Artists and famous faces have joined forces for a special touring wildlife art exhibition putting the spotlight on threats to iconic species.
The exhibition will open in Norwich at the Crypt Gallery from 12 -14 October 2023.
Visitors can expect to see a special collection of wildlife and wild space artwork, On the Brink, by leading international artists including Michael Dumas, Frank Pretorius, Rogue One, Sarah Stribbling, Sophie Green and John Banovich as well as selected artworks from Sketch for Survival.
Sketch for Survival, a global art initiative now in its seventh year, is the idea of Explorers Against Extinction, a conservation charity based in Happisburgh. Sketch for Survival works closely with partners worldwide to recover key species and restore ecosystems.
Co-founder and trustee of Explorers Against Extinction Sara White said;
“All the artworks in the Sketch for Survival collection exclusively feature at-risk wild spaces, threatened species or species with a distinct conservation story. It’s a powerful, visual way to celebrate biodiversity while raising awareness about the threats to it, most-often due to human activity. “
Artwork is sold by online fundraising auction (concluding 12 November) with all proceeds supporting the charity’s Project Fund. The fund has enabled on-the-ground conservation in twenty-eight different countries from Indonesia to Brazil with more than £360,000 donated to specific projects.
In 2023 specific projects range from protecting Spectacled Bears in the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, Peru to de-snaring activities in Zambia’s South Luangwa.
This year over 4,000 artists, representing close to 100 nations, answered the open call for artworks to Sketch for Survival. The youngest entrant was just 2 years old. More than 80 different species and a variety of different wild spaces feature in this year’s exhibition.
Among this year’s finalists is 18-year-old Tabitha Witte from Norfolk. Having completed her A-levels at Norwich School this year she is starting up her own videography/art business.
Witte’s charcoal spotted Hyena cub won over the judges which included Gary Hodges, the UK’s best-selling wildlife pencil artist who said;
“Tabitha is a relative newcomer but her artwork of a young hyena displays boldness of composition and technique that defies her years. Judging by this, an artist to look out for in the future.”
Although the Spotted Hyena is currently categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, the population is known to be decreasing outside protected areas, with their status threatened by deforestation and hunting.
Other Norfolk artists making the final and included in the exhibition are graphite artist Ruth Walker with her beautifully detailed drawing of a Shag, and pet portrait artist Chloe Hibberd who chose to picture a Lar Gibbon.
Sketches donated by celebrity supporters including No.1 Ladies Detective Agency author, Alexander McCall Smith and charity explorer-patrons Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Levison Wood, Benedict Allen and Colonel John Blashford-Snell will be exhibited alongside Sketch for Survival and On the Brink artworks.
The exhibition opens at The Crypt Gallery, Cathedral Close, Norwich from 12 October to 14 October 2023 ( 11am – 4pm daily except Saturday 10am – 3pm). Admission is free.
The collection will also be exhibited at The Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh 26-29 October and gallery@oxo, London 8-12 November.
explorersagainstextinction.co.uk
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