We don’t always get time to post about what we’ve been doing in our Programs. But Sundays forFledglings is up and running again this year (2pm on Sundays for about 45-60 minutes), and this week we got some nice photos from the occasion. I couldn’t resist adding them:
What you might see when a raw egg is illuminated by a flashlight. (Works best in a dark room. This egg was about 4 days old from some local chickens.)
At 7:30 this morning, I popped a raw egg in a glass jelly jar with white vinegar to cover. Shortly therefore it began to float. By 2pm, the shell was soft enough to scrape and some of the darker markings had come off. What will happen by tomorrow morning? By next week?
One of the eggs we dissected today had apparently been fertilized. It had, in addition to the usual yolk, albumen, membrane, shell, and charazae, an additional “blob of glup” which was transparent but for dome dark reddish streaks and spots.
We looked at light through eggs, the way hard-boiled and raw eggs spin (or don’t, depending on the surface and the egg), and the anatomy of eggs. We investigated the shell, cracked open both raw and cooked eggs to see how the contents change (or don’t), and peered at parts through a stereoscope. (Memo to self:bring hand lenses too next time). We looked at models of eggs of different sizes, colors, and shapes in order to imagine how a combo of characteristics would be useful for some kinds of birds (but others would need a different combination). Lastly, we washed our hands, just in case. Next time, we might try investigating shell strength.
Next week we’ll make some noise: bird calls, chirps, hoots and hollers. Sound off!
Enter your bird art in the Birds of Vermont Museum 2012 Art Contest. The theme is
It’s a Bird’s World
2012 Art Contest Rules
Download an art contest flyer for you, a friend, your school, library, or scout group! Art Contest Flyer (142 kb PDF), or read the rules below. We look forward to seeing your art!
“Flying Birds” Entries from 2010
Who can enter?
Anyone aged 0 – 18 years old.
What can I enter?
Art that fits our 2012 theme: It’s a Bird’s World. How do you and birds affect each other and your world?
Contestants may use any media.
Past entries (and winners) have used paint, colored pencils, crayons, markers, clay, wood, or papier-mâché.
Flat submissions (paper, collage, etc.) must be no larger than 8 ½” x 11”
3-D art must be smaller than 6”x 6”x 8”
How do I enter?
One entry per person.
Name, age and contact information must be included with entry. Please put this on the back or bottom if possible.
Entries must be received no later than September 30, 2012.
Please bring or mail entries to:
Birds of Vermont Museum
900 Sherman Hollow Road
Huntington, Vermont 05462
Entries will be displayed at the museum throughout the 2012 season, so enter early!
Judging
First, second, and honorable mention prizes will be awarded in the following categories (most are age-based):
5 years and younger
6 – 8 years
9 – 13 years
14 – 18 years
3-D Art
We may add additional prizes or categories at our discretion. In the past, we’ve added Masks, Ceramics, and Watercolor and Resists.
Winners
Winners will be announced at the Museum at the Fall Festival, Saturday, October 13, 2011 (see more events on our calendar).
Winning entries may be displayed (with artist and parent approval) on our blog or our Facebook page after the Festival.
Can I get my art back?
Of course! Entries may be picked up at the Museum. We encourage you to collect them between October 13 and November 1, 2012, if possible. We are open by appointment, rather than daily, starting November 1.
Sponsors
We welcome sponsors of our art contest! Contact us if you’d like to donate funds (to purchase prizes) or prizes (we do ask that we get to vet these first).
Past sponsors have included farm and garden stores, art supply shops, artists, and museum members.
The Museum opened its doors this May 1st with 501 birds! An incredible milestone, but of course Bob and the staff have plans for still more. But have we ever mentioned—in addition to the birds—how many carved eggsthere are? So many of our bird displays are complete with parents, nest, habitat, and eggs, that it seems worth some mention. After all, which came first? Continue reading “Eggs: It All Starts Here—Or Does It?”
What a great year! We had first, second, third prize winners, some honorable mentions, and some of special note, e.g., “Best Chuckle” and “Most Like Marc Chagall.” Again, local art teachers in Chittenden County encouraged their classes, which always adds to the diversity and richness of the submitted art.
The winners are:
Traditional Media
Ages 0-5: Maeve, Ruby, Fiona, Cecily, Avery and Pace Ages 6-8: Emma, Alyssa, Alex, Marlie, and Morgan Ages 9-13: Carrie, Erin, Jordan, Brandon, Graham, Sevi, Jason,
and Breanna Ages 14-18: Daniel and Chad
3-D
Ages 0-5: Tom Ages 6-8: Anna, Katie, Hayley and Morgan
We’re pleased to extend Familiar Ground, Lori Hinrichsen’s art exhibit, through the July 4th weekend! If you haven’t seen it, now is your chance! Lori has also graciously extended a very generous offer: 20% of all sales benefit the museum. Pick up some fantastic art for you home or office. And thank you, Lori!
For this year’s raffle bird, we offer a wood and cork decoy, carved and painted by Leo LaBonte of Essex Junction, Vermont. The bird is about 10.5” from beak to tail, and looks lovely in its temporary home by our guest register. Many visitors have already commented that it would look even nicer in a permanent home (theirs!). Tickets are $1 each, or buy 6 for $5. You can buy tickets by phone, if you like!
Leo LaBonte started carving a little over 12 years ago. He is mostly a self-taught carver with one class under his belt that helped him to overcome a few hurdles and smooth out the process. He mostly focuses on decoy carvings but has also carved ducklings, small songbirds, and a few figurines. He has won numerous awards for his decoys including the Art Knapp Hunting Decoy Contest and the Thousand Islands Museum Decoy and Wildlife Art Show. In more recent years he has also taught his two sons to carve, resulting in 2 more award-winning carvers in the family. In 2009 both sons won awards at the International Wildfowl Carvers Association Young Guns competition!
Although generously donating the Blue-winged Teal to the Museum, Leo usually sells his decoys. He is in the process of putting together a website (under construction as of this writing). If anyone is interested in contacting Leo please call or email the Museum (802) 434-2167 and museum@birdsofvermont.org.
Welcome to our May-June 2011 exhibiting artist: Lori Hinrichsen. Her show, “Familiar Ground: monotypes, intaglios and photography inspired by nature”, opened at the Museum May 1st, with the opening day of our 2011 season.
"Between Earth and Sky", intaglio by Lori Hinrichsen, in postcard announcing show
Lori grew up in Iowa and attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in Theatre, Film and Video. Lori spent several years exploring the US, living and growing her art from California to Vermont. This included being a resident artist in Mendocino, at the Vermont Studio Center, and at the Virginia center for Creative Artists. She first joined the Museum community last fall as a judge for the 2010 Annual Youth Art Contest.
Lori has a studio at Shelburne Pond Studios, where she works with printmaking, painting, fabric, and ink. She writes:
Much of my time is spent exploring and connecting with the land and the sky, from meandering paths along the rugged coastline, to breathing in the intoxicating smells of evergreens and fresh rain, to the star-filled desert skies that touch the earth. I feel a deep reverence for the ordinary, for the sensual ecstasy as each season unfolds. My work is in response to this intimate awareness and observation of nature which reflects the moment, engaging the present.
Come by and view her art and photography any day from now through the end of June. We are open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free with admission to the museum ($6 for adults, discounts for children, seniors, and members).
