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Dear Colleagues,

As some of you know, there is an exhibit of natural history
illustration called "Focus on Nature" that traditionally opens
at the New York State Museum (NYSM) during the Northeast Natural
History Conferences.  I am the curator of those exhibits.  In an
effort to find good jury members for future Focus on Nature
shows I am writing to see if any of you have recommendations.

What we need are scientists who have a particular interest and
knowledge in art.  Most of the entries are of biological
subjects, so it is most appropriate to have a biologist, or
someone knowledgeable in a field of biology.  But we have tried
to encourage submissions and jurors from other disciplines such
as geology and cultural science.  We have plenty of qualified
artists to serve on the jury.

The jury consists of five people.  From the NYSM are Chris
Sanford (exhibit designer and artist), myself (artist and
curator of FON), and Dr. Norton Miller (botanist, paleobotanist
and originator of FON).  In addition, we ask one artist who has
been in previous FON exhibits and a scientist, preferably in any
field of science other than botany since that is covered by Dr.
Miller.

Focus on Nature is a biennial exhibit of natural history
illustration.  Since there is one presently hanging, the next
one will be held in April of 2006, but the jury selection will
take place in mid November of 2005.  Between 90-100 artists
submit up to 4 works from which a maximum of 100 pieces are
selected, (usually around 70 artists.)  Submissions are
considered from all disciplines of science (excluding human
medicine), and from any geographic area of the world (9
countries are represented in this year's exhibit.)  There are
no restrictions as to media (except no photography), size, or
subject. The selection process takes an entire day and requires
that all jury members come to the Museum since there is often
lively discussion.  The Museum at this point can only offer
$150.00 to each outside juror and so it's recommended that they
be within a day's driving distance of Albany, NY.  They have
the option of helping to select the Purchase Awards and to
write the introduction to the catalog.  The Purchase Awards are
chosen after the show is hung and before the formal opening,
sometime in April.

Attached are the selection criteria if anyone is interested in
further details.

Please pass this information on to your colleagues and let me
know if you come across anyone appropriate.  Also, if you are a
scientist and know of artists in your field that might be
interested in submitting work, please let me know - especially
artists in fields other than botany (at least 2/3 of the
submissions are of botanical subjects.)

Thank you,
Patricia

Patricia Kernan/Illustrator
New York State Museum
Research and Collections
Cultural Education Center, Rm #3140
Albany, NY  12230
518-486-2024
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