As you can see, I've decided to devote a couple posts to the trout drawings and paintings. This may seem interesting to a few, confusing to some, and irritating to many. In a way that may seem clear only to me, it makes perfect sense.
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to give a talk entitled, Apaches and Cutthroats; Native Trout of the American West, at the Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West, at the University of Oklahoma. (See my post on Native Trout paintings). The audience was comprised of two groups; art folks and fly fishermen. Let me tell you, this was a fun talk ( I am not much of a lecturer, more of a talker). The enthusiasm of the fishermen and women as I spoke of native species and fishing was as evident as the boredom of the art enthusiasts, and the reverse was true each time the conversation turned to discussions of contemporary art and its place in the venue of western art. I have to admit, this was a fun night.
Things have not changed much since that night. Over time, it might be possible for us to figure out how all this stuff fits together for me. Trust me, it does fit together, albeit in ways we might not expect.
Suffice it to say, this is a time when I can see tangible results from my work. Every year the annual fundraiser for the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited is held the first weekend in March. It is the primary source of funding for an organization that has worked to protect, restore, and enhance coldwater fisheries resources in Oklahoma since 1996. I have been fortunate to participate in this group for a number of years and try to contribute toward the difficult task of raising the funds needed to carry out the work required to protect these resources.
To find out more about the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited, check out the chapter website: www.89ertu.org You might also want to find a copy of the episode of Trout Unlimited's weekly television program, On The Rise filmed at the Lower Mountain Fork River in southeastern Oklahoma and featuring the 89 Chapter of TU.