Tag Archive: Wildwood Park and Zoo


While visiting Munsey and Boda this past Thursday, I happened to cross paths with the staff from the Marshfield Community Television.  The staff had just finished filming an interview with Steve Burns about Munsey and Boda. So, here’s the link to the interview covering Munsey and Boda.

I also had an opportunity to join a scheduled tour of the behind the scenes care and facilities of Munsey and Boda.  I highly recommend that any visiting groups, families, and individuals schedule a behind the scenes tour of the facilities.  The tour is very interesting and you get to experience how the cubs use the scale so the staff can document their weight, how the cubs are fed, and so much more.  The Wildwood Zoo staff are very knowledgeable and friendly!  Thank you  to Cassandra and Amy (Wildwood Zoo Staff)  for allowing me to take photographs of you during the private tour.

I didn’t include all wonderful behind the scenes photographs that I had taken because I don’t want to spoil the experience for those guests that have the opportunity to go on the tour.  To schedule a tour, go to the following link.  http://ci.marshfield.wi.us/visitors/wildwood_zoo/tour_information.php

 

This is a slide video depicting the growth and development of Munsey and Boda from October 2015 to July 2016.

We will miss you deeply Bette Adler!  Thank you for all the kindness and generosity that you’ve shown to the Marshfield  Community.  You will be in our hearts forever!

Marshfield philanthropist passes away at 97

Here’s a new video clip on Munsey and Boda!  You can find more links to video clips and news articles written about the Munsey and Boda in former posts dedicated to Munsey and Boda.

I happened to be visiting Munsey and Boda during during some hot and humid days.  The early morning hours did’t seem to have as great of an impact on the cubs as much as the hot and humid evenings.  Last night the cubs seemed to be struggling with the heat and humidity from the long hot day.  Boda was digging up sand in the hopes of finding some cool damp sand to rest into, while Munsey  found a cool spot to rest located closer to the waterfalls up against the rock formations.

Earlier in the day I stopped to check on the cubs and found them swimming in the Bear Woods pond and the swimming pool that’s located in the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Area.

The cubs love discovering new things and one of items that cubs love playing with is the landscaping material that must line the pond in the BEAR WOODS.

Munsey and Boda love to play with new and interesting toys and that includes the empty beer keg that’s floating in their pond.

On August 10th around noon,was the first time I observed Munsey and Boda swimming across their pond that’s located in the JP Adler Kodiak Bear Habitat Area.  This pool is 13 feet deep in the center and so the cubs would normally only  play and splash along the outside area’s but never had I seen them swim across the deepest area of the pool.

The cubs are now 18 months old and weigh about 380 to 390 pounds each.

The process of drawing this 32″ x 36″ charcoal drawing titled  Munsey was a task that had taken me out of my comfort zone. While drawing Munsey, I discovered that I used the same drawing techniques that  I had used when I was drawing a series title Bombus  which was a more surrealistic group of drawings.  When drawing with powdered charcoal I always enjoy experimenting with more unorthodox tools to create my marks.  I use any materials that have a slightly tacky surface that helps me create interesting marks which help me create organic formations and interesting textures.

The bone structure of the Kodiak cub was used as a guide when creating the tufts of fur throughout the composition.  When I’m drawing, I always hyper-focus  on the details and use multiple photographs to help me me make the observations in regards to bone structure, lighting and creating depth through lighting and developing texture in in the composition.

I spent over 24 hours drawing Munsey but I’m not sure of the amount of time I spent observing and photographing the two Kodiak cubs, so I could have a reference as to how to proceed in the creation of the composition.

 

Bombus is a charcoal drawing that is 3′ x 5′ and was also created with the same drawing techniques as the composition Munsey. To learn more about NORTHWOODS ART TOUR go to northwoodsarttour.comwendlandt_s_bombus_1jpg