenwood and the fireworks were delightful. However, the highlight of the event was a private tour of the Redlin Art Center, hosted by none other than “America’s Most Popular Artist,” Terry Redlin. Redlin’s early childhood dream of going into a career in conservation was shattered when at age 15 he begged a friend to give him a ride on his dad’s motorcycle. As the two boys sped off, they had only gone a block when they were struck by a drunk driver. Redlin lost his leg from the injuries, and determined he would need a less active job. He always loved art, so when the state of South Dakota offered free college tuition because of his handicap, he used South Dakota’s generous gift to pursue art at the St. Paul School for Associated Arts. After only 2˝ years, Redlin graduated in 1959 and began working at Brown & Bigelow, a publisher of calendars and playing cards. Still, he was many years away from his illustrious career as a wildlife and Americana artist. It took nearly 20 years before he was financially ready for such an endeavor. In the spring of 1975, he began what he now calls his five-year plan towards his career as a wildlife artist. He feverishly studied the outdoors through the use of a camera, which he borrowed from Webb Publishing Company, where he worked 13 years. He built an extensive file of images that would be used in his paintings. Then, after completing a half a dozen paintings, Terry and his wife Helene worked to print, mat, and ship his framed prints across America, as well as to foreign countries. In 1978, Redlin left his job at Webb and launched his artistic career. Within a year, the Redlin wildlife art business exploded, and the awards and honors began to roll in. His early works revolved around wildlife, waterfowl, and upland game. However, Coming Home, his first non-wildlife painting, featured a Christmas tree being brought home in a horse-drawn sleigh. Redlin’s distributors felt the scene lacked the wildlife that had been the cornerstone of his previous paintings, and initially there was little interest in the print. However, within a month, print sales took off, and shortly thereafter it sold out. Subsequent Redlin paintings have included many of his childhood memories, as well as patriotic themes, such as those depicted in his America the Beautiful series. In 1996 Redlin moved to the shores of Lake Kampeska, returning to his boyhood town of Watertown, South Dakota. His son, Charles, had been dreaming of creating a museum to house his father’s original oils since the mid-80’s, but it wasn’t until May of 1992 when Charles built a model of the present-day Redlin Art Center that the plan really took shape. It’s no wonder this grand architectural masterpiece is the focal point of the city of Watertown. During the summer months, an average of 1000 visitors tour the Center each day. Sometime this year, they will welcome the 2-millionth visitor to the Center since it opened in June of 1997. Redlin has generously given the Art Center to the city of Watertown and the state of South Dakota to show his appreciation for the support and scholarship he received which allowed him to attend art school. Admission is free, with the only revenue coming from sales at the Terry Redlin Gift Shop (inside the Center). Julie Ranum, executive director of the Redlin Art Center, tells me next year’s Redlin Rendezvous and free concert are scheduled for August 5 & 6, 2006. We recommend you book a room early and join the fun! During September 2005, visit Wilderness Reflections and save 20% on all Redlin merchandise.
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| Mineral & Fossil Sale
SAVE 20% - 50%!
September 1-15, 2005 Choose from bookends, mineral and fossil specimens, amethyst cathedrals, spheres, pyrite dollars, ammonites, and more. Supplies are limited to quantities on hand, so shop early for the best selection! ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
SAVE 10%
on any one item during September on top of any other discounts given During the month of September, we wish thank our online subscribers by offering 10% off of any one item.
EVEN FOR ITEMS ALREADY ON SALE.
Just print this newsletter, clip out the cupon and put in your e-mail address in the space
provided. Limit one cupon per subscriber, Savings available for phone and internet orders
- call for more information.
Get the New Painted Ponies!
SAVE 15% - September 15-30
Westland has done it again, with the introduction of eight new Painted Ponies this month.
“Fallen Heroes Memorial Pony” (right), is just one of the new ponies to join the herd.
Experience the beauty and wonder of The Trail of Pained Ponies, the New Mexico-based public art project. In the history of art, the horse has been an enduring source of inspiration. With endless variation and invention, premier Native American and Southwest artists imaginatively transform horses into magnificent works of art, as powerful as they are beautiful. The Trail of Pained Ponies figurines have impeccable detail, and are reproductions of the full-size horses which were on display in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other parts of the Southwest. The Trail of Pained Ponies are also a good long-term investment for collectors. Retired ponies are selling on the secondary market for three to five times their original price. Whether made of resin or porcelain, both styles have been very popular. View all at www.wilderness-art.com. Give the Gift of LAZART Larger LAZART wall mounts, tables, floor lamps, clocks, wine racks, and Welcome signs will soon be available on our website. We’ll keep you informed as additional LAZART products become available. Join Our Mailing List To be added to our mailing list, please send an email to Nature-News-Live@Wilderness-art.com with 'subscribe' in the subject line To be removed from our mailing list, please send an email to Nature-News-Live@Wilderness-art.com with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line |