2014 State-Fish Art Winners Released
OutdoorHub 05.16.14
164 Young Conservationists Invited to Attend FLW State-Fish Art EXPO
Wildlife Forever is proud to announce the winners of the 2014 State-Fish Art Contest presented by FLW. A diverse panel of fish biologists, artists, writers and honorary judges selected 152 art winners from a field of thousands to be “the best of the best” in their state and grade category. The leaping Guadalupe bass below titled “Texas Treasure” won 1st Place in Georgia for Grades 7-9!
The “Fish Make You Smarter” essays, accompanying each piece of art, were also judged. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each grade category will receive national awards. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service judged the Grade 10-12 Category and will be on hand to award the trophies for excellence.
Each state’s 1st Place and national winners will have the opportunity to join talented young artists from across the country at the 16th Annual State-Fish Art EXPO August 15 and 16 at FLW’s Forrest Wood Cup in Columbia, South Carolina. All winning artwork and essays will be on display. The awards ceremony, at the Columbia Metropolitan Conference Center, will recognize the winners before the FLW crowd. Each winning artist, attending the EXPO, will receive an award, great prizes, art supplies, goodie bags, and a fishing rod & reel from Rapala.
“Wildlife Forever is pleased to honor the talented young artists, educators and parents who make the State-Fish Art Contest such a successful program,” said Karen R. Hollingsworth, Manager of State-Fish Art. “Together, we are using art to empower a new generation of conservationists. By sharing their fish art with family, friends and the general public, our young people are becoming ambassadors for good stewardship of fish and fishing.”
All winning entries can be enjoyed at: www.wildlifeforever.org/contest/awards/state/2014statewinners
The “Top 12” National Art Awards will be announced at the State-Fish Art EXPO honoring the top three pieces of artwork in each grade category selected from all the states, Ontario and international first place winners.
An overall winner will receive the “Seth Thomas Spradlin Best of Show Award” given in honor of the 2008 winner who lost his life in an Alaska bush plane accident in August of 2010.
This year’s “Invader Crusader” will be chosen from the entries in the Silent Invader Category. The art and essay include both a state-fish and an invasive species that affects it and its habitat.
One outstanding piece of artwork will win the “Art of Conservation” Stamp Award and be reproduced as the 2014 Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Conservation Stamp. Proceeds from the stamp will be used to fund the Contest.
The “Smile Award”, will be given to a piece of art, selected from all the entries, that just “makes you smile and feel good inside” … how cool is that!
The People’s Choice Award will be determined by a world-wide public online vote through links on the State-Fish Art website www.StateFishArt.org and on Facebook: @StateFishArtContest. The time for online voting will be announced soon and additional votes will be cast in person at the State-Fish Art EXPO.
Judges for this year’s art competition included: Bridgett Grigsby – FLW, Vice President of Marketing, Mike D’Andrea – 3M, Mike Hoff – USFWS Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Terry Clayton – Triarco Arts & Crafts General Manager and COO, and Troy Truesdell – winner the of 2006 Best of Show. Scott Grieve, Wildlife Forever Board Member, served as Alternate Judge.
Judges for the essay competition included: Caroline Lehman – writer, Teri Heyer – USDA Urban Connections, Craig Springer – USFWS, Editor Eddies, Denise Wagner – USFWS Aquatic Conservation Program and Karen Hollingsworth – Manager, State-Fish Art Program.
Wildlife Forever’s 16th annual State-Fish Art Contest and EXPO is made possible by support from Title Sponsor FLW, U.S. Forest Service, Rapala, Triarco Arts & Crafts, North American Fishing Club, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Fish and Aquatic Resources Conservation, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
