Eight bears from around the world with tragic pasts have become stars of an exceptional exhibition by an artist who hopes to change the world with… graphite, colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and pastel. Lisa Ann Watkins managed to put on canvas the extraordinary stories of eight of the most tormented animals worldwide.
The exhibition “If You Go Down to the Woods Today” (http://www.tauruscrafts.co.uk/events/Lisa-Ann-Watkins-exhibition.htm) received its first visitors on May 17 and will remain at Taurus Crafts (Glowcesterhire, UK) until June 22, 2014. The paintings were created in collaboration with some of the world’s first bear rescue organizations, and alongside each panel is the story of the speechless subject. For example, the gorgeous Max, a bear from the sanctuary in Zarnesti lived his first 10 years of his life in unimaginable conditions. He was blinded as a cub to ensure his dependence on people. He was then kept for 10 years chained to an iron fence in the tourist resort of Sinaia. The illegal owner made his living by offering tourists pictures of themselves with the bear. To make sure that that Max wouldn’t make any sudden moves that might scare his clients off, he gave him painkillers with beer every day. Like Max, seven other bears impressed Lisa so much that she decided that their stories deserved to be told. “Everything is great. Everyone takes time to read the stories of the bears and also takes time to leave comments about their experience. I gave interviews to the press and hope that this will continue as long as possible,”,says Lisa. The artist hopes that this way she will reach the hearts of those who admire her work and from now on, more voices will rise against the cruelty to animals.Animals and art are her two great passions, and she now combines them in a gesture of charity. Part of the proceeds received from the exhibition will go to the Libearty Sanctuary in Zărneşti.
