Smokey D. Bear Traveling Artwork Exhibit

[RednekF350]

This sounds cool as hell. I loved Smokey.
Free too. Amazing.

NJDEP - News Release 23/P040 | DEP’s Forest Fire Service Presents Rudy Wendelin Gallery of Smokey Bear Paintings at Locations Across New Jersey

NJDEP-News Release - A special collection of original work by Rudy Wendelin, the artist whose brushstrokes and fine pencil drawings brought Smokey Bear to life on canvas and in posters recognized by millions, across multiple generations, is visiting several locations across New Jersey this...

www.nj.gov

 

[MuckSavage]

Heck yeah that's cool as hell! I'll visit it for sure! Thanks for posting Scott!
(I have a bunch of Smokey memorabilia, including a stuffed rendition & received as a gift when I was about 5)

 

[Boyd]

I got this at a junk store in Cape May back in 2006 and screwed it to an oak tree next to one of the little trails on my property. The tree has gotten a lot bigger and is slowly devouring Smokey.

It's a reproduction, but well-made from heavy gauge galvanized steel with a fired ceramic finish of some kind (not just painted on), still in very good condition after all these years. There was a label on the back saying it was hand made by some guy in the US.

 

[M1 Abrams]

My brother suffered minor burns on two separate Father's Day incidents (farm-related injuries, not grilling accidents). After this, of course, the family would joke about him staying safe each Father's Day. Here was a reminder from his loving brother:

 

[RednekF350]

I got this at a junk store in Cape May back in 2006 and screwed it to an oak tree next to one of the little trails on my property. The tree has gotten a lot bigger and is slowly devouring Smokey.

It's a reproduction, but well-made from heavy gauge galvanized steel with a fired ceramic finish of some kind (not just painted on), still in very good condition after all these years. There was a label on the back saying it was hand made by some guy in the US.

View attachment 20159

Very cool. Please post a picture in 2093 when it is fully enveloped.

 

[Boyd]

Definitely! I'll post it right after my 144th birthday party!

In the meantime, here it was in 2016

And this is 2012 (couldn't find a bigger one). Seems like I must have an older one somewhere, but haven't been able to find it.

 

[RednekF350]

I hit the display at the CM Ferry Terminal on Sunday. They have the paintings hanging along the second floor skywalk windows, maybe 30 in total. Many of the works are brimming with wildlife, including deer and birds, some of which Wendelin managed to anthropomorphize as they sadly looked over a charred forest.

Certainly a pleasant little art show and it is coming to Batsto July 10-17. Enjoy !

 

[enormiss]

Wish I wasn't working... Today would have been a good day to visit, art and a concert.

The Summer Concert Series returns, Wednesday, 7/5/23!
Concerts are free, and open to the public

Caught a concert by chance once after a ferry ride

 

[Boyd]

Just saw a Smokey PSA. Apparently, Smokey's new motto is "only you can prevent wildfires"

 

[Wildland937]

Just saw a Smokey PSA. Apparently, Smokey's new motto is "only you can prevent wildfires"

Correct. Because "Wild"fires are bad, but controlled fires are good. A forest on fire under the right condition are understandably a welcome occurrence.

 

[MuckSavage]

I caught the display at Batsto. I guess I never realized the "depth" & detail in Smokey's fur. Some of the paintings were sad.

 

[bobpbx]

I love a good, hot, wind driven, wildfire inferno, so long as human lives or property is not lost.

 

[c1nj]

"Wildfire" captures other fuel types which are much more prevalent in other areas of the country such as rangelands, grasslands, marshes, tundra, and peat bogs.