AFC SILENT SKIES MURAL

2ND LETTER OF APPEAL BY BRENT COOKE
 

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Just over 2 weeks ago, AFC Board Member Brent Cooke sent an appeal to all members to help us complete the Silent Skies Mural as centerpiece of the 27th International Ornithological Congress. The response was incredible, with 100 of the remaining 200 species claimed.  We have a lot of work to mount and integrate all artwork into the mural - so we appreciate if you please finish, upload and send asap.  Mural registration remains open with a goal of completing remaining species for the unveiling (including any artworks received by Monday, August 13, 2019). Artwork received after this date will be included in the following public exhibit as part of a planned international tour.

 

Following is a letter from fellow AFC artist and Board Member, Brent Cooke...

Hi Everyone:
 
First of all, I want to thank all of you who responded to my last appeal letter regarding the need to complete the Silent Skies mural. The response was so good that we now have only 100 left unclaimed and that means that with commitments and works in hand we are over 85% complete! More to the point...the toothless smile is getting toothier!!
 
So, with just under one month to go, exactly 100 birds left to paint...as a collective...can we make the final push to ensure we have the entire endangered list represented? I sincerely hope we can. We are so close. As I said before, this will be the first time in history that all of these species will be united as hand painted works of art, in a single 100' long mural. What better place to unveil it than at the International Ornithological Congress here at home in Vancouver? The mural will travel for years to come to many institutions where it will spark many conversations about birds, art and conservation. When you get right down to it...isn't this what we all signed up to do through our membership in Artists for Conservation?
 
I ask that each of you take a moment to review the current list of birds unclaimed, take a look at your own commitments over the next three weeks and see if you can't take on one or two more species. We are only talking about 8" square canvasses and the artwork is intended to be interpretative not as a scientific field guide!

 
It is only with your help and commitment that the entire organization (AFC) succeeds. I hope to see all of you at the unveiling in August at the Festival.
 
Sincerely,
Brent Cooke    
AFC Signature Member & Board Member
 

ABOUT THE SILENT SKIES MURAL PROJECT

In early 2017, we made a call to all AFC members to participate in the creation of  a collaborative "Mega Mural" composed of individual 8" x 8" paintings of the 678 endangered species of birds of the world. The 100-foot artistic creation, titled  "Silent Skies", will be installed as the artistic centerpiece at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the 27th International Ornithological Congress ( www.iocongress2018.org ) and for the 2018 Artists for Conservation Festival, August 22-25, 2018.  We are also working with several interested parties to tour the mural in 2019-2021.

Some key points about this project:
  • No entry fees to participate;
  • Raises funds for bird conservation;
  • Revenue opportunity for artists (from original/print sales) ;
  • Supports AFC youth education program;
  • Participate in the world's largest bird art installation and contribute to the centrepiece of the world's most important bird event;
  • International tour planned (2019-2021);
  • Opportunity for sculptors to participate.
Full details are online at the Silent Skies Artist Registration.  To register for the Silent Skies Mural project, follow these simple steps:
  1. Go to http://festival.artistsforconservation.org/project/register. Enter your name and email. Enter secret code: "iocongress2018" (no quotes). You will receive an email confirming your account creation with a log-in link and username / password for future reference.
     
  2. Click on " Mural Registration" button and review the terms & conditions.
      
  3. Click on an unclaimed species from the list. Use the search filter if needed. 
     
  4. Claim your species by clicking on the check box and Submit button under "Commit to represent a species" section. 

(if you have NOT yet registered)

(if you have already registered)

(open to everyone)

(Details in the 2018 Artist Prospectus)

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. 
 
AFC is the world's leading group of artists supporting the environment. Dedicated to nurture, promote and leverage its world-class community of artists in support of our natural world, AFC drives its mission through three key programs: Art & Environmental Education; Field Work & Research; and Artist Development. Visit the AFC website.