KPYN AM & FM
Cass County Outdoors
 Fair
to Feature Art, Food, Fishing and Fun at Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center
ATHENS—When the 12th annual Wildlife Forever
State-Fish Art Expo comes to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
July 17, there will be more to do than just look at 2010’s best
student-rendered artwork of fishes. In keeping with the “Art’s
Better Outside” theme of the event, visitors can dine on fair-type
food, fish in the stocked casting pond, watch artists demonstrate
their skills, shop for a piece of art to hang over the sofa or
have their picture taken with Smokey Bear.
But that’s not all. Staff from the Blackland
Prairie Raptor Center will be showing off birds of prey such as a
barn owl, red-tailed hawk, screech owl and more. The U.S. Forest
Service’s Amigos del Bosque will cheerfully drape a snake around
your neck—or not. It’s your choice. Choices are what Art’s
Better Outside is all about, and visitors will have many to make.
Which of the 111 pieces of student artwork on display will they
choose as the People’s Choice Award?
Should they watch the diver feed the fish at the 11 o’clock dive
show, or wait for the 2:00 p.m. show? Would a funnel cake or
a snowcone taste better after a barbecued turkey leg? Would they
like jalapeños on those nachos?
Would they rather watch potter Barbara Hennessey throw a pot or
Texas State Artist Sam Caldwell work with students to create a
picture? And who can resist finding out what metal sculpturist
Terry Jones is going to make from that pile of old junk?
Art is the thread that ties all the exhibits
together, and not just any art: fish art. More precisely, art that
depicts fishes. And every piece of art on display was a winner at
the state level in the annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art
Contest.
TFFC is headquarters for the Texas division of the contest and is
hosting this year’s national expo and competition where Best of
Show and Art of Conservation Stamp Award winners will be
announced. Final voting for the People’s Choice Award will take
place on July 17, completing on-line balloting. Visitors can
choose their favorite and help pick the winner.
Art’s Better Outside will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
July 17. A schedule of the day’s events can be found at
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishart. The event is free with paid
admission to TFFC. For more information and directions, visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/tffc.
Sponsoring Artist Sherwanda Irvin, nature photographer, will
display a selection of her works under the names “Art by Sherwanda”
and “CreativeCross.”
At the time of writing, the following artists and exhibitors were
scheduled to attend: Sam Caldwell, Texas State Artist—art project
with student artists, watercolors and prints; Dr. Susan Tomlinson,
Director, Natural History and Humanities Program, Texas Tech
University—canoe paddle carving and nature journaling; United
States Forest Service, Eastern Region—Smokey Bear and Amigos del
Bosque reptile display; Terry Jones—metal sculpture; Sandy
McFarland and Brenda Hennessey—pottery making and glass art;
Blackland Prairie Raptor Center—birds of prey.
Also, Henderson County Art Club—display of members’ works; Jamie
Williams—Meaningful Memories Photography; Debbie Wade—Lady Juliana
fly-tying; Society for Creative Anachronism—calligraphy and
illumination, weaving, embroidery, jewelry, metalwork, costuming,
fencing demonstrations; Rose Path Weaving—loom demonstrations;
Jennifer Kemp—outdoor and landscape photography; Emilie
Douglas—outdoor photography; Amy Branham—photography; and
Johnathan Strange—Honors Academy of Palestine.
Wildlife Forever's 12th annual State-Fish Art Contest was made
possible by support from the North American Fishing Club; Rapala;
Blick Art Materials; The Art Institutes International, Minnesota;
the U.S. Forest Service Eastern Region; and the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center.
Texas sponsors include the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which funds
cash prizes for Texas winners and travel expenses for first-place
winners and their families to attend the national event; and
Strike King Lures, which provides a fishing lure to each Texas
entrant.
Wildlife Forever is a conservation organization whose mission is
to conserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation
education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and
wildlife. Learn more at www.wildlifeforever.org.
CAPTION INFORMATION
In addition to fishing and art displays, wildlife will be a
featured part of Art’s Better Outside at the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center July 17. The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center will
have a variety of birds on hand for close-up viewing, and the U.S.
Forest Service’s Amigos del Bosque will offer the opportunity to
hold several kinds of snakes.
Camo caught that fish about a week ago. It weighed 7-8 pounds. He
was so proud!! That kid loves to hunt and fish.
Lauren Rutland caught this 5.1 lber on Lake o
the Pines.
COON HUNTERS ANNUAL HUNT THIS MONTH IN CASS COUNTY
By Robert DelGiorno
The 2010 Four States Cystic Fibrosis Coon Hunt will
take place February 26th and February 27th
at the Cass County Expo Building on US Highway 59 in Atlanta. The
hunt is an AKC sanctioned event which means that no animals will
be harmed. In the history of the coon hunt, between $500,000 to
$600,000 has been raised for Cystic Fibrosis. Donations are needed
to help fund the event. Money at the Coon hunt is earned through
the Loge’s kitchen which sells barbecue and fish. They’re will
also be an auction. The Coon Hunt is looking for sponsors for the
food and for donations for the auction. For more information about
the hunt, or to make a donation, call Dexter Whatley at
903-799-5406
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