SPECIAL EVENTS
                        BY JON CRANE WATERCOLORS, INC.

                Please call 888-948-1948 for more information

                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meeker Ranch Project

 "Beginnings" Giclée Jon Crane is well known for capturing history in the picturesque rural landscapes he paints. Many of these paintings are now unintended representations of the transitory nature of life; buildings have been demolished and landscapes altered so drastically that they no longer resemble Crane’s painstaking renditions of what they once were.

Many of Crane’s cherished spots have been torn down, burned or simply faded away, but he is determined to save his latest muse. Recently the U.S Forest Service acquired the Meeker Ranch, an historic old place that borders the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve near Custer , South Dakota , and subsequently scheduled the demolition of the buildings on the property.

Last December, Crane hiked up to the ranch to take a set of photos for a painting. “I was totally blown away by what I found,” he said. “Sitting on top of a little rise in this pristine valley was the most beautiful ranch that I have ever seen. It is my idea of the classic Black Hills ranch… I have not been this excited about a painting subject since I found the farm that was the inspiration for my Heartland Series in 1985.”

The Forest Service cites numerous causes for their decision to burn the buildings, including safety and liability issues as well as what they refer to as “substantial” repair and maintenance cost concerns. Only the original homesteader’s cabin qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places and would therefore be preserved.

Without being able to generate an income or without the aid of private investors, the fate of the Meeker Ranch falls to simple economics. The Forest Service has no budget allotted to pay for things like preserving the Meeker Ranch. Without the necessary maintenance, the buildings then become a liability to the Forest Service, who might have to face a lawsuit of negligence in the event of an injury sustained in one of the buildings.

Crane is currently seeking ways to partner with the National Forest Service to save the Meeker Ranch and others like it. Numerous individuals and organizations have voiced a desire to be a part of this preservation effort. Crane has committed to give 15% of sales on all artwork he creates of the Meeker Ranch which will be a first step toward funding this significant project.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JON  Jon is asking for your help on behalf of all artists. Current IRS codes allow artists to deduct only the cost of materials for charitable contributions of artwork.  Two bills now before the U.S. Senate and House, if passed, would allow artists to take a deduction for their charitable donations based on fair market value, as other citizens can.  We urge you to contact your senators and representatives regarding this legislation.  To find contact information for your senators go to   http://www.senate.gov/ or call (202) 224-3121. To find contact information for your representatives go to http://www.house.gov/ or call (202) 224-3121.   Methods of communicating your opinion to decision makers in order of effectiveness: Personal Appointment Faxed Letters (Capitol Hill Offices do not receive US mail delivery) Phone Calls Emails   Remember to do the following when communicating with your congressional representatives: 1.     Identify who you are and how you are involved in your community. 2.     Explain why the issue is important to you, your community, or your institution. 3.     Encourage friends, business associates, and fellow concerned citizens to contact their congressional representatives. 4.     Ask for a response informing you what your representative is going to do about the issue.   This legislation is currently presented as House Resolution 1120 and Senate Bill 372.  To view this legislation and to see updated information please go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.  This is the official government site for legislative information for the public and was developed by the Library of Congress. Here are other links to groups supporting this legislation: Association of Art Museum Directors  http://www.aamd.org/advocacy/ Americans for the Arts http://ww3.artsusa.org/   We would be happy to hear any suggestions you might  have on getting this legislation passed. Please contact Terri Tuggle at our office with any suggestions or questions! 1-888-948-1948 or terri@joncranewatercolors.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JON CRANE WATERCOLORS, INC. P.O. Box 1100 - Hill City, South Dakota 57745 605-574-4441 (local) or 888-948-1948 (toll-free) FAX 605-574-4445

We strive to maintain a user-friendly and informative website. If you have any comments or suggestions please LET US KNOW © 1998 Jon Crane Watercolors, Inc.