For the sixth successive year The Wildlife Experience Museum, on the corner of Lincoln and Peoria, Parker, is hosting another outstanding traveling "Art and the Animal" exhibition. This represents the 42nd Annual Exhibition by members of the prestigious Society of Animal Artists, a global organization comprised of only 460 of the most accomplished artists in the world.

Among this elite group of distinguished artists is a Parker resident, Victoria Parsons, who has two works on display. Her "Springtime Slumber," carved from a burl of white oak, depicts a sleeping, newborn, fawn. (See photo #1) The second work, carved from a burl of Rose Maple is titled "The Chase" and shows Victoria's vision of a pair of flying squirrels at play at night.

Victoria's passion for wildlife art blossomed once she arrived in the Denver area in 1989. Her naturalistic style is often enhanced by the use of unique materials. She uses 1500-year-old bristlecone pine, found in the Colorado mountains as high as 12,000 feet. She also utilizes burl woods from Carpathian elm, cherry and rose myrtle which yield one-of-a-kind pieces due to shape, age and rarity.

As a diverse sculptor, Victoria also sculpts in clay and casts in bronze using unique patinas to enhance each piece. Italian, Utah and Colorado alabasters also highlight a body of unique wildlife art intended to capture her subject's inner spirit. Her work can be found in galleries and private collections throughout the United States and she welcomes commission piece opportunities upon request.

Victoria has won numerous regional awards in Colorado and across the country. In 2004, she was selected as an associate member of the exclusive Society of Animal Artists (SAA) and her myrtle burl sculpture "Sea Treasure" was selected for the museum tour and once again she was juried into the 2006 museum tour opening with her bronze sculpture, "Courtship."

Reading Victoria's impressive list of credentials doesn't quite make up for actually seeing her work first hand, nor does it convey her enthusiasm and generous spirit. She is active in the local community and has worked with The Wildlife Experience Museum staff to develop exhibits and to reach out to local artists.

The Art and the Animal exhibit will be open to the public until February 18th, 2008. This is an essential show for anyone interested in seeing the finest animal art exhibit anywhere in the world. And it's right here in Parker. Information about this and other exhibits can be gleaned on-line at www.thewildlifeexperience.org.

More information about Victoria Parsons and her work can be seen at www.natureartists.com/victoria_parsons.aspx.