Artists for endangered species

Artists for endangered species

By Jenny Gilbertson

In October 1990, Sydney artist Sharon Davson, in association with photographers Graham Ramsay and Terry Barker, and agent Fiona McNeill, started an organisation known as "Artists for Life". Their aim was to promote public awareness of the plight of endangered species throughout the world.

They began by contacting artists and art organisations in a number of countries, with the idea of an international touring exhibition of artworks on the theme of endangered species.

The list of artists now involved in the proposed 1994 exhibition includes Australia's Arthur Boyd, David Rankin and Sharon Davson; New Zealand's Raymond Harris-Ching and Reinhard Karnuka-Fuchs; James Rosenquist, Tom Wesselmann, Larry Rivers, Christo, Nancy Graves, and Helen and Newton Mayer-Harrison from the US; Arina Nakhova from Russia; and many more from all over the world. To date, 1000 artists and 600 art galleries from 12 countries have expressed interest in participating.

This major touring exhibition is only the beginning. By establishing local coordinators throughout the world, they hope to involve as many people as possible in local exhibitions, performances, musical events and the like, in order to raise public awareness, and much needed funds, for endangered species' protection.

These coordinators would be involved in a host of activities, such as researching the threats to local species and possible ways of combating them; coordinating with artistic and environmental organisations; contacting their local MPs and schools; approaching tourism organisations and businesses for donations; and organising fundraising events in their local area. "Artists for Life" is in the process of registering as a charity, which will make donations tax deductible.

The next meeting of the Sydney branch of Artists for Life will be held on February 4 and thereafter on the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, contact Shirley Page on 960 1991.

From GLW issue 41