Over the years Topanga Canyon Gallery has played host to critters of all kinds, in paintings, photos, sculptures and other art forms. Who can forget the menagerie Debbi Green has created on canvas over the years? (Remember her huge painting of a rooster titled "A Really Big Cock"?) There have been Robyn Feeley's whimsical critters, cheetahs of Carol Hernandez and Felice Willat photos that included animals from faraway climes.
But things were different Friday, August 14, when a number of exotic guests showed up at the opening reception for "Animal Instincts," the gallery's 2009 summer theme show. .
Taht night we had real live critters strutting, stalking, sniffing and slithering around the gallery. They ranged from Snowman the barn owl and Jake the gopher snake to a Kestrel appropriately named Fidel! And no, he wasn't originally from Cuba.
All are current residents at the Nature of Wildworks Animal Sanctuary and Education Center, which provides lifetime care for non-releasable wildlife. And they won the hearts of everyone present.
Fortunately, however, the animals did not hog the attention (pun intended) of everyone all the time. Human guests also focused on the art and purchased a number of pieces, which was fortunate because this was a fundraiser for the Wildworks organization.
Overall, the event was so successful it will be repeated by popular demand in a closing reception on Saturday, August 29 from 5 to 7 pm at the gallery.
"We thoroughly enjoyed sharing our live Wildworks critters with all who attended the opening of Topanga Canyon Gallery's "Animal Instinct" exhibit and will be happy to return for the closing reception," reports Mollie Hogan, founder and president of Wildworks.
"I want to thank Robyn Feeley for her fundraising idea and all the hard work that she and the gallery artists put into this successful event with its fabulous turnout. I am also very impressed with the quality and variety of animal art pieces, especially Zoe Chressanthis' paper mosaic of Phoenix the mountain lion, our "founding animal," which she created and so generously donated for the fund-raising auction. What a special gift from a truly talented artist."
Other works for the auction were donated by Robyn Feeley, TCG president, Fae Horowitz, Debbi Green, Susan Haskell, Robin Becker and Felice Willat. This raised a significant amount that will go directly toward the care and feeding of the 50 current animal residents.
Animals other than those named above who strutted or slithered their stuff at the opening reception and may do a return engagement on August 24 were: Tara, the red-tailed hawk; Arthur the opossum; Harley and Chopper, ferrets, Boxer, an African serval; Stormy, a Western Gray squirrel; and Hopi, an Australian Shepherd.
Wildworks also brings the wonders of nature into California classrooms and other venues through its Educational Outreach Programs. For example, a "Wild in California" program introduces audiences to some of the amazing birds and animals that are native to the golden state. It focuses on the lifestyles and habits of our local critters and the contributions that wild animals can make to the environment.
Other programs explore how animals survive in the wild, the foods they require, how they protect themselves from predators and more. There is even a program that teaches the ins and outs of animal training, both wild and domestic. It covers some techniques anyone can apply to their pets at home.
"Our gallery is pleased to partner with Wildworks in this fundraising effort for a very worthy--and local--organization. We were elated with the success of our opening reception and hope to repeat it at the encore reception on the 24th," says TCG President Feeley.
You need to visit the Nature of Wildworks website to appreciate the depth and breadth of the organization's activities: www.natureofwildworks.org. The site contains a wealth of information about its very worthwhile activities, programs and the animals that live there..
It makes you really appreciate the work Mollie Hogan and her staff are doing, and proud that it's happening in our own backyard.
