2020 Exhibit Award Winners

Vancouver, BC CANADA - September 3, 2020 - Artists for Conservation (AFC) is pleased to announce the first round of award winners of the thirteenth annual AFC International Exhibit of Nature in Art to be held this October 1-4 in Vancouver, BC. The awards include five AFC Medals of Excellence, which recognizes at least five outstanding artworks in the exhibit, an Environmental Statement Award, and Interpretive/Abstract Award. AFC also presents two Best in Show awards, in recognition of the highest scoring painting and sculpture by the jury panel in the annual exhibit.

Artists receiving the awards are as follows:

Best in Show, Painting

• Bruce Lawes for his painting “A Family Affair”

Best in Show, Sculpture

• Lynn Branson for her sculpture, “Abstract Study “Man & Bird”

Medals of Excellence

• Lynn Branson for her sculpture, “Abstract Study “Man & Bird”
• Garry Fleming for his painting, “Lazy Leopard”
• Marco Grasso for his painting “Ouverture II”
• Bruce Lawes for his painting “A Family Affair”
• Rosetta for her sculpture, “Balancing Act”

Environmental Statement Award

• Lynn Branson for her sculpture, “Abstract Study “Man & Bird”

Interpretive/Abstract Award (NEW)

• Rosetta for her sculpture, “River Antics”

Honorable Mention

• Cher Anderson for her painting, “Aussie Banks”
• Emma Bowring for her painting, A Need for Speed”
• Michael Dumas for his painting “Lunch Break”
• Marco Grasso for his painting “Thanatos”
• Stephen Jesic for his painting “Afternoon Rendezvous”
• Martin Ridley for his painting “Shadow of the Wolf ”
• Nelda Warkentin for her painting “Goodbye, my friend”
• Ellen Woodbury for her sculpture, “Arctic Wind”

Additional awards will be announced at a later date.

Thank you to our jury for their generous contribution of time and expertise. Jurors in this year's exhibit included:

• Walt Anderson - AFC Signature Member, Photographer, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies (USA)
• Brent Cooke - AFC Signature Member, Past Director of Royal BC Museum and AFC Board Member (Canada)
• Emily Kapes - Curator of the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art (USA)
• Sandra Strohshein - AFC Signature Member (USA)
• Chirag Thumbar AFC Signature Member (India)
• Debra Usher - Editor/Publisher of Arabella Magazine (Canada)

Slideshow Image Credits (above):

• "A Family Affair" painting by Bruce Lawes
• "Ouverture II" painting by Marco Grasso
• "River Antics" sculpture by Rosetta
• "Lazy Leopard" painting by Garry Fleming
• “Abstract Study - Man & Bird” sculpture by Lynn Branson

About Artists for Conservation

Artists for Conservation (AFC) is the world's leading group of artists supporting the environment. Founded in 1997, the non-profit organization comprises a membership of 500 of the world's most gifted nature artists from 30 countries, across five continents. Dedicated to nurture, promote and leverage its world-class community of artists in support of our natural world, AFC drives its mission through three key programs: Art & Environmental Education; Field Work & Research; and Artist Development. The Artists for Conservation Festival is AFC's annual flagship initiative to showcase, support and further these programs. http://www.artistsforconservation.org/