Menagerie of art at LSU

Hundreds of art works depicting animals recently competed in the 17th International Exhibition on Animals in Art at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. 

More than 360 artists from 42 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Europe, and Mexico submitted 839 entries to the exhibition.

Edward Pramuk, an LSU professor emeritus, served as the show's judge and juror. He taught painting, drawing, printmaking, and design at the university for 35 years.

Pramuk selected the 75 pieces featured in the exhibition, held March 20-April 18 at the school's library, as well as the 21 winners.

The $1,000 Best in Show award went to Jolanda Richter of Austria for her oil painting "History's Witness."

Dr. Janis H. Audin, AVMA editor-in-chief, attended the art show and chose "Wild Horses," a watercolor by Terri Austin-Beech of Post Falls, Idaho, that appears on the cover of this issue.

"When I entered the room where the painting was hung, I was immediately attracted by its rich, full color," Dr. Audin said. "On closer review, I was particularly impressed with the artist's technique, which enabled her to capture a split moment during rapid movement of the horses."

After selecting the painting, Dr. Audin learned it had also been given the Milford Zornes Award for best watercolor painting in the exhibit. The award, she noted, was established last year by Baton Rouge artist Judi Betts and her husband, Tom, in honor of Zornes, who is considered one of the West Coast's preeminent watercolor artists.

The $100 People's Choice Award went to Mitzi Rothman of Atlanta for her pastel work "Wrigley," which also received the Morgan Memorial Award.

Nineteen pieces from the exhibit were sold for a total of $8,300. All 75 works are displayed at www.vetmed.lsu.edu/library/17annsw/parade/index.htm.

For more information on the exhibition, contact Sue Loubiere, director of the LSU Veterinary Medicine Library, at (225) 578-9793, or visit the library's Web site at www.vetmed.lsu.edu/library.