In the Audubon Tradition Exhibition

About Devere Burt

I have always been interested in nature, both as a scientist and an artist. While working on advanced degrees in Wildlife Biology and Animal Ecology, I began making extra money doing illustrations for faculty and student research papers. This eventually led to a major opportunity to illustrate five monographs on the ectoparasites of mammals in Nepal, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, and the Sudan. I was working for Iowa State University, the Field Museum of Natural History, and The US Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo Egypt. It paid well, and I left College debt free, with money in the bank.

 Half my life has been devoted to conducting scientific research or overseeing research in the western US, Antarctica, the Philippines, and Nepal.  For 25 years I was President and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum of natural History, and moved it to Union Terminal. In 1996 I retired and opened Hawkeye Studios. I am primarily a bird artist, and especially interested in endangered or extinct birds. When I was hired by the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History (CMNH,), I was amazed to discover its rich and deep history, (the second oldest science museum in the US) and it’s affiliation with John James Audubon, the first paid employee of the ancestor of CMNH. That led to my creation of a portfolio of 56 paintings inspired by the life and times of Audubon, that I toured through 12 venues from Ohio to Marco Island Florida. Today my work can be found in museums, institutions, corporate, and private collections.

The highpoint of my artistic career is the honor of curating “In the Audubon Tradition” exhibition, celebrating the museum’s bicentennial, and the 200th anniversary of Audubon’s employment.  Recognizing the life of my best friend, John Ruthven, and including 90 of North America’s finest wild life artists in the celebration, puts it over the top. Special thanks is due the Susan Kathleen Black Foundation, which I am privileged to serve as a trustee. They have assured this amazing assemblage of artistic talent that dazzles and delights.

 

 

Year Without Summer

$4000

Oil

24 x 40

This painting depicts Audubon’s grist and lumber mill in Henderson KY. Its 1816, and the year before, Indonesia’s Tamboro volcano, experienced the largest eruption in recorded history. It ejected an enormous ash cloud into the upper atmosphere which blocked sunlight. It took a year to drift into the northern hemisphere, where it caused, “the year without summer”. The result was three killing frosts during the growing season, which wiped out American agriculture, and agri-business. Combined with Federal debt due on the Louisiana purchase, the continental congress  drew down the gold and silver reserves in Federal Banks to pay the debt. In turn, the banks called in all of thier debt to remain solvent. Audubon was bankrupted, but the bankruptcy (which was no fault of his own) set in motion, events and relationships that would eventually bring him to The Western Museum Society in Cincinnati. Here, the “Birds of America” began.

How to Purchase
To purchase this artwork please email the name of the piece you want along with the artist’s name.
EMAIL TO:
Erica Wainwright
Cincinnati Museum Center

Redtail

$7000

Oil

30 x 40″

This painting depicts a dark phase Red Tailed Hawk, first observed by Audubon during his Missouri River expedition in 1843. The color phase occurs in  Red Tails west of the Mississippi, and represents 10-20%  of  local populations. Audubon enjoyed watching the hawk’s aerial skills, and gave them the nick name, “Black Warrior”. My Black Warrior is flying across a beautiful landscape, south of Wyoming’s Rams horn peak in the Wind River watershed, where I have observed them many times.

How to Purchase
To purchase this artwork please email the name of the piece you want along with the artist’s name.
EMAIL TO:
Erica Wainwright
Cincinnati Museum Center

In the Audubon Tradition: Birds of a Feather

In the Audubon Tradition honors the contributions of artist and educator John A. Ruthven—and presents a select group of elite contemporary artists inspired by the work of John James Audubon.
Disclaimer: The Susan Kathleen Black Foundation receives no profit or payments from the sale of products on this site.