Tag: Rare Wildlife Revealed

by Liz Silvernail, Executive Director

New friends and familiar faces gathered at the Cape May Point Science Center (CMPSC) earlier this month to learn about our American oystercatcher project in Delaware Bay, while enjoying a stunning exhibition of wildlife watercolors by artist James Fiorentino. Guests were warmly welcomed by the staff of Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF) and CMPSC, and they enjoyed beautiful weather, delicious food, and engaging conversations. Each visitor received a complimentary set of twenty-five wildlife trading cards, showcasing Fiorentino’s realistic paintings of at-risk species alongside informative descriptions. These cards can be purchased at Wildlife Trading Cards / Rare Wildlife Revealed Collection | Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ.

A special thank you goes to the Cape May Point Science Center, James Fiorentino, and our event sponsors, Pure Insurance and the Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation.

The Cape May Point Science Center is a valued supporter of CWF’s American oystercatcher monitoring on the Delaware Bay and has provided funding for five GPS transmitters to study oystercatcher movements and habitat use. Thanks to this partnership, CWF and our colleagues at the Wetlands Institute deployed transmitters on two Delaware Bay oystercatchers this past season, marking the first time these birds have been geo-tagged in New Jersey. During the event, CWF biologist Emmy Casper highlighted this collaboration and shared initial movement data collected from the tagged birds.

CWF’s partnership with James began in 2016 with the successful “Rare Wildlife Revealed: The James Fiorentino Traveling Art Exhibition,” which featured twenty-five original watercolor paintings of some of New Jersey’s most endangered and vulnerable wildlife species. This exhibition captivated thousands at various venues, from museums and universities to breweries and ballparks.

James Fiorentino’s evocative artwork inspires viewers through lifelike depictions of rare wildlife in their natural habitats. His watercolor paintings truly bring these species to life on paper, educating and engaging the public about the significant declines many of them face. By highlighting these charismatic yet often-overlooked animals, our partnership aims to raise awareness about actionable steps individuals can take to support wildlife conservation.

The new wildlife trading card set represents the next phase of our collaboration with James to promote wildlife conservation through art. While James has previously created top-selling sports trading cards for brands like Topps and Upper Deck, this marks his first foray into wildlife art on trading cards. This exciting project merges his artistic talent with educational outreach, furthering our efforts to raise awareness and support for the vulnerable species that CWF is dedicated to protecting.

Stay tuned for future exhibitions featuring James Fiorentino’s wildlife watercolors and the new wildlife trading card set!

 

His sports art long celebrated at Baseball Hall of Fame and other venues, Fiorentino’s wildlife watercolor exhibition arrives in NYC with free reception

Nationally celebrated artist James Fiorentino has been celebrated for his iconic paintings of New York sports icons like Derek Jeter, Yogi Berra, and Odell Beckham, Jr. Now Mr. Fiorentino returns to New York City with a new muse for his prodigious talents – the vulnerable, oft-overlooked wildlife of the metropolitan area.

“Rare Wildlife Revealed: The James Fiorentino Traveling Art Exhibition” will make its New York City debut at the historic Salmagundi Club during the week of April 2-8, 2017. A free reception will be held on Tuesday, April 4 from 6-8 PM at the Salmagundi Art Club Patrons’ Gallery, located at 47 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10003.

Offered by the nonprofit Conserve Wildlife Foundation, the exhibit is part of a three-year traveling exhibition around the northeastern United States that kicked off this past fall.

Continue reading “James Fiorentino returns to NYC with wildlife art exhibition at Salmagundi Club on April 4”

by Andrew Mead

 

It’s said that 10,000 hours of practice are needed to master one’s craft. James Fiorentino surely reached this milestone by age 15, when he was the youngest artist ever to have his work featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. At age 39, he has now refocused his attention on wildlife, which he started painting at 10 years old, and brings them to life in exquisite detail on canvas.

 

Conserve Wildlife Foundation is proud to present Rare Wildlife Revealed: The James Fiorentino Traveling Art Exhibition. We are kicking things off with a free premiere showing at D&R Greenway Land Trust on Friday September 30th from 5:30 to 7:30pm, which will run concurrently with Species on the Edge, our annual art and essay contest for 5th graders.

 

Showcasing twenty-five original watercolor paintings – from bobcats and diamondback terrapins to Pine Barrens tree frogs and little brown bats – Rare Wildlife Revealed celebrates local wildlife and brings attention to the very tangible steps we can take to save and strengthen our most vulnerable species.

 

Join us to meet James Fiorentino, as he walks you through the exhibit and shares his passion for the wildlife of New Jersey. CWF’s leading biologists and a live bird of prey will be on hand to educate and inspire you. We are also proud to announce special guest Tom Kean, former Governor of New Jersey, who shares a special relationship with James and conservation in New Jersey. Gov. Kean wrote the foreword to the art book accompanying the exhibit, with CWF’s David Wheeler writing the introduction. Light fare, wine and Flying Fish beer will be provided.

 

Fiorentino’s early interest in the outdoors was piqued by fishing trips with his father, a biology teacher, and excursions to his uncle’s farm in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Now a resident of Hunterdon County, James draws inspiration from his own backyard, “I am awed by what we see here: the eastern box turtle (a vulnerable species), great horned owl, pileated woodpeckers, foxes, hawks and butterflies. It’s an amazing backyard ecosystem.”

 

Fiorentino also draws inspiration from his work with The Raptor Trust of Millington, New Jersey, of which he is a trustee. It is there that he is able to study rare and endangered birds up close, even holding them, to capture their unique characteristics in beautiful detail. “We rehabilitate 4,000 birds a year and release about half that number,” says James.  “These wild birds have had a tremendous influence on me. I enjoy getting close to birds of prey, and it has brought me back to nature art.”

 

Speaking of Rare Wildlife Revealed: The James Fiorentino Traveling Art Exhibition, he shares, “I am excited about this premiere showing that supports two excellent organizations, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and D&R Greenway Land Trust. Because of their work, endangered wildlife who make their home in New Jersey will continue to have a supportive habitat.”

 

Fiorentino’s five-year-old son excitedly points to a butterfly outside his dining room window.  “That’s my favorite!”  He shows a series of colored drawings. “My dad draws the outline and I fill it in,” he explains.  Following in his own father’s footsteps, James is creating memories with his two young sons and inspiring a love for wildlife. We know this exhibit will inspire you too.

 

Andrew Mead is a communication intern with Conserve Wildlife Foundation.

 

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LEARN MORE:

• Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s Partnership with Artist James Fiorentino
• Conservation Status Overview
• Threats to Wildlife
• Wildlife Species Spotlight

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