You well represent William Bartram's passion and knowledge of native south eastern birds, especially, and of the flora in which they thrived!
Posted by Margaret Wilson · via wilsonwildlifesculpture.com · 74 months ago
Wildlife Sculpture, Fine Art, Nature, William Bartram inspired, bird sculpture,
Sculptor Chris Wilson with William Bartram trail marker at Rabun Bald Mountain in Northeast Georgia
Modern Day William Bartram
“Modern Day Bartram”
(A friend recently called me this; therefore, I thought I’d write a little about my ancestor and my inspiration).
William Bartram is considered America’s first native born naturalist/artist. Likewise, he was the first author in the genre of writers who explained nature through personal experience. He is also my great, great, great uncle and the inspiration for my thesis show titled “Stirring the Soul: Meditations on the Travels of William Bartram.”
In his 18th century journey across the American South, Bartram was the first to describe and draw many species, such as the barred owl, gopher tortoise, harlequin duck, and great blue heron. In doing so, he inspired many artists, writers, and naturalists.
Bartram traveled mainly on horseback from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to Florida, through the southeastern interior all the way to the Mississippi River. His work thus provides descriptions of the natural, relatively pristine eighteenth-century environment of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Although his treks took place during the American Revolution, Bartram didn’t publish an account of his adventures until 1791. As a result, he isn’t credited with many of his discoveries. Nevertheless, he is still celebrated, even having an entire Southeastern trail system and many trail markers named after him.
I’ve been fortunate to hike many parts of the Bartram trail in Georgia and the Carolinas. Seeing many of the same species and landscapes that he described inspires me. I strive to capture these experiences in my artwork, and I also try to recreate the beauty, character details, and joy of birds and other wildlife. It is my hope that viewers can catch a glimpse into Bartram’s pristine world through my artistic vision and share my desire to conserve natural habitat for wildlife.
Chris Wilson www.wilsonwildlifesculpture.com
“Bart”, the barred owl, mixed media sculpture, private collection
