Otjiwarongo Learner's International Art Project
(Otjiwarongo – 7 March 2011) - On 4 March 2011 the first International Cheetah and Children’s Art Project involving seven Otjiwarongo Schools and over 100 learners, took place between 5pm and 6:30 pm at the Otjiwarongo Art Centre, where over 100 works of art were displayed. All artists were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and enjoyed refreshments while viewing the art.
The event was organized and hosted by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), in cooperation with the Otjiwarongo Art Centre and the Bivalley Lions Club of Sacramento, California, U.S.A. Project coordinator, Dr. Laurie Peters a CCF volunteer from Sacramento, is an artist who wanted to bring together children’s art from the two continents to raise awareness of the cheetah. Dr. Peters said that “The excitement of the learners was evident from initial contact. They approached the creation of the largest collection of cheetah artwork with gusto.”
The Otjiwarongo art students were learners aged 10 to 19 that created cheetah paintings using pastels, pencils, acrylics and watercolors. These mediums were donated to the Art Centre by CCF friends in the United States. Dr. Peters and Jeanne Shafer, a retired art teacher and volunteer with CCF, worked with Martin Scott, Director of the Otjiwarongo Art Centre, along with art teachers at the various schools in teaching the use of the various mediums not previously available.
Most students worked on the floor using cheetah pictures for inspiration. Two teachers, Sarah Gibney, a Peace Corps Volunteer based at Karundu Primary School, and Lorraine Kotze from the Edugate Academy were instrumental in helping bring the art work to fruition.
The art will be taken to Sacramento, California, USA where it will be displayed at the Solomon Dubnick Gallery along with the art work from three Sacramento school learners, under the direction of Robert Andersen, who has given generously his time and expertise. The art show will be open to the public on 2 April 2011. The original artworks will be available for purchase at that time and proceeds of this show will be donated to CCF. Skyline Framers of Sacramento provided the mat boards for the artwork for all schools.
CCF has worked closely with the Otjiwarongo schools for nearly 20 years, as the Otjiwarongo is the Cheetah Capital of the World. Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF’s Executive Director, says “The project represents an extension of the concept of integrating the management of wildlife, livestock and cheetahs with children and their love of art. Through their voices, these artworks will benefit cheetahs by sharing the children’s concerns worldwide that the cheetah will exist in the wild for future generations. Globally we all play a role in species survival.”
The event was organized and hosted by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), in cooperation with the Otjiwarongo Art Centre and the Bivalley Lions Club of Sacramento, California, U.S.A. Project coordinator, Dr. Laurie Peters a CCF volunteer from Sacramento, is an artist who wanted to bring together children’s art from the two continents to raise awareness of the cheetah. Dr. Peters said that “The excitement of the learners was evident from initial contact. They approached the creation of the largest collection of cheetah artwork with gusto.”
The Otjiwarongo art students were learners aged 10 to 19 that created cheetah paintings using pastels, pencils, acrylics and watercolors. These mediums were donated to the Art Centre by CCF friends in the United States. Dr. Peters and Jeanne Shafer, a retired art teacher and volunteer with CCF, worked with Martin Scott, Director of the Otjiwarongo Art Centre, along with art teachers at the various schools in teaching the use of the various mediums not previously available.
Most students worked on the floor using cheetah pictures for inspiration. Two teachers, Sarah Gibney, a Peace Corps Volunteer based at Karundu Primary School, and Lorraine Kotze from the Edugate Academy were instrumental in helping bring the art work to fruition.
The art will be taken to Sacramento, California, USA where it will be displayed at the Solomon Dubnick Gallery along with the art work from three Sacramento school learners, under the direction of Robert Andersen, who has given generously his time and expertise. The art show will be open to the public on 2 April 2011. The original artworks will be available for purchase at that time and proceeds of this show will be donated to CCF. Skyline Framers of Sacramento provided the mat boards for the artwork for all schools.
CCF has worked closely with the Otjiwarongo schools for nearly 20 years, as the Otjiwarongo is the Cheetah Capital of the World. Dr. Laurie Marker, CCF’s Executive Director, says “The project represents an extension of the concept of integrating the management of wildlife, livestock and cheetahs with children and their love of art. Through their voices, these artworks will benefit cheetahs by sharing the children’s concerns worldwide that the cheetah will exist in the wild for future generations. Globally we all play a role in species survival.”
Editor’s notes:
• The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is a Namibian non-profit trust dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems. The Fund’s activities include working actively with Namibian farmers, schools, and communities, as well as conducting international research on cheetah demographics, ecology, biology, and the human impacts affecting cheetah survival. Since 1990, CCF has presented educational programmes to more than 350,000 outreach school learners. Research into cheetah biology and ecology has greatly increased our understanding of the fastest land animal and education programmes for schools and the farming community help change public attitudes to allow predator and humans to co-exist. However, despite the many successes of CCF programmes, the cheetah is still Africa’s most endangered big cat.
• Lions Club International is active worldwide in many fundraising activities that bring together people from all continents to work towards collective goals, including wildlife conservation and education. The Bivalley Lions Club is instrumental in bringing together the children’s artwork for display and fundraising with the goal of expanding this concept to other Lion’s Clubs.
• The Otjiwarongo Art Centre was created to promote art and performance, build community capacity and to help in job creation.
For more information please contact:
Cheetah Conservation FundPO Box 1755, Otjiwarongo, NamibiaTel: +264 (0) 67 306225Fax: +264 (0) 67 306247E-mail: [email protected]Website: www.cheetah.org
• The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is a Namibian non-profit trust dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems. The Fund’s activities include working actively with Namibian farmers, schools, and communities, as well as conducting international research on cheetah demographics, ecology, biology, and the human impacts affecting cheetah survival. Since 1990, CCF has presented educational programmes to more than 350,000 outreach school learners. Research into cheetah biology and ecology has greatly increased our understanding of the fastest land animal and education programmes for schools and the farming community help change public attitudes to allow predator and humans to co-exist. However, despite the many successes of CCF programmes, the cheetah is still Africa’s most endangered big cat.
• Lions Club International is active worldwide in many fundraising activities that bring together people from all continents to work towards collective goals, including wildlife conservation and education. The Bivalley Lions Club is instrumental in bringing together the children’s artwork for display and fundraising with the goal of expanding this concept to other Lion’s Clubs.
• The Otjiwarongo Art Centre was created to promote art and performance, build community capacity and to help in job creation.
For more information please contact:
Cheetah Conservation FundPO Box 1755, Otjiwarongo, NamibiaTel: +264 (0) 67 306225Fax: +264 (0) 67 306247E-mail: [email protected]Website: www.cheetah.org