4/24/2010
Audubon is proud to announce that Scott Weidensaul, Pulitzer Prize nominated author of Living on the Wind and more than two dozen books on natural history, will be the augural recipieinnt of The John James Audubon Center Award for Art Inspiring Conservation. This new award honors an individual who, through their body of work or a single seminal work, uses art to communicate the real and intrinsic value of the nature, interpret conservation challenges, and inspire humanity to take actions that will protect and preserve birds, other wildlife and the world we share.
"John James Audubon used a brush to transform how Americans look at nature; Scott Weidensaul uses words to the same magical effect,” said Jean Bochnowski, director of the Audubon Center at Mill Grove, sponsor of the award. “His work exemplifies the artistry and inspiration the award is meant to honor."
The award will be presented at Friends of a Feather, a gala reception to be held at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, PA on April 24, 2010. Attendees of the event will be able to enjoy fine foods and spirits in a casual atmosphere underneath the pavilion, roam through the Center’s spectacular juried art show in the barn, and rediscover John James Audubon’s art in the historic farmhouse. Tickets and tables for the event, which range in price from $65 for unreserved seating to $2,500 for a corporate table, are available now by contacting the Center at 610-666-5593 x105 or via email.
Los Angles Times Book Review noted, “Scott Weidensaul ranks among an elite group of writer-naturalists – Bruce Chawin, John McPhee and David Quammen come to mind – whose straightforward eloquence elevates ecology to the level of philosophy.” In his books Living on the Wind, Ghosts with Trembling Wings and Of a Feather, Mr. Weidensaul is praised for weaving complex scientific information and historic facts into engrossing and easy to understand prose.
Scott Weidensaul does more than write about birds. As a federal licensed bird-bander, he leads teams from the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art (Millersburg, PA) to harmlessly catch, band and release hundreds of Saw-Whet Owls each fall. Much of what is now known about the migratory patterns of these tiny and elusive raptors comes from the work of Mr. Weidensaul and hundreds of other volunteer researchers.
Built in 1762 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Mill Grove was the first American home of renowned artist, naturalist, and author John James Audubon. Today, 175 acres of Mill Grove’s original estate remains largely as Audubon found it a haven for birds and wildlife. The property boasts more than nine miles of trails, and the historic three-story stone farmhouse serves as a museum displaying original Audubon prints, oil paintings, and Audubon memorabilia. It is one of dozens of Audubon Centers nationwide that connect individuals with nature and their power to protect it. More information about JJAC is available at http://pa.audubon.org/centers_mill_grove.html or by calling 610-666-5593. Mill Grove is a Montgomery County historic site.