Feb 1 - Apr 23 | Reception Feb 4

HEB Gallery @ 204 S. Austin

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Crowds will soon be flocking to Rockport for Birds in Art, an annual, internationally curated exhibit showcasing the very best contemporary artistic interpretations of birds and related subject matter, on display Feb. 1–April 23 at Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA). Sponsored locally by The Reserve at St. Charles Bay, Birds in Art includes 50 paintings and works on paper and 10 sculptures to be featured in the H-E-B and Jeanie & Bill Wyatt galleries on the RCA’s upper level.  

Organized annually since 1976 by the world-renown Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, the juried exhibition has featured thousands of artists from around the world, including many from Texas, and is widely recognized as one of the best showcasing avian art. More than 500 artists submitted works for the 2022 show, with 118 selected for inclusion, 60 of which are making the trip to RCA as part of the traveling exhibition. A fully illustrated, color catalog accompanies each Birds in Art exhibition and will be available for purchase at Rockport Center for the Arts for $20.

Three Texas-based artists are featured in the current traveling show: Swedish-born Kent Ullberg, now a Corpus Christi resident and one of the world’s foremost wildlife sculptors; Patsy Lindamood, graphite and watercolor pencil artist of Hunstville; and painter David Griffin of Dallas. 

“This traveling show depicts a wide variety of species, habitats and themes in diverse styles and mediums including painting, drawing, and sculpture,” said Elena Rodriguez, Rockport Center for the Arts curator. “It truly is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for people to enjoy some of the most beautiful pieces created by a select group of internationally recognized artists, including three living and working in Texas. We also are very appreciative of our presenting sponsor for the exhibition, The Reserve at St. Charles Bay, whose generosity helps continue bringing world-class art exhibitions to Rockport.”  

“We are honored to support Birds in Art, and the continuation of the arts in our community,” said Dakota Peterson, sales director for The Reserve at St. Charles Bay. “This truly was a perfect match for us as the exhibit’s focus on nature and beauty reflects what Rockport and The Reserve are all about.”

It is only fitting that Birds in Art, presented by The Reserve at St. Charles Bay, is the first curated show for the new 14,000-square-foot RCA facility, which opened Dec. 10, 2022, since it was also the traveling exhibition scheduled in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the City of Rockport destroying much of the town, including the former RCA location. That year, the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi partnered with RCA, making room in their museum to showcase Birds in Art. The show also had a successful two-month run at RCA in 2013.

“Birds in Art represents resilience for Rockport Center for the Arts,” said Luis Purón, Rockport Center for the Arts executive director. “In 2017, we presented the exhibition 33 days after Hurricane Harvey devastated our building. We are forever grateful for our friends at the Art Museum of South Texas who canceled an exhibition, opened their space, and utilized their resources to display the exhibition. This year, the show represents a different kind of rebirth, as we can finally host the exhibition in galleries we designed for prestigious exhibitions.”

Birds in Art, presented by The Reserve at St. Charles Bay, is free and open to the public. For general information, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook, or call (361) 729-5519.