March Speaker Series: Wild Cranes in Art and History

March Speaker Series: Wild Cranes in Art and History with Andrew Peters

March 11th at 2 p.m. – Free and open to the public!

My presentation will share images of Crane paintings over the last three centuries. We will examine their beauty, differing styles, and the ornithology behind them. Bird books seldom had bird photos back in the days when telephoto lenses and cameras were first being developed.  I grew up looking at illustrations in bird books and came to admire many great bird artists. In a lifetime of painting influenced by the very best bird painters I am very excited to share their work. 

A few of my own paintings will be included, including the keynote painting: Migration Reunion of Ancient Kin. This is the commissioned painting in the permanent collection at MONA featuring Sandhill and Whooping Cranes. I’ll discuss the choices and challenges involved in creating such a complex painting. 

The richly illustrated presentation lasts 45 minutes in duration. It will be relaxed, fun, exciting, and very informative. Don’t miss it.  Andrew Peters b.1954

Growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Andy developed an early fascination with birds and became a Junior Naturalist at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. With that group he first saw Sandhill Cranes near Odessa, Nebraska in 1965. Inspired by the works of Audubon, he drew and sketched birds from life. It became his career and he has created some 1600 paintings over fifty years. He has traveled widely on four continents exploring and painting in wild places. He won a duck stamp competition and two gold medals at the Prix de West Invitational Exhibition.

His home Hazel Dell is surrounded by restored Bluestem prairie and native Burr Oak savanna in the Loess Hills of Council Bluffs, Iowa. His studio overlooks wetlands he created for wildlife diversity and natural beauty. School classes and artist groups visit to paint and learn. His favorite pastimes include filming wild birds, fly fishing, and upland hunting with his beloved bird dog Robin.

Explore our full list of March Speakers below!

March 6th at 10 a.m.- Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes with Keanna Leonard
March 7th at 10 a.m.- Stories for the Virtual Stream with Kylee Warren, Virtual Programs Producer at Crane Trust
March 7th at 1 p.m.- Segments from The Americas 45 min showing and talk about filming with Alex Wiles
March 8th at 10 a.m.- Crane Counting with Bethany Ostrom, Lead Biologist at Crane Trust
March 8th at 2 p.m.- The World of Cranes: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow with George Archibald
March 11th at 2 p.m.- Wild Cranes in Art and History with Andrew Peters
March 12th at 2 p.m.- BIRDWATCH: Bioinformatic Risk Detection & Waterfowl Assessment for Tracking, Control, & Health with Lisa Kercher
March 13th at 2 p.m.- An issue of scale: building coalitions to address wetland habitat connectivity challenges in the Great Plains using a flagship species with Andrew J. Caven, Vice President – North America Programs, International Crane Foundation
March 15th at 10 a.m.- Science Snippet: Crane Trapping with Abraham Kanz, Director of Conservation Research at Crane Trust
March 15th with three shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3 p.m.- Remember the Way with Heather Henson
March 18th at 2 p.m.- Art and Conservation with Linda Syverson Guild
March 21st at 2 p.m.- Raptorology Demonstration with Deb Miller and live birds from Edgerton Explorit Center
March 22nd at 2 p.m.- Raptorology Demonstration with Deb Miller and live birds from Edgerton Explorit Center
March 22nd at 10 a.m.- Pawnee Nation: Past and Present with Matt Reed from Pawnee Nation
March 28th at 2 p.m.- Nebraska Big Year: Chasing 350 with Tobin Brown, Birder and Software Developer
March 29th at 10 a.m.- Science Snippet: Crane Tracking with Bethany Ostrom, Lead Biologist at Crane Trust