Talk about Audubon - His Supporters and Predecessors with Joel Third, Art Collector

Joel Third, art collector and member of the Keeler Tavern Board of Directors, will give a talk "Audubon - His Supporters and Predecessors," from 2 - 3 pm prior to the exhibition reception from 3 - 5 pm. His talk will focus on the works of John Jay Audubon and a selection of earlier prints by predecessors and later prints by successors that influenced his style or had been influenced by his style of bird art.

This exhibit’s focus is the famous 19^th century publication, The Birds of America, created by John James Audubon (1785-1851), a Frenchman, who immigrated to America in 1803 to Mill Grove, PA. Audubon had a very supportive wife, Lucy, and two creative sons, without whose complete dedication he could not have successfully completed his monumental achievement. To fully appreciate Audubon’s great work, the ornithologist artists who preceded and influenced him are also included in this exhibit.

Art collector Joel Third has been a collector of antiquarian bird prints for about 40 years, which coincided with his long-time interest in birds of North America. He enjoys preparing and exhibiting his prints of birds and maps and Currier and Ives as well. Joel has a degree in electrical engineering and is a retired international communications systems engineer and marketing director.

Joel is past-president of Keeler Tavern Museum, the Ridgefield Rotary Club, and the Ridgefield Men’s Club, and currently on their boards and the RSO board. Joel is a member of St. Stephens Church, on the Ridgefield Graveyard Committee, and has been a facilitator at Founders Hall. He is also a member of Connecticut and New Jersey Audubon Societies as well as the Cornell Ornithology Lab.