CURRENT EXHIBITION
Andrew Jackson Grayson Andrew Jackson Grayson followed the arduous Overland Trail to California in 1846 to find a new life for himself and his family. What he discovered instead was his old love of art and nature. Though little-known today, Grayson (1818-1869) became the foremost field ornithologist and bird painter of his era. His life and extraordinary work is the subject of the exhibition, "Birds of the Pacific Slope: Andrew Jackson Grayson". Andrew Jackson Grayson was born in Louisiana and developed an interest in art and nature as a child. Forbidden by his father from pursuing art, Grayson eventually opened a small general store in his home state. In 1846 Grayson, his wife, and their infant son joined the migration west. In California, Grayson had sought his fortune in the California of the Gold Rush Era. The turning point of his life came when his saw John J. Audubon's monumental work, Birds of America, which did not include birds of the west. With the encouragement of Spencer Baird, a curator of the newly-formed Smithsonian Institution, Grayson collected and documented the bird species of his adopted home, making a systematic depiction of the birds from Sierra Nevada to the Pacific Ocean. Grayson envisioned his work as the complement to Audubon's, would spend the rest of his life pursuing his dream of becoming "The Audubon of the West". Largely self-taught, Grayson developed an exquisite dry-bush technique that won him awards and praise throughout his career. He preferred to draw his birds from life, though this could not always be accomplished . At those times, as he collected specimens to be sent back to the Smithsonian, he made detailed sketches of the bird and its habitat, to be used for reference later in the final paintings. He also frequently brought plant material back to his studio to be used for his backgrounds. This collection of bird paintings was begun in 1857, on a trip to Tehuantepee in Mexico. On his return to California, he spent several months in the Napa Valley, then returned to Mexico, where he lived in the coastal city of Mazatlan until his death 10 years later. The Birds of the Pacific Slope exhibit is a magnificent example of the interaction between fine art, history, and science. It is sure to appeal to a wide audience, from school-age children to adults. |