There are many things to discover at Fontenelle Forest, such as walking trails covering hundreds of acres, obstacle courses through the treetops and raptors of all shapes and sizes. However, an art discovery is not something that would usually come to mind.
For Catherine Kuper, a former Fontenelle employee turned volunteer, it started off as an inconspicuous post-it note in a file cabinet that had been tucked away for years in the basement archives of Fontenelle Forest.
“I knew the note was about 15 years old because I recognized the handwriting, so I called. I took a chance and I called, and the woman Roxana Hine answered the phone and we were talking, and I asked her ‘do you have the painting?’ She said yes, it is in the closet,” said Catherine.
And just like that an original painting of Logan Fontenelle was rediscovered, dating back over 100 years. This painting is based on a sketch of Logan when he was exploring the land along the Missouri River back in the 1850s.
The recovered and restored painting will remain on display as part of the “Forest Through the Eyes of the Artist” exhibit before hopefully finding a permanent home in the nature center. Miriam Holder, a receptionist at Fontenelle Forest, encouraged people to come out to see the exhibit before its conclusion in June.
“I am particularly fond of the portrait of Logan Fontenelle. He was a very important person in this area, and I would like people to come and learn the history of Fontenelle Forest,” said Miriam.
The exhibit hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $11 for adults, $8 for kids 17 and under and free to children under age 2.
