Monday, September 23, to Saturday, October 5, the University of Idaho Library hosted a display of Smokey Bear artwork and other items to celebrate the 80th birthday of the wildfire icon. These artworks, created by Rudy Wendelin, were on the second floor of the library near the stairwell.
Wendelin, according to an informational sign located in the library, started working for the Forest Service in 1933 and created Smokey Bear artwork from 1949 to 1973, continuing into his retirement. The display paintings are replicas of original Wendelin artwork and are touring as a part of the Forest Service’s 80th birthday celebration of Smokey Bear.
“To me, as an art historian, there’s no way that you understand American recreational history without Smokey Bear,” said Dulce Kersting-Lark, Head of Special Collections and Archives at the UI Library.
Kersting-Lark explained that alongside painting, there were displays of Smokey Bear memorabilia, most of which are from the private collection of James and Dawn Fazio, a Moscow couple and distributors of licensed Smokey Bear items for around 40 years. According to their website, Woodland Catalog, “These products are licensed by the USDA Forest Service with a percentage of all sales returned to contribute to the nation’s wildfire prevention program.”
Students and library attendees alike noticed the display and expressed their appreciation for the display and for Smokey Bear. Library-goer Mikacia Bartosz explained that the display “definitely caught my eye because I love Smokey Bear.”
“I think Smokey Bear is a great tool, especially for children, because it’s something that’s friendly, inviting, and a great way to teach children, and even adults, about wildfire safety,” said Bartosz.
To learn more about Woodland Catalog and the Fazio Family, visit https://www.smokeybeargifts.com/