Chesapeake Bay News

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 36th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest.

“Proceeds from the sale of these stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as much needed research,” said DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Associated Director Bob Beyer.

All entered designs must be the artist’s original work, neither copied nor duplicated from any previously published paintings, drawings, prints, or photographs of the contestant, or any other artist. Each contestant may submit up to three entries. The entry fee, signed Agreement to Enter the Contest form, and entries with completed Entry Identification Forms attached to the back must be received by 4:00 p.m. on March 22, 2010 at The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest, Friends of Patuxent, Patuxent Research Refuge/National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop Laurel, MD 20708-4027.

Entries will be judged at noon on Saturday, March 27, 2010 in conjunction with the 21st Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. Contestants and the public are invited to attend the contest judging process. Admission is free.

The stamp can be purchased by any citizen for $9 and is required for all migratory game bird hunters in Maryland. For a list of species eligible for depiction and full contest rules visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/duckstamp or contact Bob Beyer at bbeyer@dnr.state.md.us or 410-260-8535.

source: DNR press release

A painting by Wally Makuchal Jr. entitled “Icy Refuge” will become the 2009-2010 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp. The entry shows a pair of blue-winged teal resting on the water. It was judged as the best of 35 entries from 18 Maryland artists.

“This was one of the more exciting contests in recent history as the panel of expert judges remained deadlocked after the final round,” said Doug Wigfield, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stamp Contest Coordinator.

Mr. Makuchal has taken part in Maryland’s “Duck Stamp” competition since the early 80s and was the winner in 1999. He also took top honors in the 1996 Maryland Trout Stamp Contest. He owns and operates Makuchal Signs out of Girdletree, MD.

The small Eastern Shore town of Girdletree has produced three Maryland Duck Stamp winners: Wally, his brother Paul and Roger Lent. All three are also two-time winners of Maryland’s contest.

You can order a print of this years winning entry by visiting his website at www.makuchalsigns.com or by calling 410-632-2825.

The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest showcases the talents of the gifted artists that reside near Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The stamps produced are a required purchase by all who hunt migratory game birds. The proceeds from the $9.00 stamps are used to fund migratory game bird research and habitat enhancement on the state’s public lands. More than $4 million in stamp sales have been spent on migratory game projects since the stamps inception in 1974.

The contest is limited to Maryland residents. The 2009 event took place at the 20th Patuxent Wildlife Art Show held in March at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 35th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest.

“Proceeds from the sale of these stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as much needed research,” said Jonathan McKnight, acting director of DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service.

All entered designs must be the artist’s original work, neither copied nor duplicated from any previously published paintings, drawings, prints, or photographs of the contestant, or any other artist. Each contestant may submit up to three entries. The entry fee, signed “Agreement to Enter the Contest” form, and entries with completed “Entry Identification Forms” attached to the back must be received via mail by 4:00 p.m. on March 20, 2009 at The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest, Friends of Patuxent, Patuxent Research Refuge/National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop Laurel, MD 20708-4027.

Entries will be judged at noon on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in conjunction with the 20th Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. Contestants and the public are invited to attend the contest judging process. Admission is free.

The stamp can be purchased by any citizen for $9 and is required for all migratory game bird hunters in Maryland. For a list of species eligible for depiction and full contest rules visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/duckstamp or contact Doug Wigfield, Contest Coordinator, at 410-713-3852 or dwigfield2@dnr.state.md.us.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources press release

A benefit will be held at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), Gloucester Campus, on April 25 and 26. “Scenes From the Seas” is the 10th annual art show and auction held at VIMS. This year’s event will help fund research concerning damage from coastal storms, bycatch issues with the white marlin fishery, mercury-tainted seafood, and interactions between pollution, eel grass and fishing.

The featured artist for this event is Dr. Guy Harvey. Dr. Harvey is back by popular demand. He was here for this event in 2006 and helped to raise more than $60,000 for VIMS programs. Guy Harvey is one of the most popular marine artist of all time. He is also an author, photographer, angler, conservationist, television show host, and scientist. Dr. Harvey spends much time promoting fisheries research and conservation.

This two evening event begins with a public art show, book signing, and autograph session with Dr. Harvey on Friday, April 25, at 6:30 pm in Chesapeake Bay Hall, including light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. At 7:30 pm, the audience will move to Waterman’s Hall, where Dr. Harvey will narrate several of his dramatic billfish films. His footage of billfish feeding in the wild is amazing. If you are an angler, you will now know what is happening the next time you drop back to a billfish. There is no cost to attend this evening. There will be a large variety of Guy Harvey’s art to view and to purchase. There will be both originals and prints available. Dr. Harvey has painted an original just for this event which features a striped bass, white marlin, bluefish, and yellowfin tuna. This artwork has also been made into a special Guy Harvey/VIMS t-shirt. Almost everyone who appreciates marine life has a collection of Guy Harvey shirts. This is one that you will not be able to get anywhere else.

The event resumes on Saturday, April 26 at 6:30pm in Chesapeake Bay Hall. Guy Harvey’s art show will continue and both silent and live auctions will be conducted. This ticketed event ($100 per person) will feature a silent auction of items from regional artists and craftsmen, festive cuisine and a hosted bar, and a live auction with the original Harvey painting along with other art, nautical, and maritime items. mailto:lcphip@vims.eduIn addition to the auctions, a limited edition Turner Sculpture, “River Otters” has been donated http://www.turnersculpture.com/gallery/317.htm . This bronze sculpture will be available through a raffle.

There will be many items available for silent auction. Some of the live auction items include:

Guy Harvey Original Framed Watercolor, “A Tribute to VIMS”

Bass Pro Outfitted Fishing Kayak

Condo for One Week at Pueblo Real in Costa Rica

Condo for One Week at Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix, Arizona

Two Tickets to a Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees Baseball Game with Hotel

“Blue Fury” Kent Ulberg Sculpture
Offshore Fishing Trip for Five