Art of Conservation: Second annual event

By Beth Sullivan

On Saturday Oct 24, a lucky group of people were treated to a lovely evening of fun with friends, good food, and soothing music in a beautiful venue surrounded by some really amazing artwork and even more amazing opportunities to purchase it at a bargain! To top it all off…they were doing a great thing by supporting the mission of Avalonia Land Conservancy. How could you go wrong?

A panoramic photo of Sandy Point by John Papp caused a bidding war.

This was the second year of the Art of Conservation event. Last year was hard work, but we had good reviews, opportunities to improve and learn and grow. It led to an even better event this year. Word spread and what was most special was that local artists were even more generous than last year! The selection of donated art ranged from fine art and photography, to three-dimensional art of sculpture, jewelry, fiber art, and prints and cards, and nature books that were stunningly illustrated.

Bidding was lively and good natured, 

Good art, good food, and good drink

The attendees were treated to beverages and delicious finger food as they browsed the main gallery to view items for the live auction. At the same time, the silent auction ran in the lower gallery where it seemed everyone gathered for the longest time, hoping to get their own bids on the last line, before last call at the end of the evening.

A lovely spread was offered throughout the evening.

This year we had a much larger selection of art to offer and as a result, bidders had less competition for each piece. While there were several lively bidding wars for certain special items, many were able to be purchased well below their value. Folks went home with their Christmas shopping well underway!

President Michele Fitzpatrick welcomed guests and thanked everyone for their support.

This event is gathering steam and has returned a modest profit to support Avalonia’s local efforts. We are already beginning to think of ways to change and improve and make it a bigger event. We are looking for committee members who are willing to brainstorm and help plan for next year.

A thank you to our sponsors

We are thankful for our sponsors: Chelsea Groton Bank, The Company of Craftsmen, Dime Bank, Mattern and Stefon Land Surveyors LLC, New England Science and Sailing Foundation, and Shaffer’s Marina.

Music was provided by Maryann Koch and Bill Johnson III.

A full list of donors and those who provided services will be found on our website. Please support them as they have supported us.

Volunteers planned the event, set up, provided flowers and were the heart of the show.

We are truly grateful for the generosity of our local artists who continue to support a vision that we ourselves are committed to. By lending their names and talents to our cause, they help spread the word of our mission to acquire, protect and steward the special green spaces and habitats that make our corner of CT so very special.

There was plenty of time to review and bid on silent auction offerings.

The nature here nurtures our souls and inspires art. What a wonderful way to connect the two.

Photographs by Bruce Fellman.

By Beth Sullivan

We are coming into a beautiful time of year-I guess every time has a special beauty, but the changing colors of late summer into early fall are inspiring. Meadows are showing golds and pinks of the taller meadow flowers; grasses wave. The woodlands are beginning to show different hues of green, more varied, deeper.

Expanses of salt marsh are absolutely the most beautiful as the salt marsh grasses settle into swirls and swaths of colors as seeds form. Soon the edges, the coastal woodlands, will begin to show the first colors in the Black Gum trees whose leaves go red early in the season.

Detail in leaves and tendrils need close inspection.

An artist’s eye does not always go just to the large view of the landscape. It is also a time to look closely. Insects are phenomenal at this time of year. They may not sit still for portraits, but a camera can catch them in an instant!

There is great beauty in the detail of an insects's body.

Birds have fledged, many are gathering, preparing for the changing season. Many young are still learning the ropes from parents, and the osprey are still returning to nest sites. Soon they will leave.

A path in the grass can illustrate perspective. 

So now, while the light is clear and crisp, the colors are brightest in the angles of the sun, get outdoors. Take your camera, a sketch book, a paint box and an easel. Get close or take the distant view. Pay attention to what you see. Get into the story of the scene before you whether it is a far horizon, a single standing tree, or the center of a flower.

AND…when you have something…share it!

A lone sentinel tree is a focal point.

Avalonia is hosting its second annual Art of Conservation event on October 24. We are looking for art donations for both the Silent and Live Auctions. Contributing artists will get a ticket to the event at the Mystic Art Association, which was truly a lovely affair last year.

We are welcoming a broader range of art this year, to include sculpture, quality nature crafts, fabric art, jewelry as well as photography, prints and cards, and of course, original paintings. If you happen to have a lovely piece of nature themed art, not of your own creation, but want to donate for the event, we welcome that as well.

Seed pods and grasses are a study in  texture.

Applications on the Avalonia website

You can go to the website to download an application or contact the Avalonia office by phone or email for more information.

Sunsets at this time of year ware waiting to be painted.

It is beautiful out there….now head out, enjoy and create and then share with us! Your donation will help Avalonia in its mission to acquire and preserve land in Southeastern CT-places we share with you!

Photographs by Beth Sullivan

The Art of Conservation Event: Generosity at its finest

By Beth Sullivan

Planning a fund raiser

On October 18^th Avalonia launched a first ever art event as a fundraising effort to support the Conservancy’s Bedrock Fund. As with any first ever event, the effort-learning, organizing, changing and rearranging that goes into pulling it off-can be daunting, but this event came together in a wonderful way due to patience, stamina, volunteerism and generosity.

As many might remember, it was planned as a contest, a great idea to get people out onto the preserves, to paint, draw and photograph the beauty they found. These works were expected to be entered into a popular contest with prizes for numerous categories. It was an odd twist to realize people really didn’t seem inspired by competition. What was most wonderful was that artists in all media chose instead, to simply donate their work to support the cause! The event morphed from a contest to a well-stocked auction and sale event instead, and everyone agreed it was ever so much better!

Art, from photographs to prints and quilts could be found in the silent auction.

Teams of volunteers arrived at the Mystic Arts Center at 3 in the afternoon to set up tables and linens, sort out items for each event and plan for the caterers and the bar. There were lovely arrangements of grasses and flowers donated by our greenthumb members.

At the ticket table, volunteers welcomed guests.

A selection of art, prints, photos, some small original works, cards and even jewelry were set up in the lower gallery to be part of the silent auction. In the main gallery larger pieces of original art and lovely photographs were arranged on easels throughout the space. Honestly, the donated art easily rivaled the art on the walls!!

Photograph of the Osprey nest on Paffard Marsh was a popular item.

Volunteers made it happen

Volunteers in teams met guests at the door, gave them programs and explained the plans. Guests had plenty of time to peruse the art in both galleries and enjoy a musical duo and plenty of appetizers. The food was fantastic. Wine, much of which was donated, served to lighten the mood and get folks ready to bid.

Lively auction

The bidding went quite well in the silent auction gallery with several spirited competitions. When the bidding closed there were many happy and satisfied owners of fine art! The live Auction followed and that was fun. Jeff Millen from Ocean Auction House was the auctioneer with assistance from Steve and Maureen. Again, sizes and prices ranged all across the board. Bidding was pretty competitive for several pieces, and prices rose, as they should-all for a great cause. There were two special items, not actually art, but services of professional photographers and naturalists offering guided tours and lessons on Avalonia Preserves, for the purpose of photographing them. Hopefully the lucky bidders on those items will return next year with more of their photographic art to share.

Professional auctioneers made it fun!

The bidding was spirited. 

For a first time event, with truly dedicated and knowledgeable planners and volunteers, it was a success. We have a great deal to be thankful for-our event sponsors, especially Russ Burgess from Charles Schwab who was the gallery sponsor. We had donations of food and wine, music and services. Most importantly we need to thank all the many artists who donated their work to support a cause they believe in.

Before the mad dash, the check team checks their paperwork.

We are already brainstorming to discuss plans for next year’s event. So, it is never too early to start to remind everyone to get outdoors and find your subject. The preserves have great color now and winter can provide opportunities for great images as well. You have a whole year. Look ahead to next fall, think of your art and for sure, plan on attending the event. A good time WAS had by all!

A good time was had by all!

Photographs by Bruce Fellman.

Art of Conservation - one week away

You can still get tickets to the Art of Conservation from Tom's News in Stonington, or from the Avalonia Office by calling 860-884-3500.

And it's still not to late to become a sponsor. In addition to the sponsors listed below, recent additions include Dime Bank and Dog Watch Cafe.  Please let our sponsors know you appreciate their support of Avalonia.

See you next Saturday 

Art of Conservation, October 18 and Bird Banding, October 19

Art of Conservation, October 18

There's still time to get tickets to the Art of Conservation at the Mystic Arts Center in Mystic. This event supports Avalonia's conservation work.  Won't you please help us continue our work? Tickets are available on-line here. More information about the event is at our recent post, here and in the flyer, below.

You can still volunteer to help by contacting Heather Milardo in the Avalonia office, by email (avalonialc@yahoo.com) or phone message (860-884-3500), to let her know what you can do.

Bird Banding, October 19

After an evening of looking at nature's beauty captured by talented artists, you can see nature at close range with your own eyes, Sunday, October 19.  Please join Avalonia for a bird banding event at the Knox Preserve in Stonington.  Located on Wilcox Rd. off Route 1, we will gather at 8 AM to weigh, measure, and band resident and migrating species.  This is a great opportunity to photograph birds in fine detail without expensive equipment.  You can read about last year's event in our post, here.

White-throated Sparrow about to be released after banding.

Second Call for Artists and How Everyone can Support The Art of Conservation

By Beth Sullivan

About a month ago I challenged everyone to get out on a preserve, hiking, or even kayaking, and suggested that rather than just enjoy the view, you somehow record it: by photography or some other artistic media.

Well..how did it go? You still have time. You can see the rules and guidelines here, and entry form as well. The invitations will be in the mail, but please keep an eye on Facebook and the evolving website for more details.

We are putting the event together and we can use your help in several areas: 

•  Before the event we will need some staff to receive the art at our 6 Hatch Street office in Mystic. There will be labeling and sorting to be done.
• We are looking for additional judges, to review the artwork and photography and children’s entries.
• We will need teams of helpers to set up for the event at the Mystic Arts Center: tables and easels, art work and photography, kids’ gallery and main galleries. There are silent auction tables and live auction displays to be managed.

During the event we will need volunteers circulating in the audience during the live auction, to bring attention to bidders. At the end of the silent Auction, we will need people to help process the sales and make sure the right Art Treasure goes home with the right buyer.

If you enjoy this sort of fun, or have had experience hustling and bustling…please join us!

After the event, of course there is clean up. We also need to assure that contest art work and art work that is unsold will be returned to owners.

There are numerous other ways you can help us. Avalonia is not just about stewardship; it takes a lot of work to raise the money needed to create a Bedrock Fund, dedicated to future acquisitions. In June the fund was used to finance the purchase of Babcock Ridge in North Stonington. Now we need to restore the fund. Your donations of art, entry into the contest, attendance at the event and in particular sponsorship for the event will help us rebuild the fund for those lands we hope to acquire in the future. 

Please contact Heather Milardo in the Avalonia office, by email (avalonialc@yahoo.com) or phone message (860-884-3500), to let her know how you can help. She will be setting up assignment sheets with time blocks and can let you know when and where we need you most.

Certainly the most fun is to get out there and create art!!

The Art of Conservation

By Beth Sullivan

The idea of combining art and nature is an ancient one. Landscape artists drew their inspiration from rolling fields, mountains and rivers. Early schools and societies, including some in Connecticut, became famous for inspiring artists to express their views of nature in their own individual, creative way.

Early botanical herbalists and artists explored the intricacies of flowers and plants for greater understanding, long before there were cameras for accurate documentation. Check out Bauer, Catesby, Ehret, Redoute’ , just for a few.

Bird artists earned great fame for their depiction of birds in their habitats and in doing so, helped swing the tide of conservation to appreciation of the natural world and all that are part of it. Audubon was the most famous and first to show birds in their natural surroundings, but he was followed by Fuertes, Brooks, Peterson and today Sibley and Bateman.

Crows at Dodge Paddock

Cormorant off Woolworth Porter Preserve

Early wildlife and landscape photographers used complicated equipment to achieve some amazing results : think Ansel Adams and the whole cadre of National Geographic photographers that followed.

Botanical beauty- Queen Anne's Lace

In some ways things remain the same today, yet in many ways it is easier to capture images and impressions of the beauty of nature.

Autumn color at Knox Preserve

So while the concept is ancient, there is a new idea on the horizon: In its planning stages, Avalonia Land Conservancy is hosting its First Annual Art of Conservation event in October. There will be a contest component with prizes in several categories including fine art and photography, youth and student designations. There will also be an opportunity for artists to simply donate their work for an auction to benefit Avalonia’s mission to preserve and protect more open space.

Create Art

The idea is simple: get out and record what you see! A call will go out soon to artists, of all ages and in all media including photography, to feature some aspect of one of our Preserves, and there are some inspiring ones! Avalonia holds lands in eight SE CT towns, from shore to uplands. There are open meadows, sparkling brooks, deep forests and inspiring marshes. We protect birds and all manner of wildlife and lovely plants, both rare and common, all with their own beauty.

Feather on the water off Cottrell Marsh

You can pan out for the larger view and do some wondrous landscapes or focus in close to find the details in the small gems.

So, while we still have more than a month of summer ahead of us and lovely days of early fall, we invite you to get out and take a hike. Take your children; their art and perceptions can be the most pure and beautiful. Take your sketchbook, pens, pencils and watercolors or if you are really industrious, your oils and pastels. Strap on your camera and show us what your eyes see through the lens.

Pink Lady's Slippers from Hoffman Preserve

Zoom in for the details around the marsh

There will be more details to follow. You can call the Avalonia office for more information or to get an announcement or application. It should go onto the website soon, so keep checking there, as it is being updated.

Go and enjoy what we have preserved so far and then participate in the event and plan to join us at the Mystic Arts Center on October 18, to contribute to our mission of continuing our acquisition efforts.

Stone bridge on Pequotseops Brook trail

Photographs and artwork by Beth Sullivan.