SFA exhibition benefits Gulf Disaster relief

Illustrations such as this by 11-year-old Olivia Bouler are included in "Save the Gulf: Olivia Bouler's Bird Illustrations," a fund-raiser/exhibition for the Gulf Disaster wildlife rehabilitation which the SFA School of Art will open at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

NACOGDCOCHES, TEXAS - East Texans looking for a way to help with the relief efforts for the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico can attend the opening of "Save the Gulf: Olivia Bouler's Bird Illustrations" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

The exhibition includes 25 original illustrations and five prints by the 11-year-old New York artist who has single-handedly raised over $125,000 for relief funds by selling her art.

All of the original illustrations included in the show will be available via silent auction at the opening, and the prints will have a set price. All proceeds benefit not-for-profit organizations including the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society.

After learning about the oil disaster, Bouler wrote a letter to the Audubon Society saying, "I am a decent drawer, and I was wondering if I could sell some bird paintings and give the proceeds to your organization."

Once media outlets picked up on Bouler's Facebook page, the project ballooned, explained Christian Cutler, director of SFA galleries. Bouler has been featured as an AOL artist and interviewed on CBS, MSNBC, FOX, CNN, Larry King Live, the BBC and Italian Mediaset television.

SFA's exhibition is Bouler's first one-person show and the first exhibition of her artwork for Gulf disaster relief. She will be on video chat via the internet during the opening
event.

"SFA is proud to offer this opportunity to the East Texas community to not only view Olivia's art, but to help raise funds for the Gulf disaster relief," Cutler said. "We do not have to feel helpless; we can send aid by getting involved through a young girlÕs passionate readiness to act."

The exhibition will run through Saturday, Sept. 11, and Bouler's prints will be available for sale throughout that time. Visit www.aolartists.com to learn more about the artist and her efforts.

The exhibition/fund-raiser is sponsored in part by the SFA School of Art; a donation in honor of Luke Dubé, Becca Dubberly and Reese Dubberly; and the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program.

Regular gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please all (936) 468-1131.