Art Exhibition: 'Just Audobon, Birds & Animals' by Joel Third

This exhibit’s focus is the famous 19^th century bird prints of John James Audubon (1785-1851), a Frenchman who immigrated to America in 1803 to Mill Grove, PA. However, to fully appreciate Audubon’s great work, the ornithologist artists who preceded him. Two artists who most influenced him are: Mark Catesby (1683-1749), the 18th-century English colonial naturalist who engraved and colored his own prints, and Alexander Wilson (1776-1813), the early 19^th century Scottish immigrant who first produced his own attractive, hand-colored prints. These two artists stimulated Audubon to improve their own work traditions and produce his masterpiece. Audubon and his family not only created great bird art, 'The Birds of America', but also produced very good animal art, 'The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America'. Example prints from both original works are shown in this exhibit. Background information, definitions, print making terms, the biographies of the artists and print makers are also provided. 

BIO:
Joel Third has been a hobbyist collector of antiquarian prints and maps for about 40 years, which coincided with his life-long interests in birds of North America and internationally. He has given numerous presentations in Ridgefield, Danbury and Wilton. Joel was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio graduating from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in electrical engineering. He retired in 2007 after 47 years employed as a communication system engineer and marketing director for ITT and Harris Corporations. Joel and his late wife Bettie Jane moved to Ridgefield from Montreal in 1992. He is past president of Keeler Tavern Museum, the Ridgefield Rotary Club, and the Ridgefield Men’s Club and a past member of their boards. He is also a past board member of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and a current board member of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and a current board member of SOAR Together. Joel is a member of St. Stephen’s Church, on the Ridgefield Graveyard Committee, and a past facilitator at Founders Hall. He is also a member of both the Connecticut and New Jersey Audubon Societies.