The public is invited to view intricately carved wildlife on display Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11, 2016, during the 29th annual Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show and Northwest Championship at the Water Resources Education Center. The show is free to attend and focuses on hand carved, textured, and painted wood sculptures of birds, fish, and mammals in fifteen competitive divisions.
This premier wildlife carving show and competition attracts more than 90 wildlife artists from across the United States and Canada. Ted Smith is the featured artist for this year’s event. Mr. Smith has been carving for 32 years and just started entering competitions within the past five years. Several of his grebes have won Best of Show and other awards. Mr. Smith believes that “you only lose when you stop trying,” and he plans to keep carving for many years to come.
The 2016 Washington Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition winning entries will also be on display during the event and through the month of September in the second floor gallery of Water Center. Always fun is the judging of mini wood duck decoys in the fountain pool from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and trading of mini green-winged teal drake decoys starting at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
This year’s activities also include seminars and demonstrations on both Saturday and Sunday. Artist and past college art professor Joe Girtner explains the importance of research and creating habitat when carving from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Then from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dale Barrett will share his knowledge by teaching others and showing how creating unique tools can help achieve realistic fish carvings.
Families are especially encouraged to attend from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday when the Water Center presents a special Second Saturday, offering children a chance to paint a little wooden bird or feather of their own while learning about different bird species. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
This is a free event taking place at the Water Resources Education Center at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way. Saturday hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show and Competition.
