For Immediate Release
Contact: Brett Richardson
(763) 253-0222
www.statefishart.com
8th Annual State-Fish Art Expo
July 29-30, 2006 at Mall of America
Fun-Filled Weekend of Art, Fishing, and Major League Baseball
also Art of Conservation™ Stamp Release
Brooklyn Center, MN-Wildlife Forever, dedicated to conserving America’s fish and wildlife heritage, will host the 8th annual State-Fish Art Expo on July 29-30, 2006 at Mall Of America in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
State winners of the 2006 State-Fish Art Contest will be recognized at Mall of America for their outstanding artwork of their state-fish. A massive art display will feature all the winning artwork from across the country and an Award Ceremony on July 29th will recognize the talented young
artists.
According to Douglas H. Grann, Wildlife Forever’s President & CEO, “The future of our wildlife heritage depends on conservation education, and the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest provides important lessons in a way that truly resonates with young people. We can’t wait to see the students’ artwork on display at Mall of America and on the Metrodome’s big screen.”
National Best of Show winners will be announced in each grade category and the Annual Art of Conservation™ Stamp Award winner will be unveiled. Much like the way the federal government uses the proceeds from the federal duck stamp to fund wetlands conservation, sales of Wildlife Forever’s Art of Conservation™ stamps have funded conservation education and fishery projects across America.
The next Art of Conservation™ stamp featuring the artwork of Tiara Jenkins of Pittsburg, Missouri, will be released during a special “First Day of Issue” ceremony. The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the new official State-Fish Art Stamp with a 37-cent postal stamp to insure it is philately correct. Each special cover will bear the special postmark commemorating first day of issue from the U.S. Post Office's “Wildlife Forever Station” at Mall of America. Individual cachets are limited and sell for $7. Limited inventory of the 1999 to 2004 stamp designs are also available for sale while supply lasts.
“With the Art of Conservation™ stamps and the help of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Grann, “the State-Fish Art Expo will spread the good news of conservation while generating funds for fisheries conservation.”
Additional activities on July 29th will include “fishy” fun, art activities with The Art Institutes International Minnesota and other unique opportunities for the winners and public alike. The art displays and award ceremony at Mall of America are free and open to everyone.
The Minnesota Twins will host the artists and their families as the Twins face the Detroit Tigers in the Metrodome on July 30th. Winning artists and their artwork will be recognized on the playing field before the game in a special ceremony.
About the State-Fish Art Contest
The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest encourages young artists nationwide to create an illustration of their state-fish and a written composition on behavior, habitat, and efforts to conserve it. Entries are categorized by grade level: 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Up to three winners are selected from each state and invited to Mall of America in Minnesota to be honored at the State-Fish Art Expo.
The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest allows educators to use art as a “medium” for teaching important lessons on conservation of aquatic natural resources and the wonderful underwater world of fish. Educators can download the State-Fish Art Lesson Plan at no cost and obtain contest guidelines and entry forms from the State-Fish Art website, www.statefishart.com. The lesson plan includes extensive background information, a species identification section profiling each state-fish, and a thorough “fishy” glossary.
The deadline for entering the State-Fish Art Contest is March 31, 2006.
Press Room - Photos Available
For more information on the State-Fish Art Contest and Wildlife Forever, or to download photos from the 2005 State-Fish Art Expo and Art of Conservation™ Stamps, visit the Wildlife Forever Press Room.
About Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Forever is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat, and management of fish and wildlife. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to on-the-ground efforts.
Sponsors for the 8th annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest include
Collectors and conservationists can purchase any of the Art of Conservation™ stamp products by visiting the Wildlife Forever web store or by contacting Wildlife Forever at: (763) 253-0222. Mail orders should be sent to Wildlife Forever, 2700 Freeway Blvd., #1000, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. All shipping is free.
For information on the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, visit www.statefishart.com, America Online (Keyword: Fishart) or call toll-free at 1-877-Fish-Art. Digital copies of winning artwork available on request. Contact: Brett Richardson at (763) 253-0222 or brichardson@wildlifeforever.org.
###
