Coconut Grove Arts Festival Unveils Official Poster
Florida Artist Clyde Butcher’s “Ghost Orchid” Chosen

By Mary Damiano

Acclaimed Florida photographer Clyde Butcher's image of a ghost orchid has been chosen to grace the official poster of the 43rd annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which will take place over Presidents' Day weekend, February 18-20, 2006.

The poster, called “Ghost Orchid”, features three images of the same ghost orchid taken in three consecutive years, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The work was chosen from hundreds submissions from the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, and the Caribbean.

“Clyde's ‘Ghost Orchid' is a collection of three truly brilliant images that together captures the delicate balance of natural beauty, evolution and stamina that is Coconut Grove,” said Monty Trainer, current president of the Coconut Grove arts Festival.

Trainer selected Ghost Orchid after consulting with Romine Hawks, former president and CEO of the festival, who for years chose the official poster. Hawks believes the image is in vogue with the current tastes of the art world.

“In my summer travels throughout the United States and Europe, I observed a tremendous increase in and emphasis on black and white photography,” Hawks said. “Monty and I agreed that introducing photography as the image of the official poster would be refreshing and stimulating.”

	Photographer Clyde Butcher

Butcher has spent his career devoted to exploring the beauty of nature and sharing his personal relationship with the environment through his black and white photographs. His work has been exhibited in major museums throughout Florida and in other areas of the United States, Butcher's work has also been exhibited internationally; his traveling exhibition Visions of the New Millennium was featured in 2001 at the National Gallery in Prague in the Czech Republic before returning to the United States, where it has been showcased
at museums across the country since 2002.

In addition to having his work selected for the poster, Butcher will exhibit a vast collection of his photographs at the 2006 Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The display will focus on the history and evolution of his work. While Butcher has participated in the Coconut Grove Arts Festival more than a dozen times, this is the first time his work will grace the official Festival Poster.

“Street festivals help stretch an artist if they are responsive to their audience,” said Butcher. “My own personal growth as an artist was absolutely influenced by participating in the festival process. Festivals such as the Coconut Grove Arts Festival opened avenues for me with political and environmental groups and issues.”

Butcher has earned many honors and awards over the years. One of the most sentimental of these honors was having his image “Ochopee” chosen to honor the late, great Marjory Stoneman-Douglas on her 101st birthday. Another special honor was when Mr. Butcher was presented with the Everglades Coalition Award in 1997 for his efforts to help save the Everglades.

In 1997 Butcher was chosen “Person of the Week” on the ABC Evening News. Earlier this year, Butcher was recognized as the Humanitarian of the Year by the International College, which awards citizens who have made outstanding contributions for the betterment of our community. Other notable honors Butcher has received include the Heartland Community Service Award presented by Governor Chiles in 1996, the Artist Hall of Fame Award (1998), the Ansel Adams Conservation Award (2000), three Wolfson Awards (1992, 1996 and 2004), being named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Florida (2004), having his Big Cypress Gallery voted Best Gallery in Florida by Florida Monthly Magazine (2004) and a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the North American Nature Photography Association (2005).

In addition to being an artist and documenting Florida's landscapes, Butcher has worked on projects for many environmental groups and causes, including Florida's “Save Our Rivers” program, the South Florida Water Management District, the Division of State Lands, the Bureau of Submerged Lands and Preserves, Everglades National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and the Wilderness Society.

A collection of Butcher's photography can be seen at his Big Cypress Gallery in the Big Cypress National Preserve.