Museum tributes artist

In fall 2011, Brown County artist William Zimmerman died. But his artwork lives on.

The IU Summer Festival of the Arts includes “A Tribute to William Zimmerman (1937-2011),” a gallery opening at the IU Art Museum featuring original pieces of
Zimmerman’s artwork. The gallery exhibit is open from June 12 to Sept. 9.

Zimmerman was a wildlife artist with a specialty in birds. The exhibit, on display in the Doris Steinmetz Kellet Endowed Gallery of Twentieth Century Art, features Zimmerman’s original paintings of male and female woodpeckers, painted with acrylic on grey paper.

Five of 25 original paintings featured in the book “Life Histories of North American Woodpeckers,” written by Arthur Cleveland Bent, are on display.

The Art Museum has all 25 of the originals, a gift to the museum by Elaine Ewing Fess and Stephen W. Fess, which can be viewed by appointment.

“He really is recognized as one of Indiana’s most important bird artists,” said Nan Brewer, curator of works on paper at the Art Museum. “(Zimmerman) is such an important regional artist.”

Zimmerman grew up in Dillsboro, Ind., and studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy.

He began working as an illustrator at the Gibson Greeting Card Company before becoming a professional wildlife artist. He settled in Brown County, Indiana.

Zimmeran’s work has been displayed in many locations around the world, including the United States, Great Britain and Canada.

His artwork has also been published in many wildlife books.

Zimmerman was “very interested in making sure his images were accurate,” Brewer said.

She said he used direct field observation and bird specimens to create his artwork. He used vellum, a transparent paper, to sketch.

After deciding on a composition, Zimmerman would draw on canvas or paper, and then paint.

“Most people on campus might not know his name, but they have probably seen his work before,” Brewer said.

The atrium in Jordan Hall displays a collection of Zimmerman’s original paintings, featured in “The Birds of Indiana” by Charles E. Keller and Russell E. Mumford.

Zimmerman’s work has also appeared on the label of Oliver Winery wine bottles.
He did paintings for the company’s bottle labels for several years, according to an article on SouthernIN.com.

Brewer thinks the Zimmerman exhibit will interest many people.  

“The naturalism of (the exhibit) will have a wide appeal,” Brewer said.

—Sarah Boyum