In what will be ArtWorks' largest mural to date, the 6,000-square-foot work at Eighth and Vine streets will feature Martha, the last surviving passenger pigeon, flying over the pagodas of the Cincinnati Zoo. Martha died at the zoo in 1914.
The fundraising goal has been set at $200,000, and work is scheduled to begin sometime this summer. To create the mural, 15 youth apprentices will be hired to work under the guidance of lead artist Tim Parsley.
The reproduction of Ruthven's painting is part of a partnership between ArtWorks and the Cincinnati Nature Center called the "Year of John Ruthven", a City-wide series of events celebrating the artist's life's work in art and conservation.
Often called the "20th Century Audubon", Ruthven is renowned for the extensive study and research of every subject he undertakes before creating his beautifully detailed paintings. In 2004, he was honored with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the American people.
On October 1, Ruthven will be honored with the Cincinnati Nature Center's Wood Thrush Award for his lifetime contribution to conservation. Proceeds from the event will be used to preserve and protect the center's more than 1,600 acres through land acquisition and conservation easements.
The Ruthven mural is one of ten new ArtWorks murals planned for this summer. Other murals will be painted in Covington, Dayton, Eden Park, North Avondale, Over-the-Rhine (3 murals), Pendleton, and Queensgate.
Previous reading on BC:
Artists to team with Pendleton for public art input events (5/14/13)
Wowhaus selected to design Pendleton sculptures (4/8/13)
Finalists chosen for Pendleton public art project (2/4/13)
ArtWorks poring over 77 submissions for Pendleton public art project (12/20/12)
ArtWorks accepting applications for sculptural bike rack program (12/19/12)
