| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 1997 |
Rachel F. Levin
202-208-5634
Diana Hawkins Vicki Boatwright |
The judges who will choose the 1998 Federal Duck Stamp may get some hints from those five
farm-raised experts when it comes time to vote on the winning design, to be featured on the
1998-99 Duck Stamp, which goes on sale July 1, 1998.
Following the lead of their ace trainer, Mark Hirchert, the five Peabody ducks will make a
splashy
Washington, DC, debut in the Interior Department auditorium November 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the
opening ceremonies of the annual design competition.
The Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors the Federal Duck Stamp Contest to select the design for the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (or Duck Stamp), which raises money for the purchase of waterfowl habitat. Federal Duck Stamps are a required annual purchase for waterfowl
hunters 16 years of age and older and are sold for $15 at U.S. post offices, national wildlife
refuges, and sporting goods stores, as well as at K-Mart and Wal-Mart. Duck Stamps also are
increasingly popular among stamp collectors, wildlife artists, and others who wish to contribute to
wildlife and habitat conservation.
Since 1934 when the Duck Stamp program was created, sales have reached nearly half a
billion
dollars, 98 percent of which has been used to acquire more than 4.5 million acres of wetlands
habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
"Buying a Duck Stamp remains one of the easiest, most effective ways for people to
contribute to
wildlife conservation," said Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark. "And while waterfowl
hunters remain a pillar of support for the Duck Stamp program, purchases by non-hunters have
increased in the last few years, underscoring not only the American public's commitment to
wildlife conservation, but also the success of the Federal Duck Stamp itself."
The famous quacking quintet will appear at the Duck Stamp Contest thanks to a unique
partnership between the Service and the Peabody Orlando, which agreed last year to include the
Federal Duck Stamp in its efforts to raise awareness about waterfowl and deliver conservation
messages to guests and the community. Now visitors to the Florida hotel can purchase a $15
Duck Stamp after they watch the mallards frolic in the lobby fountain.
"During the past year, our partnership with the Peabody has helped us spread our wildlife
conservation message in a unique--and entertaining--way," said Robert Lesino, chief of the
Federal Duck Stamp Program. "We're delighted to welcome the famed Peabody Ducks to the
Nation's Capital and we're thrilled that they will be on hand to help the Duck Stamp contest take
wing."
The Peabody Orlando and its sister hotel, the Peabody Memphis, are both world-famous for
their
fountain-dwelling, farm-raised mallards and duck-themed decor. Beginning with a prank in the
1930s, when the manager of Peabody Memphis and his hunting partner placed their live duck
decoys in the fountain, the hotels' waterfowl theme now extends to duck-shaped soaps, butter
pats, and stationery, as well as eateries named "Dux" and "Quackers."
A Diverse Panel of Judges for the 1997 Contest
Duck Stamp Contest judges are chosen each year from the wildlife art and/or conservation
community. Douglas Grann, executive director of Wildlife Forever, an organization dedicated to
preserving America's wildlife heritage, will serve as one of the five judges who select the 1997
Federal Duck Stamp.
Grann, former executive vice president and director of operations for Voyageur Art and the
National Wild Turkey Federation, is also currently an officer or board member with several
conservation organizations including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Quail Unlimited, and
the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America. He has served as a judge in numerous
conservation-related art competitions.
The other four judges are:
Karen R. Hollingsworth, a nature photographer and publisher of books on the National Wildlife Refuge System. Karen and her late husband, John, spent many years photographing the beauty and extraordinary diversity of habitats and species on more than 400 of the 511 national wildlife refuges in the Nation. Today, both are nationally known for their unique contribution to public education and awareness of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and Karen continues to photograph and publish.
Emily C. Pels, a graphic artist who is currently the art director of the Virginia Wildlife Magazinefor the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. She has won numerous awards for her work with the magazine and she also works privately as a freelance artist and designer.
Husband-and-wife ornithologists Donald and Lillian Stokes. They have co-authored
numerous
books including the Stokes Field Guide to Birds.
Minnesota Leads the Way in Contest Entrants
Once again this year, the state of Minnesota leads the way in the number of Duck Stamp Contest entrants. Thirty-five of
this year's hopeful artists hail from Minnesota, more than from any other state. Other states
with
high numbers of Duck Stamp Contest entrants include Pennsylvania (26), California (24), and
Wisconsin and Michigan (18 apiece).
The winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest receives no cash award from the Federal
Government; however, the contest is highly competitive because winning boosts the reputation of
even a previously unknown artist to the top of his or her profession. And winning artists stand to
make hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale of limited edition prints of their Duck Stamp
design.
The Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is free and open to the public. This year, the 382
design
entries will be displayed for viewing and judging at the Interior Department auditorium, 1849 C
Street, NW, Washington, DC, at the following times:
Tuesday, November 4: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Viewing
Wednesday, November 5: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Viewing/Judging
Thursday, November 6: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Viewing/Judging*
*The winner will be announced at approximately 12:30 p.m.
In addition, Duck Stamp licensed products, including posters, T-shirts, mugs, calendars, caps,
and
other items featuring Duck Stamp designs will be available for sale in the Interior Department
lobby. Part of the proceeds from the sale of these products are used for wetlands acquisition.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving,
protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. In addition to the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Service manages 68
national fish hatcheries. It enforces Federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations,
stocks recreational fisheries, conserves and restores wetlands and other wildlife habitat, protects
and restores endangered species, and helps foreign governments with conservation efforts.
Media Advisory/Photo Opportunities:
The Peabody Ducks will arrive at National Airport Monday, November 3, and will march
from
Terminal C, baggage claim exit area 12 (end of the concourse), to their waiting limousine at 3:15
p.m.
The Federal Duck Stamp Contest will be open to the public during the following times:
Tuesday, November 4: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Viewing
Wednesday, November 5: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Viewing/Judging
Thursday, November 6: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Viewing/Judging
The Peabody Ducks will parade into the Interior Department auditorium, located inside the C Street entrance to the Interior building, between 18th and 19th streets, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 5.
The winner of the 1997 Federal Duck Stamp Contest will be announced at around 12-12:30
p.m.
Thursday.
XXX
Release #r97-99
| (Fact Sheet)
1997 FEDERAL DUCK STAMP
CONTEST
Contest entries: 382
Male Artists: 302 79.06% Female Artists: 80 20.94%
Acrylic 227 59.42% Oil 72 18.85% Water Color 29 7.59% Scratch Board 4 1.05% Other 50 13.09%
Barrow's Goldeneye 264 69.11% Mottled Duck 78 20.42% Black Scoter 40 10.47% |
(Fact Sheet)
ARTISTS BY STATE
Alabama 7 1.83% Missouri 2 0.52% |