Connected Ecosystems (Tsavo) no. 1, oil pastel on paper, 16" x 22", 2021
Connected Ecosystems (Tsavo) no. 2, oil pastel on paper, 16" x 22", 2021
Original Artwork Sale - Ongoing
SAIC 2021 Fall BFA Show (November 6th - November 19th, 2021) 33 E Washington St, Chicago IL
The original artworks were exhibited at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's 2021 Fall Bachelor of Fine Arts Show at the SAIC Galleries at 33 E Washington St in Chicago IL from November 6th to November 18th. Proceeds from the purchase of the original artworks will go towards Mwalua Wildlife's efforts. Please email [email protected] to request an artwork purchase.
Connected Ecosystems (Tsavo), 2021- ongoing
This art project is in collaboration with Mwalua Wildlife Trust, a Kenyan founded and operated organization that works towards sustainable water solutions for human and wildlife communities in the Tsavo ecosystem of Kenya. The artist, Eve Gordon, worked with Mwalua Wildlife Trust to create artworks of the wildlife and landscape that the organization works to protect and serve. The proceeds from the sales of the prints raised funds that went directly to the Mwalua Wildlife Trust to fund their operations.
The Mwalua Wildlife Trust's mission is to create sustainable water access points for animals, improve Tsavo ecosystem through tree planting and environmental education, and reduce human wildlife conflict through collaborative solutions such as finding alternative livelihoods for local people (https://mwaluawildlifetrust.org/).
The projects of the Mwalua Wildlife Trust began in 2016 when the area of Tsavo in southern Kenya experienced a severe drought which dried up watering holes and food sources for wildlife. Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua worked patrolling Taita Hills Sanctuary and was moved by the animals sniffing at and waiting by the empty water holes hoping to quench their thirst. The sanctuary was only able to provide 2,200 liters of water daily due to the shortage, so Patrick reached out to the down of Voi and hired a water truck with 10,000 liters of water and brought it to the watering hole. Patrick continued to bring up to four trucks of water each day to the animals and each time they were waiting for him to arrive. Patrick is humbled by the experience of being meters away from wildlife that never try to harm him as he works to save their lives. The Mwalua Wildlife Trust continues to work today on a variety of conservation projects, including delivering water to wildlife, building and maintaining water pans, water catchments, water pumps and tree nurseries, and supporting solutions in communities that will reduce human wildlife conflict.
Eve Gordon is a scientific illustrator with the mission to use their artistic skills for environmental conservation. This project is in the efforts to provide funding for the Mwalua Wildlife Trust by creating a series of oil pastel drawings of the animals Patrick provides water for through the Water is Life Truck project. These oil pastel drawings are portraits of the animals, the water, and the landscape and demonstrate the interconnectivity the wildlife, the water system, and the landscape have to one another. The prints of this series were sold alongside the final rendition of this project from November 6 - 19, 2021 when the original drawings will be exhibited in the SAIC Fall BFA show and the originals will be sold. The sales and efforts of this project brought over $300 to the Mwalua Wildlife Trust to further support their efforts. The proceeds from the sales of both the prints and the original drawing were donated directly to the Mwalua Wildlife Trust.
Proceeds from purchase of the original artworks will go towards Mwalua Wildlife's efforts. Please email [email protected] to request an artwork purchase.