By Randall C. Melton, DEAR Communications Director
Our first featured artist is nationally renowned artist Mark Durham. Mark specializes in immortalizing pet’s personalities on canvas – with a lot of color and a little of his signature wackiness thrown in. "I paint cats with pearls and crowns, or kids with purple hair and crazy hats, while capturing their spirit and that thing that you love about them. It’s all about fun!"
Although Mark is a behind the scenes kind of guy, his artwork is making headlines. National magazines and television, including Southern Living Magazine and Southern Living Presents, have featured Mark and his head turning artwork. USA Weekend Magazine dubbed Mark, "...the next Andy Warhol." His celebrity clients include NFL players Dan Morgan, Will Witherspoon, and NASCAR legend Ernie Irvan. He's even painted a "mad dinosaur" for Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton.
The next artist is Janet Dixon. Janet is a self taught watercolor artist from Greenville, NC and has exhibited in numerous art shows, mostly in Delaware, Philadelphia and North Carolina areas. She has been commissioned by local and out-of-state collectors and her work is part of many corporate and private collections. Janet was selected as the poster print artist for the Wilmington, Delaware Flower Art Show in 1993.
Her work has been in shows at the Franklin Mint in Media, PA and the American College in Philadelphia. She was juried into the Rittenhouse Square Art Show in Philadelphia, PA. She was
selected out of 11,000 artists across the United States as a finalist in "The Artist" Magazine's 1997 art competition. Janet also was one of ten finalists in the International Artist's Magazine 2002 art competition. Janet's work has been juried into and has won awards in several prominent shows in North Carolina. She has been in the North Carolina Watercolors Annual Exhibition 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. In 2005 Janet was featured in a book published by International Artist's Magazine entitled How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Pain People & Figures, Vol. II. You can view additional artwork by Janet at her website www.janetdixonart.com.
Original artwork, signed prints, and hand made crafts have been donated by many local and national artisans. These artists include Brenda Freeken Behr, Doris Ward, Dorothy McLennan, Judy Larkins, Mark Durham, Alethia Green, Annette Fleming, Maryellen Jones, Bob Timberlake, Janet Dixon, Patrick McDonnell, Paul Antonio, Tim Donovon, Doug Williams, Jackie Jones, Evelyn Morris Hecht, M. Joyce Zeigler, Claudia Dersch, Jeff Jakub, and Sheila Waters.
Viewing of all donated artwork will begin when Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center and Eco-Park opens at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 7. Public viewing will continue until the auction begins promptly at 3:00 p.m. A full list of items available for bidding will be available at the door. Light snacks and beverages will be served at the conclusion of the auction. The event is scheduled to conclude at 5:00 p.m. The general public, members of Sylvan Heights, and the news media are invited to attend this unique event.
All donated artwork and additional biographical information on the artists is available on our website, www.downeastanimalrefuge.org. The auction brochure is also available for downloading on our site.
DEAR also would like to thank their host, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Centre & Eco-Park, for taking on this unique event. Sylvan Heights houses the largest collection of rare and endangered waterfowl in the world. DEAR encourages people to come early and tour the facility (there is a ticket fee or membership options). More information concerning the park can be viewed on their web site at www.shwpark.com
If you have a question concerning rabies clinics, adoptions, fundraisers, donations, or the DEAR shelter, please contact Down East Animal Refuge at 252-826-2500, information@downeastanimalrefuge.org, or by visiting the web site at http://www.downeastanimalrefuge.org.