Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/433799
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 2 0 2 Talented artists and artisans including painters, carvers and sculptors will be exhibiting at the Mills House Hotel, while Hibernian Hall will be home to knifemakers and other custom craftsmen. Decoy carvers will be housed at Charleston Marriott, making the exhibit one the largest ever dedicated to the genre. A special auction by Guyette & Deeter will offer nearly 200 investment-quality decoys ranging in value from $200 to more than $10,000. Jon Deeter will present a special lecture, "The History of Decoys and Decoy Collecting," also at the Marriott on February 13. High-end sporting arms dealers will also be housed at the Charleston Marriott. Members of SEWE's VIP program enjoy perks and insider access to private art viewings, parties, exclusive lounge areas, shuttle service, and priority entry to all venues. A limited number of VIP Packages are available, which offer private viewings, insider access, and special events throughout the weekend. Day tickets are $10-$20, three- day passes are $40, and children ten and under are admitted free with a Exposition will run February 13- 15 at nine venues in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The 33rd annual SEWE will showcase the work of some 100 painters, sculptors, and carvers in Charleston Place Hotel's grand ballroom. Collectors can view the full list of artists and available work on the SEWE website. Featured artist is Grant Hacking (see page 50), who was born and raised in South Africa and has traveled extensively throughout the entire continent to research material for his wildlife compositions. Hacking moved to the U.S. at age 25 and began focusing not only on wildlife, but also figurative work, architecture, and landscapes, especially those close to his home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. "I do not want to be categorized as either a wildlife painter or a landscapist because what I really paint is nature," Hacking explains. "I try to give equal time to both genres." "Grant is incredibly talented, and we are proud to name him Featured Artist for 2015," says SEWE Executive Director, John Powell. "His years of experience on multiple continents give him a unique range of subjects that are truly awe inspiring. His exhibit will be an exciting place to be in February." As featured artist, Hacking has created a beautiful painting of a bobcat for the official 2015 SEWE poster. A new exhibit this year will be "Twelve Days of Christmas," featuring original art by Jason Tako. The display will include 12 paintings, each illustrating one of the days from the holiday classic. This unique exhibit will also be on display in Charleston Place Hotel. Scheduled to appear at the Charleston Music Hall is Richard Wiese, host of Born to Explore, an Emmy Award-winning travel and adventure program on ABC. Wiese is a world-class explorer, Emmy- winning producer, respected field scientist and author. He has circled the globe, capturing images and living one adventure after another. He will share his love for the outdoors at shows on February 14 and 15. Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, a longtime SEWE favorite, will introduce the wonders of the natural ecosystems and give visitors an up-close look at alligators, bobcats, foxes, birds-of-prey, snakes, and much more. Busch Wildlife will present four shows throughout the weekend at Charleston Music Hall. Also at the Charleston Music Hall, Jim and Jaime Dutcher will return with their popular "Living with Wolves" presentation, the remarkable story of their six years of researching timber wolves in the Idaho wilderness. Marion Square will feature a conservation tent, along with a wide array of wildlife collectibles, crafts, scrimshaw, jewelry, furnishings, and unique and unconventional art along with children's activities, food from area eateries, and live music. Once again SEWE will host the two-tank DockDogs event at Brittlebank Park with it's high- flying, big-splashing canines competitors. SEWE's Sporting Village, featuring outdoor outfitters, boats and equipment, and fishing and hunting , will also be at Brittlebank Park along with retriever demonstrations, fly fishing, fly tying, and cast-net tossing instruction. Joseph Sulkowski's Setters in the Quail Field will be among many works by talented painters at the Jackson Hole Art Auction in September.