Feathered Lovelies Youth Art Gallery
All works are original pieces by Fayette County, West Virginia students! No image is public domain or free for download or use.
The FLY Art Challenge is a student competition that celebrates birds of the New River Gorge through art! Through this program and its online gallery, students as community leaders to raise awareness of bird conservation and diversity of avian species found in this region.
2023 Best in Show
The works of the five Best in Show artists are framed and displayed for silent auction during the 2023 New River Birding & Nature Festival, May 1 – 6. These five artists are invited to a special dinner at the Festival, Monday May 1. Each artist receives 50% of the winning auction bid and the remainder is donated to the nonprofit Fayette County Education Fund, Inc. to support youth programs in Fayette County.
Awards for Exhibit Arts
Exhibit artists receive a certificate and a Festival T-shirt, and their original art is returned to them between May 7 - 15. Original art is not returned to the five Best in Show artists. Each artist can request a digital copy of their artwork by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Silent Auction
Bidding is open to registered participants of the Festival and by phone.
Opens May 1 at 3:00 pm and closes May 5 at 4:30 pm. The five pieces up for auction are labeled with “AUCTION" number in title and description in the online gallery. These five pieces are the ONLY works available for auction bids:
"Mountain Momma" by Katie Buckland, sophomore, Oak Hill High - AUCTION 1 - Best in Show.
"Call of the Belted Kingfisher" by Maren Boblits, senior, Private - AUCTION 2.
Barred Owl by Bobby Collins, sophomore, Oak Hill High - AUCTION 3.
Common Loon by Payton Mahood, sophomore, Oak Hill High - AUCTION 4.
"Dash of Scarlet" by Anessa Sullivan, freshman, Private - AUCTION 5.
Bid by Phone
Auction available pieces are indicated with the word "Auction" in the caption description and file-name. Starting May 1 at 3:00 pm, TEXT “AUCTION” with your (bidder) name, phone number, art Auction#, and bird depicted in art to Jodi at 304-575-6496 After 7:00 pm each auction evening, Jodi will call each phone bidder with auction piece bid update. Bidders will have the opportunity to up-bid on the art they are interested in purchasing. Final phone auction calls will be made by Jodi on May 5, 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Final bids must be placed before 4:30 pm, Friday May 5. Winning bidder will be notified by phone on the evening of May 5.
Auction Closes at 4:30pm, May 5, 2023.
Click an image to enlarge.