In about a week I’ll be presenting my installation, “Wolf City”, at the annual Bulldog Inn Art Show here in Athens. It’s a pop-up show for one night only at a local dive motel. Each artist gets a room to do whatever they want, i.e., installation, performance, music, video, whatever. I’m thrilled to be a part of it and this year’s show is sure to be a blast with artists from all over and as far away as Japan!
“Wolf City” is an extension of my affinity and concern for the well-being of wolves, both wild and domestic. I paint a lot of wolves in general and I get my inspiration from our own domestic cousins. The installation addresses the controversy regarding wolf populations and reintroduction. Humans “produce” them and “package” them up to ship them back and forth much like products that are part of the machine. All the while, sanctioned wolf hunts in some of these parts of the country attempt to cull them in areas they are unwanted. I am pro-wolf all the way and am a proponent for the reintroduction programs that are in place in this country. The reintroduction programs are in place because of the near eradication of wolves in North America in the early 20th century. Wolves are apex predators and a vital part of the ecosystem. In the wild, wolves self control their populations by halting mating if the food sources (prey population) are low that particular season. When prey is plenty, wolves (as do most predators) go for the young, sick or elderly. While this may seem cruel, one of the benefits is that this will ensure the strongest will survive, thus making a stronger and healthier herd (and vice versa).
I hope you can make it out to the show next Wednesday, March 25th from 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. To join, see the Facebook event here!
below:
Part of “Wolf City” (in progress)
paper maché, fiberglass, wood, acrylic latex, resin