“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."--Elie Wiesel
"Animal Activist Artwork" series
*Artist's Statements at bottom of this page to further explain series
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."--Elie Wiesel
"Animal Activist Artwork" series
*Artist's Statements at bottom of this page to further explain series
My recent, ongoing "Animal Activist Artwork" series of work addresses one of the most urgent global issues, a subject matter almost entirely excluded from the art world. This body of work dissects animal agriculture, a leading cause of global warming, illustrating the plight of animals and the consequential damage to our environment. This conceptual art evolved from five years research into environmental and animal advocacy, as well as three years experience working in the retail end of animal agriculture, at a meat and cheese department of a food co-op. I knew more about the cuts of meat than I did about the complex lives of these animals and was disturbed by the blood on my hands. The majority of my interactions with animals was with them as packaged products, and I had a hard time stomaching the fact that animals are treated as a commodity. This series is heavily influenced by documentaries, research, undercover footage of abuse and visiting meat and dairy farms.
Leading scientific research has revealed that animal agriculture is the primary cause of global warming, causing more greenhouse gas emissions than all transportation combined. It's the leading cause of species extinction, rainforest deforestation, water and air pollution, and water scarcity. The consumption of meat and dairy is a major contributor to chronic diseases, human starvation and unfathomable amounts of suffering for animals. This body of work is intended to engage inner and outer dialogue about our relationship with animals, reflecting on the roles we play in protecting the vulnerable animals and our shared planet alike. This conceptual art has the potential to reduce unnecessary suffering by encouraging self-reflection and a call to action to protect what we love. Historically, art has played a significant role in social movements and can act as a powerful tool in social change. This series addresses a contentious issue from a place of compassion, free from condemnation or unproductive anger. There is an unprecedented social interest in more compassionate and sustainable food sources, as well as exploring ways to heal the environmental destruction caused by the meat and dairy industry.Thus far, this series has initiated meaningful conversations, raised awareness and exemplifies the critical role art can play in creating positive social change.
We urgently need to explore ways to live more sustainably, healthfully, and coexist more compassionately. I passionately believe that art is more than aesthetics. In it's ideal form, it can serve as a conceptual statement and encourage action towards improving ourselves and the world in which we live.
A portion of proceeds from this series are donated to animal rights organizations such as Farm Sanctuary and Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary.