Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/742011
178 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 21st ANNUAL WILDLIFE ARTS FESTIVAL Thomasville, Georgia's Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival has become one of autumn's favorite highlights in the Red Hills Region. It is a weeklong celebration that calls for cocktail dresses and cowboy boots, bourbon bars and bird dog statues, global sporting artists, and southern craftsmen. This year, the festival turns 21. Sporting and wildlife artists often journey to Thomasville's plantations to observe wildlife, enjoy the sporting life, and practice their craft. PWAF pairs a rich cultural history to the tastes and needs of today's wildlife artists and art collectors. At the heart of the event is a show featuring 60 of the best sporting and wildlife artists and artisans. The festival has something for everyone, from the Longleaf Affair's black-tie dinner to painting and floral workshops with artists and tastemakers. You'll also enjoy a family-friendly day at Afternoon in the Field with wildlife demonstrations and live shows, capped off with a JJ Grey & Mofro concert on the beautiful grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation. Fly south for a weekend of parties, workshops, art, and more—it's an incredible event and Thomasville is a town not to miss. Call (229) 226-0588. ART BY SHEPHERD, KUHN TO HIGHLIGHT SANTA FE AUCTION Alongside classic and contemporary masterworks of the American West, the 23rd Annual Santa Fe Art Auction, set for December 3-4, will feature a distinguished array of wildlife and sporting works. Highlighting the approximately 450-lot sale is an expansive view of African elephants by British artist and conservationist David Shepherd. The dramatic, 28 x 66-inch composition, expected to bring $100,000- $150,000, reflects Shepherd's hallmark sensitivity to his subjects and deep admiration for the African bush. Complementing Shepherd's work is a nearly complete set of 43 etchings by Carl Rungius, assembled with a discriminating eye and presented in handsome, gold- leaf frames. Also of note is a Shore Patrol, a 20 x 32-inch acrylic ($80,000- $120,000) of an Alaskan brown bear by Bob Kuhn. The sale will also feature a quartet of paintings by Greg Beecham, and Canadian Moose ($5,000-$7,000), by Utah native and auction stalwart Michael Coleman. Rounding out the sale are affordable works by Gary Swanson, John Banovich, Thomas Aquinas Daly, and Richard Bishop, among others. The Santa Fe Art Auction will be held at the Peters Projects gallery in downtown Santa Fe. Register to attend the auction, or to bid by absentee or telephone, at www.santafeartauction.com. Online participation in the sale is offered through Bidsquare. Direct your inquiries t o c u r a t o r @ s a n t a f e a r t a u c t i o n . c o m or to Adam H. Veil, executive director, at (505) 954-5858. ROCK ISLAND TO AUCTION MORE ROBERT M. LEE FIREARMS Rock Island Auction Company Premiere Firearms Auction will feature firearms and other items from the incredible third installment of the Robert "The Bear" Bretherton Collection, as well as phenomenal guns from Part II of the Robert M. Lee Collection. The two men are arguably the greatest firearms collectors of the 20th century, and having both featured in one sale is an unbelievable windfall to collectors in a wide variety of genres. "We understand that our business is your passion and hobby," says Rock Island spokesman Lance Dillie. "We understand the idea of a 'hole filling piece' or a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' and in our December sale these opportunities are bountiful. Don't miss your opportunity to take part in this spectacular sale." Call (800) 238-8022 or visit www. rockislandauction.com. n A first year production factory display rifle, this Winchester Model 61 engraved by Alden George Ulrich will be offered at Rock Island's Premier Firearms Auction in December. Auctions & Expeditions