by Allison Light, The Cadiz Record Email Allison

Thursday, May 27, 2004

A new exhibit will open June 1 at the Janice Mason Art Museum in Cadiz. The exhibit, titled The Original Winner Art from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2003-2004 Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp Competition, is a chance for adults and children to submit original artwork to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, D.C. The artwork is judged and then sent to various places around the country for exhibition. The winners from both the adult and junior categories do not travel, but are displayed by photographs.
According to a press release from the Museum, this year is the 70th anniversary of the Duck Stamp Act, which states that all water fowl hunters that are 16 years old or older must purchase a duck stamp every year. Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the duck stamps go to the National Wildlife Refuge System.
"In wildlife art circles, this is a very important exhibit," said event chairman and former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee, David Walsh. "I'm not aware of the Duck Stamp exhibit ever travelling to our area. The Fish and Wildlife Service allows the exhibit to stay no longer than two weeks in any one place. We're very fortunate to have the facility in which to showcase it."
Museum director, Martha Davis said the exhibit came to Cadiz because of the large Ducks Unlimited business in town and also because of the large number of avid duck hunters in Trigg Co.
The exhibit will boast 12 winners from the adult competition and the first place winner from every state in the junior competition. The exhibit is funded by the Cadiz/Trigg County Tourism Commission with partial funding by the Kentucky Arts Council and will open June 1 and run through June 15.