Education and Inspiration through the ancient art of storytelling!
Invite John James Audubon, naturalist and artist, to your community for performances, workshops and guided birding. Storyteller and author Brian “Fox” Ellis, in the persona of Audubon, brings history, ecology, art and literature to life in this meticulously researched program that celebrates the life work of one of America’s greatest artist and naturalist!
My next film project is a documentary about John James Audubon. In preparation for this project we taped an informal tour of Lakeview Musuem that is now posted on YouTube. We are currently applying for grants and scouting out funding sources. If you have any leads or know of a generous benefactor please let me know!
Each performance is custom tailored. Here are two slightly different programs if presenting twice at the same conference:
A) Spend an hour in the studio of one of America’s greatest naturalists and wildlife artist. Listen to tales of his adventures as he finishes something no one had every accomplished before: drawing every bird in North America. Audubon will enchant you with stories of his travels and travails in the wildest places on the planet. He will celebrate the natural history of the North America as he saw it in the early 1800s.
B) In this second performance Audubon will bring to life bird behavior, focusing on the birds you are most likely to see as you go bird watching in this area. Audubon followed the annual migrations of birds throughout North America in the 1820s and 1830s, keeping meticulous journals on the birds he saw. With lessons on field ecology, the scientific method, art history, and bird migration, the audience is invited to imitate birds and discuss the life histories of their favorite feathered friends.
Performances can be geared towards professional ornithologists, family audiences, school groups, or the general public!
Storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays Audubon in these entertaining and meticulously researched monologues drawing from Audubon’s journals, essays, and letters to his friends and colleagues. This program was developed with a grant from the USFWS as part of their celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Fox has performed as Audubon in museums, nature centers, schools and libraries across the United States, including Audubon’s home in Henderson, Kentucky.
Eagle Optics, the leading on-line source for binoculars and spotting scopes is now sponsoring Fox's tour as John James Audubon. Check out their excellent selection and you will find both great deals on first rate optics and something quite rare in on-line shopping, excellent service and advice on the best equipment for your needs. When you check out use this discount code to save 5-10%: PRP-41. Eagle Optics will also make a donation of 5-10% to fund educational programs.
Because I am often asked, here is a story about purchasing Audubon Prints
Chris Young, outdoors reporter for the State Journal Register posted a wonderful video interview with snippets of my performance at the Earth Stewardship Day at the state fairgrounds.
The large PRESTIGE archival print protectors were generously donated by Alvin Co. Contact them directly for wholesale orders or ask for them at your local art supply store.
Workshop:
BIRD IS THE WORD: Journaling, Poetry, Non-Fiction Writing, and Ornithology
A poet’s eye and gift for language is very similar to the detailed observation and ability to communicate complex ideas required of field ecologists. In this participatory workshop you will learn some tips for effective journaling. You will learn to use haiku to focus your eye and ear. You will learn to use poetry to write clearer more exciting essays and turn your field notes into publishable articles. Come to celebrate the voices of nature and find your voice in the natural world.
Let’s Go Birding with Audubon!
Join Mr. Audubon on a unique bird watching adventure as he regales listeners with his in-depth observations of the species we happen to see along the trail. Long before Stokes and Sibley, Audubon published several pages of field notes, an “Ornithological Biography,” for all 435 species of birds that he painted.
Read additional reviews and recommendations.
To view Lesson Plans for Adventures with Audubon follow the link.
For further Audubon lesson plan ideas
Here are two articles about the bicentennial tour: Walking In Audubon's Footsteps: Celebrating the bicentennial of John James Audubon’s historic hike across the Prairie State, as published in Outdoor Illinois and An Audubon Bicentennial: John James Audubon's First Forays into Illinois as Fodder for Conservation Efforts, as published by the Illinois Audubon Society.
And here is a film clip from a future documentary about John James Audubon!
To read an article Fox wrote for Green Teacher Magazine follow this link InTheFootstepsOfAudubon
To read some of Audubon's Essays click on the title: The Ohio, The Prairie, The Runaway, The Squatters of the Mississippi
To view a gorgeous and thought provoking web page with great music blended with Audubon's art visit The Museum of Civilization in Quebec, Canada
To learn more about the life of John James Audubon visit these two web pages for brief biographies: Audubon Society and Princeton Audubon.
May 2011 was the 200th anniversary of John James Audubon's first foray through Illinois. The idea started with four communities and four days, but after months of planning and overwhelming support from several sponsors, I have recreated his bicentennial tour of Illinois with visits to sixteen towns across the state. In many of the communities I led an early morning bird hike, (see below), set up my exhibit of Audubon’s art and taxidermy birds, presented school programs and an evening performance of stories Audubon wrote about what Illinois looked like 200 years ago! Here is a detailed schedule of the tour.
I wrote two articles about the tour:
The first outlines hikes you might take to see Illinois as Audubon once saw it: Walking In Audubon's Footsteps: Celebrating the bicentennial of John James Audubon’s historic hike across the Prairie State, as published in Outdoor Illinois. The second article challenges you to read Audubon’s journals as a template for restoration with information about the birds he saw here 200 years ago: An Audubon Bicentennial: John James Audubon's First Forays into Illinois as Fodder for Conservation Efforts, as published by the Illinois Audubon Society. And here is a film clip from a future documentary about John James Audubon!
Press reports have all been generous in their reviews:
The Southern Illinoisan, The Peoria Journal Star and The Springfield Journal-Register all ran articles. Chris Young, outdoors reporter for the Springfield Journal Register posted a wonderful video interview with snippets of my performance at the Earth Stewardship Day at the state fairgrounds.
This tour would not have been be possible without the generous support of The Illinois Humanities Council Roads Scholar Program, Illinois Audubon, Peoria Audubon, Shawnee Audubon, The Illinois State Museum, The Gallatin County Historical Society, The John A. Logan Museum, and The First Bank and Trust Company of Murphysboro, and The Ste. Genevieve Historical Society. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Bad News/Good News: Because of the big floods at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Shawneetown and the Birding in the Bottoms festival had to cancel, but they have already rescheduled for September 16 and 23. Watch my Calendar for updates.
PLEASE CALL 309-689-8000 OR Contact Fox TO BOOK A PERFORMANCE OR WORKSHOP!
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