Volume 1, No. 15. August 24, 2001
Eric’s Turn
PHOTO of
Eric and Sarah wearing T-shirts bearing elephant art. Photo
by Lynne Mosman
Zoo school
of art
Upon discovering that she was chosen
to submit a new painting for an art show to be exhibited by THE LOOP, Lucille
reportedly squealed in excitement. Lucille is a Tamworth pig at the Sedgwick
County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, and she loves to paint. Even before her keepers
put the canvas on the board, Lucille was rubbing her snout across the easel
in anticipation.
Such has been the enthusiasm we created when we started gathering works of art
for the first-ever Cyber Animal Art Show to be posted with the next edition
of THE LOOP (for your invitation, click here).
We will be posting the show to coincide with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's
annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Sept. 7-11. Already we have promised
submissions from Lucille, a rhinoceros, several elephants (both Asian and African)
and penguins. Zoos and animal collections contributing to the cyber art gallery
will have their web sites linked through the art, and the accompanying issue
of THE LOOP will highlight some of the pioneer painters and the zoos who use
painting for animal enrichment, research and fund raising.
Our own first encounter with this school of painters came when Sarah and I visited
Colorado last month. We learned of Lucky's elephantine work at Cheyenne Mountain
Zoo in Colorado Springs, then saw the gallery featuring the paintings of Mshindi
Rhinoceros at the Denver Zoo, Also at Denver visiting elephants Rosie and Amigo
put on a painting display, prompting us to purchase suitable souvenirs (pictured
above). Such masterworks of abstract impressionism should be broadcast to the
world, we decided, and that spawned this special art show.
You still have time to contribute: the deadline for submissions is August 31.
You can send jpegs or gifs and a bio of the artist to eric@gettheloop.com.
Not a pig? Not an artist? Don't worry, you can still be involved in this exciting
event. We are seeking sponsors for this exhibit and have a value-filled package
available. Here's a great chance for your company to show support for our friends
(both kinds) in the industry. Click
here for details.