Wildlife art work on display at Sandoz Center

Even graduated from Chadron State in 2003 with a major in graphic design. His painting of an antelope at rest was selected for the 2007 Habitat Stamp by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. That work is in the exhibit along with others of antelope, several of fish and a large painting of a moose in a snow storm.

Originally from Green River, Wyo., Even began working as an artist for Cabela’s in Sidney soon after graduating from Chadron State. Most recently, he was the art director of the catalog department.

But this summer, he said the Wind River Mountains lured him back to Wyoming.

He accepted a job as a graphic designer for Brunton, a firm located in Riverton and best known for producing compasses and optics such as binoculars and scopes for guns.

He and is wife, the former Anne Frates of Brule, are living in Lander, located about 20 miles from Riverton. She is a 2005 graduate of Chadron State.

Beside art work, mountain climbing has become a passion for Even.

This summer about the time he changed jobs, he was one of nine adventurers who spent three weeks climbing Mount McKinley, located in Alaska’s Denali National Park and the highest peak in North America. He said it takes that long to scale the mountain because climbers must become acclimated to the altitude.

The previous summer, he climbed Mount Rainier, which is 14,400 feet, in three days.

As a senior at Chadron State, Even set the school record of 184-3 ½ feet in the hammer throw. He also has the third longest mark in the discus, 168 feet even.

The Sandoz Center is open each weekday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. It is also open Saturdays, beginning at 9 a.m.