Press Release
Thousands Enjoy Grand Opening of The Wildlife Experience
DENVER - Sept. 4, 2002 - More than 6,000 people attended the Grand Opening of The Wildlife Experience over the Labor Day weekend.
The 101,000-square-foot facility, developed by RE/MAX Co-Founders Dave and Gail Liniger south of Denver, houses a collection of artwork by premier wildlife artists and exhibits that emphasize the importance of conservation.
"If the turnout this weekend is at all indicative of the future, I'm certain The Wildlife Experience will soon become an important museum locally and internationally," says Marketing Director Amber DeBerry. "We've had nothing but positive feedback."
Each exhibit conveys the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, the balance of nature, and the relationships formed between animals, humans and the environment.
Current exhibits include:
- Vanishing Africa. This gallery tells the story of Africa's vanishing habitat, comparing the African wilds of 100 years ago to the Africa of today. Designed as an interactive biologists' field camp, the exhibit lets visitors engage in a variety of activities, including writing in a field journal, examining preserved Goliath beetles, using microscopes, and listening to stories about the African culture by the campfire.
- Back from the Brink. The Conservation Gallery's inaugural exhibit documents the return of the American bison from near-extinction. The gallery tells the story of Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who were instrumental in saving the species. Showpiece of the exhibit is Veryl Goodnight's life-size bronze sculpture, "Back from the Brink."
- Art and the Animal. This exhibition consists of paintings and sculptures from the Society of Animal Artists, an organization dedicated to the highest standards in wildlife art. For 42 years, the Society of Animal Artists has represented the current visions of the best wildlife artists worldwide. The 2002 exhibition premiered at The Wildlife Experience.
- 2001 Wildlife Photographer of the Year The images in this exhibition are the winning entries taken from the BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition organized by the BBC Wildlife magazine and The Natural History Museum, London, and sponsored by BG Group. The annual contest is the largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world.
- iWERKS Theater. The theater is showing the film "BEARS" on its massive screen, and will add the film "Ocean Oasis" in December.
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