Duck stamps have been the stuff of "Up Nort" jokes, quirky movies (remember "Fargo"?), even phone sex. (The card that accompanies this year's stamp includes a typo that directs callers to a phone-sex service.)
But a new exhibit at the Bell Museum of Natural History celebrates -- rather than spoofs -- the art form that's all too often associated with basement dens and hunting clubs.
"Art of the Wild," which opened Tuesday, includes more than 100 paintings, illustrations, watercolors and photographs. The show, much of which was culled from the museum's permanent collection, spans the centuries, from early 18th-century botanicals to contemporary photo-realistic paintings of birds.
In the mix are several original life-sized prints by John James Audubon and easel paintings by Francis Lee Jaques, the artist who painted the backdrops for many of the Bell's historic dioramas.
And then there's the duck-stamp art.
Although it's often looked down upon by some in the art world, the art form celebrates the beauty of birds in their natural habitat, said Don Luce, curator of exhibits for the Bell.
Not to brag, of course, but Minnesota is home to more winning duck-stamp artists than any other state. Since the Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp (better known as the duck stamp) program started 75 years ago, Minnesota wildlife artists have won 23 years.
"Waterfowl has been a specialty of Minnesota wildlife artists," said Luce. "If you go to the West Coast, it might be salmon. On the East Coast, it's upland game. But we're interested in waterfowl because we've got a lot of wetlands here."
