PHOTO: Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan will host a two-week exhibit of Smokey Bear paintings by Rudy Wendelin, celebrating the renowned spokesbear for fire prevention's 80th birthday, according to a news release.
On loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library, the traveling exhibition showcases 19 replica paintings completed by Wendelin from 1977-1995.
The exhibit will be available for viewing April 30 through May 10 at the historical park at 118 Smokey Bear Blvd. in Capitan, roughly two and a half hours from Albuquerque. Wendelin began working for the Forest Service in the 1930s and was assigned the Smokey Bear project, according to the release. He illustrated hundreds of Smokey images, giving the bear the anthropomorphic traits we know him for today, the iconic forest ranger's hat, jeans and shovel.