Sarasota Audubon - Wild About Art Show!

I am a member of the Sarasota Audubon and they had an art show of drawings and paintings that members of Sarasota Audubon had done themselves.  This would be a month long display in the Audubon Nature Center at The Celery Fields.  The Nature Center usually displays pictures of birds taken by Audubon members, but this was only for drawings and paintings.  So, that left me out as I only do pictures.  I can't draw or paint anything.  

I got to the event at about 4:15 pm and there were already many people there.  I think everyone wants to get there early to find a good parking spot, as they are limited.  I said my hellos to the people I knew. Below is a picture of me with Edith, who was one of the artists.  I voted for one of her paintings for the "Peoples Choice Award".  I'm not sure what the winner got, if anything.  

Here is a sign for the Nature Center.   This is what the Sarasota Audubon says about the nature center.  Why a Nature Center?

Managed access to a prime birding and wildlife habitat enhances our community’s quality of life. A remarkable 220 bird species now use the 360+ acre Celery Fields, which provides a protected habitat within a corridor of increasing urbanization.The Celery Fields is one of the premier birding sites in Florida. Protecting and restoring the Celery Fields is a goal of the County; Sarasota Audubon’s Nature Center will link our community to the land and its treasures. Educating our youth and the community at large about Florida’s natural habitats in the great outdoors is critical for planting the seeds for long-term sustainability. Sarasota Audubon’s Nature Center will support hands-on activities related to resource and wildlife conservation, natural history, and ecosystem management for both children and adults. Future plans call for development of more children’s programs, including Junior Naturalist. 

Here is a look at the building.  I will do another post about the building itself as it is unusual. 

Here you can see the entrance to the nature center.  There is a counter on the right where the volunteers give out information on The Celery Fields and take your money if you want to buy something. 

To the left is where the art was displayed.

Here is some of the art that was on display.

Can you name any of the birds?

Not to bad.

Lots of great art.

You could actually buy the art if you wanted and here is a table with some other art that you could purchase.  Sarasota Audubon Society is an extremely active chapter of National Audubon. With close to 1,400 members, they are able to help birds and wildlife thrive in Sarasota County.  There are many ways to donate your money and time to help with all their projects. 

I think I liked this one the best. It is of an American Kestrel. These are very beautiful birds.

The nature center has an area that is a gift shop. They have everything related to birds. They also do classes at the nature center, like, basic birding and bird drawing. 

 Here is what they say about volunteers.  Sarasota Audubon Society depends on our staff of fun, committed and passionate volunteers to keep Sarasota Audubon Society one of the best Audubon chapters in the country. Volunteering is the best way to meet people and become a part of our community of environmental friends. By giving your time and passion to one of our volunteer projects, you’ll be helping the environment of Sarasota County, one of the most beautiful and wildlife rich counties in Florida. 

Lots of info is available at the nature center!

There was some wine and refreshments available. 

Here I am with Sarasota Audubon president Jean Dubi. She was the one instrumental in getting the funding for the building of the nature center. 

Here is what Sarasota Audubon says about The Celery Fields, not my writing.  The location of the site, the large number of diverse bird species, and its public ownership by Sarasota County make the Celery Fields an ideal location for wildlife watching and passive recreational use. The 360+ acre site is also the County’s primary storm water collection zone, allowing it to serve a dual purpose of public safety and recreation.Wetlands restoration of 100 acres is now complete at the Celery Fields. More than 200,000 aquatic plants and trees have been planted, and two boardwalks have been installed, one off Palmer Blvd and the other off Raymond Road which borders the southeastern cell. This project will add additional walking and biking trails, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing for the entire community. Sarasota Audubon’s plan to build a nature center has been timed to coincide with this restoration. 

I had a great time at this event and got to see many people I knew. 

100% my pictures.