CF Appleton Museum of Art presents Audubon-Inspired sculptures in ‘Outside Aviary’

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, presents “Outsider Aviary: Robert W. Smeltzer’s Birds of America,” on view through Aug. 4.

Many are familiar with the Appleton’s 19th century European collection and the exquisite pre-Columbian objects, but visitors can now appreciate a lesser-known part of the world-class permanent collection that celebrates a Florida artist and veteran. “Outsider Aviary” features a selection of hand-carved birds by Robert W. Smeltzer (1906-1997), all inspired by John James Audubon’s (1785-1851) “Birds of America.”

After serving in the U.S. military and working as an electrical engineer, Smeltzer began his artistic hobby in 1966 after discovering Audubon’s renowned tome of bird illustrations, “Birds of America.” Smeltzer then spent over two decades creating 242 bird carvings, along with a handful of snakes, each sculpture reproducing the colors and markings of their real-life counterparts. Smeltzer crafted each piece using an array of woods including mahogany, cypress, cedar and redwood. “Notably, he never purchased any wood for his creations,” said Appleton intern Luke Craig, who provided research on the artist and helped organize the show. “The materials were either gifted to him by friends or sourced through scavenging.”

These carved creatures, rendered in an endearingly crude and expressive style, signal Smeltzer’s status as an outsider artist. His unorthodox approach, unburdened by formal training, yielded art that is both imaginative and deeply personal. In his own words, “I take scraps and leftovers and make birds out of them.” This resourcefulness and ingenuity underscore the essence of Smeltzer’s art. His unshackled creativity, coupled with his lack of a formal art education, impart a slightly primitive appearance to his carvings. As Smeltzer once expressed, “The birds are not meant to be pretty, but instructive.”

In 1993, Smeltzer gifted his complete collection of carved birds to the Appleton Museum of Art. On view alongside 36 of his sculptures are the tools that shaped them and his well-worn copy of “Birds of America,” marked with handwritten margin notes that attest to the depth of his study. Several Audubon prints from the Appleton’s collection are paired with their corresponding carving.

“Bird lovers and art appreciators alike will very much enjoy Smeltzer’s whimsy and attention to detail,” said Appleton Assistant Director Victoria Billig. “We’re pleased to display this donation to the collection, which you can find ‘nesting’ in the first-floor Preview Gallery.”

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.