NOTE FROM SAVEABUNNY FOUNDER, Marcy Schaaf
I am thrilled to share with you the photos and story of the Oakland Animal Services Beautification Project sponsored by SaveABunny. Phase One is completed!
The photos below just can't capture the richness and vitality of an exquisite mosaic created by Jingletown artist, Kim Larson and a gorgeous painted mural, by SaveABunny volunteer and artist Gael Antognini
To read more about these caring and talented artists, please click on the links to their sites:
Kim Larson Blog Spot
Kim Larson's Art
Gael's website
Gael's Oakland Mural Photos
A mosaic and painted mural project at an animal shelter has been a dream goal of mine for a long time. Animal shelters are rarely considered places where beauty is found. The animals, volunteers and staff at animal shelters---especially at a public, urban shelter like Oakland Animal Services, typically are subjected to a lot of stress and have few resources. The same is true for a volunteer run, nonprofit rescue group like SaveABunny that specializes in helping rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned, abused and neglected pet bunnies---the nation's third most frequently euthanized animals.
Art for the Oakland Animal Services mosaic project needed to be donated---created out of the willingness to help and a love for animals. We just couldn't afford to pay someone to do the work. Since I am a fellow mosaic artist (with little time left over after rescue work to create!) I have an extensive selection of glass, ceramic and all kinds of tiles I've collected over the years. Kim and I had a great time sorting through all my tiles for just the right ones!
Gael and Kim each designed and installed their own professional, artistic creations---donating their time and talents, which otherwise could have cost us in the thousands of dollars. Truly incredible and what a generosity of spirit!
This collaborative volunteer effort between a rescue group, a shelter and a community artist is both progressive and very unusual in the animal welfare field. As such, this project is part of two very important presentations I am giving in the next few months. In April 2009, I'll be speaking at the Humane Society of the United States Expo in Las Vegas ---the largest animal care conference in the world. The Expo attracts several thousand national and international attendees. On March 3, 2009 I was a speaker at the California Animal Care Conference sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Association, The State Humane Association of California and The California Animal Control Directors Association.
Stay tuned for Phase Two of The Oakland Animal Services Beautification Project!
If you'd like to donate or contribute, please contact me at saveabunny@aol.com
You can safely donate online via Paypal.
Donate via Paypal
Meet Kim :
And meet Gael:
