Celebrate the Fall Season With National Museum of Wildlife Art

Carl Rungius (Germany, 1869 – 1959), The Days of Bison Millions, 1917. Oil on canvas. 69 x 90 inches. Gift of Jackson Hole PreserveLaurence S. Rockefeller, National Museum of Wildlife Art. © Estate of Carl Rungius.

Fine art is in full bloom this Fall season in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The picturesque town is home to the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival taking place September 6th -17th, 2023. The exciting event is an art lover’s dream, with more than fifty art events. The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) will be onsite Saturday, September 9th for the Western Visions Exhibit Opening. The show features a wide selection of art for sale and the money raised from this fundraiser directly supports the Museum. The week’s events, offered at the Museum’s award-winning facility across from the National Elk Refuge, draw an international crowd to this critically acclaimed gathering.

The museum also recently announced their updated mission and vision statements. NMWA’s new mission is to “Impart knowledge and generate wonder through art and education.” According to the NMWA press release, the word wonder is a fundamental change to the newly adopted mission statement. “The Museum seeks to inspire and generate amazement, but beyond that, NMWA strives to create thought provoking exhibitions, provide a space for discourse, and expand horizons.”

Joseph Wolf (Germany, 1820 – 1899), Bearded Vultures Attacking an Alpine Ibex, 1861. Oil on canvas. 90.5 x 67 inches. Gift of the 2013 Collectors Circle. National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Following a strategic planning meeting last fall, the museum’s staff and the Board of Trustees worked closely together to re-imagine the Vision statement as well. The updated vision statement seeks to “Inspire connections with wildlife and nature.” “We started talking about why we came to work every day and why the Museum mattered,” explains Director of Marketing Madison Webb. “Everyone mentioned ‘connections’—between visitors and nature, between nature and art, between visitors and art, and also with the Jackson Hole community and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” she says.

Featuring more than 5,000 cataloged items of animal art representing wild animals from around the world, the world class institution hopes to draw more visitors by continually evolving and growing. Unveiling the updated Mission and Vision statements is one step in creating a more meaningful experience for its visitors. “It was a full team effort from our staff and board members, and the results encapsulate what the collection and our staff provide for the community,” says Museum Director Steve Seamons. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to be a part of an organization that generates wonder.”

© Stewart Steinhauer (Saddle Lake Cree Nation, b. 1952), Buffalo Mountain, 2015. Little Buffalo Mountain, 2015. Purchased with Funds Donated by Lynn and Foster Friess with additional assistance from the National Mu.

The museum has many exciting events for visitors in September and October. Fables, Feathers and Furs is a fun activity for children 3-6 to engage with art through looking, reading, and art making in the galleries. A lively art auction will also take place on September 14, 2023 with proceeds benefiting the museum. For further information, visit WildlifeArt.org.