Texas, because of its geographic location and rich ecological regions, is the permanent or temporary home to over 600 species of birds. Of Birds & Texas celebrates this rich avian diversity, through an exhibit of 40 lithographic prints of watercolors by Stuart and Scott Gentling, two of Texas’ most distinguished artists in ornithological renderings.
Twin brothers Stuart (1942 – 2006) and Scott Gentling (1942 – 2011) spent most of their lives together — growing up, working, and living in Fort Worth and studying art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, the center of the American Realist tradition, in the 1960s. Scott was the more accomplished artist, painting the official portrait of Gov. George W. Bush, while Stuart was more business minded.
Fascinated by the work of John James Audubon, who traveled North America in the 1800s sketching and painting native birds and animals, the Gentling brothers set out to travel Texas to sketch and paint the birds of their native state. Their dream was to create a large-scale portfolio (termed an elephant folio) of the birds, with written commentary by the artists and an essay by Texas writer John Graves.
When Of Birds & Texas was introduced in 1986, the late Texas writer A.C. Greene hailed the finished project as “the most stunning and prodigious book in Texas history.” Other critics said “Scott and Stuart Gentling’s Of Birds & Texas is probably the most magnificent book ever produced in Texas.” In 2001 the University of Texas Press issued a trade book edition of the Gentling project of the same title.
Five hundred boxed sets of the elephant folio — comprised of forty images of birds, ten landscapes, artist commentary and John Graves essay — were printed by David Holman of Wind River Press and bound by Craig Jensen of the Jensen Bindery.
Exhibition Rental
This exhibition of the complete set of bird prints is available for rental. For more information, please contact TPM Executive Director, Brian Hodge at bhodge[at]printingmuseum.org.
Content
- 40 lithographs (34 x 28 inches, framed) by Stuart and Scott Gentling
- Digital files for text panels, object Labels
- Exhibition manual and installation guidelines
Rental Fee
$2,500
Duration
12-week display
Shipping
Van Line
Running Feet
130
Number of Crates/Total Weight
2 crates/TBD
Insurance
Certificate of insurance for “wall to wall” coverage