“Biodegradable”
Artist Statement
An artist has the ability to reach people without
words, to touch something inherent in the viewer that allows messages and
emotions to be conveyed. The ability to show what you believe is quite powerful
and I hope that my artwork shows my personal experiences and how they are
reflected in my philosophies. I work for
a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. I have witnessed cruelty and pain. I have
seen dark corners in humanity and find it necessary to shed light into those
crevices.
The numbers speak volumes, and with statistics such
as those, once would believe that the logical, humane, and resourceful decision
would be to save a life and adopt a pet. However, puppy mills and back yard
breeders are contributing to these staggering numbers. I want to show the reality
of breeding, and the subsequent disregard for a living creature.
If my art does nothing else but make one person
decide not to breed their pet, then I will feel that I am successful.
“Four million cats
and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year”
– HumaneSociety.Org
Approximately
1 million puppies are produced through the puppy mill system in the United
States each year. When you buy a puppy from a pet store, you support puppy
mills' mass breeding and inhumane practices. (Statistics source: ASPCA.org)
UNITED STATES FACTS & FIGURES
• 70,000 = Number of cats and dogs born every day in the
U.S. (nearly 3,000 born every hour or 50 born every minute)
• 70 million = Number of stray cats and dogs living in the U.S.
• 30 million = Number of animals in the U.S. that die each year from cruelty, neglect, and exploitation.
• 4,000 – 6,000 = Number of animal shelters in the U.S.
• 6 – 8 million = Number of cats and dogs entering U.S. shelters each year.
• 3 – 4 million = Number of cats and dogs euthanized by U.S. shelters each year (nearly 10,000 animals killed every day)
• 3 – 4 million = Number of cats and dogs adopted by U.S. shelters each year.
• 25 – 30 % = Percentage of dogs in U.S. shelters which are purebred.
• 90% = Percentage of animals entering U.S. shelters that are healthy and adoptable.
• 42.5% = Percentage of animals entering animal shelters by animal control authorities.
• 30% = Percentage of animals entering animal shelters that were surrendered by their owners.
• 70% = Percentage of people who acquire animals that end up giving them away, abandoning them, or taking them to shelters.
• 10% = Percentage of animals received by animal shelters that have been spayed or neutered. ”
• 70 million = Number of stray cats and dogs living in the U.S.
• 30 million = Number of animals in the U.S. that die each year from cruelty, neglect, and exploitation.
• 4,000 – 6,000 = Number of animal shelters in the U.S.
• 6 – 8 million = Number of cats and dogs entering U.S. shelters each year.
• 3 – 4 million = Number of cats and dogs euthanized by U.S. shelters each year (nearly 10,000 animals killed every day)
• 3 – 4 million = Number of cats and dogs adopted by U.S. shelters each year.
• 25 – 30 % = Percentage of dogs in U.S. shelters which are purebred.
• 90% = Percentage of animals entering U.S. shelters that are healthy and adoptable.
• 42.5% = Percentage of animals entering animal shelters by animal control authorities.
• 30% = Percentage of animals entering animal shelters that were surrendered by their owners.
• 70% = Percentage of people who acquire animals that end up giving them away, abandoning them, or taking them to shelters.
• 10% = Percentage of animals received by animal shelters that have been spayed or neutered. ”
- Oxfordpets (http://www.oxfordpets.com)
From knowing nothing about Photoshop, you seem to have made quite substantial progress! Immediately, I like the decision to render the panels black and white. Historically, black and white alludes to idea over flashiness... and possibly a 'drawing' background and way of seeing things. The idea is very strong, I believe, as with the substantial write-up that accompanied it. Since I am drawn into the images and the certain type of brutality presented in the vending machines, I am driven further to know the statistics behind it. Nitpicking on some visuals, I would make the trash can on the bottom right blend in more seamlessly somehow. Same scenario with making the silhouettes of observing pedestrians more naturalistic... As the concept here is very, very 'real'.
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