Mburanumwe - one last look

"Mburanumwe”
6” x 4” x .75"
Acrylics on Stretched Canvas
© R.J.Andreae 2007

Beginning bid $19.95

50% to Wildlife Direct

Please click here to view & bid on other works of art to help endangered mountain gorillas.

This small painting is a tribute Mburanumwe. Her charred body was found by the rangers of the DR Congo on July 23. She was soon to give birth when she was slain. It affected the rangers profoundly when they found her along 3 other members of her family, all shot execution style. When I learned of her death via Paulin Ngobobo's blog, Gorilla Protection. I couldn't stop from crying. I never new her or have ever seen a mountain gorilla. But I did know that I wanted to help these brave rangers protect the less than 700 mountain gorillas left in the world.

So I painted her portrait to raise awareness about the plight of this critically endangered species and funds for the rangers who risk their lives daily to protect them. In the painting, she is looking over her shoulder as if to give one last look. I hope that it will not be the last look for the mountain gorillas.

The artwork is acrylics on stretched canvas (staples on the sides). It measures 6" x 4" x .75". It is signed and dated on the back . It is sold unframed. The painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Please feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. All artwork is copyright protected and may not be copied or reproduced in any way. © R.J.Andreae 2007.

Our Auction Goes Live Tommorrow!

On September 8th, tommorrow, Art Helping Mountain Gorillas (WDGP) auctions go live! I can't wait to see what happens. My wish is that we raise awareness and lots of funds for the rangers who protect the less than 700 mountain gorillas left in the world. Please check the Gorilla Protection blog to receive updates on the gorillas and the rangers.

".......many (rangers) are now paid by a European Union-funded conservation group called WildlifeDirect, cofounded in January by Leakey. The group solicits funds from donors with the guarantee that 100 percent of the money goes straight to the rangers.” ~ Newsweek, August 2007

The artists from Art Helping Mountain Gorillas have pledged from 10 to 100% from the proceeds of their sales to WildlifeDirect to help those who protect these critically endangered animals.

~ Robin Andreae (artbyrjandreae)

Art Helping Gorillas--A Work in Progress

One more day till the Art Helping Mountain Gorillas Charity Auction goes live! Excitement is running high. Specifically with me, as I just returned from a business trip. There's a bunch to do!

However, I took my art along with me; so here's a look at what I was able to accomplish in my down time on the trip:

 

This will be the next installment in a series of hidden picture fairy tale art I have been doing. For the Art Helping Mountain Gorillas auction, what better tale to tell than one from Africa?

"Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" is a lovely fairy tale from Zimbabwe. It's been called a Cinderella story, but a more accurate comparison would be to "Beauty and the Beast."

In the tale, Mufaro is the father of two beautiful daughters: Manyara, who is attractive in appearance, but self-centered and unkind; and Nyasha, whose gentle beauty matches her compassionate heart. Mufaro's daughters receive a summons to appear before the King, who has decided to take one of them to be his wife.

Eager to be queen, Manyara sneaks out in the night so that she may reach the King ahead of her sister. Along the way, a hungry little boy asks her for food; but she ignores him, thinking only of herself.

The following morning, her sister Nyasha accompanies the wedding party in its procession to meet the King. The same hungry boy makes his plea to the group, and kind-hearted Nyasha stops the procession so that she may give him food. When Nyasha is brought to the King's chambers, she is suddenly surprised to see her sister run from the room in a panic. "There is a horrible monster inside!" Manyara cries.

Courageously, Nyasha steps into the room to see what her sister was so afraid of. Yet what she discovers is not a terrible monster--only a small garden snake that she recognizes as her companion from back home. Before her very eyes, her little friend transforms into the figure of a man--the King himself.

The King knew of Nyasha's gentleness from her friendship toward a wild creature; and he knew, also, of her kindness toward the hungry boy. She was the beautiful woman--in face and spirit--that he wanted to have for his bride.

I feel that this story illustrates the purpose of this auction so well. Like Nyasha, so many beautiful souls are showing kindness and compassion toward their fellow human beings and toward the creatures of the planet, both through their artwork and their efforts to help. As we work together, let's hope for a "Happily Ever After"!

~Christine Taylor (mousewords)

Hope

HOPE

Copyright Skye Ryan-Evans 2007


(A lone Mountain Gorilla with view of the Virunga Volcanic range behind (Congo)



( Above) "HOPE" A closer look

This digital artwork is a tribute to the plight of the severely endangered Mountain Gorillas of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. It was created to celebrate the hope that surrounds the survival of these magnificent creatures during a time of devastating political unrest. These animals are caught in the crossfire of a human conflict and have been used to make political statements by being murdered. These innocents need our help!

~Skye Ryan - Evans (rusticmooncrafts)

Gentle Persuasion

"Gentle Persuasion"
Colored pencil
16"x 21"
Copyright ~ Leslie "Chisaii" Evans 2007

The great apes and endangered species have become a passion for my artwork. With my small effort of representing them in my own style, perhaps everyone will be a bit more aware of their need for protection and preservation.

“If my work creates an emotional impact then I’ve truly accomplished more than just a piece of art.”

~Leslie "Chisaii" Evans (chisaiistudio)

Sad News!

Yesterday, things have been turned upside down in DR Congo. As reported in the Gorilla protection blog by Diddy, Bilali's little son has been killed accidentally by some silverbacks fighting. And even worse, last night at 3 am (Congo time), Bikenge Patrol Post was attacked by rebels who both looted the Patrol Post and also disarmed Troop III of the Advance Force. At five in the morning, the camp of Patrol Post Jomba was then also surrounded by rebels, who have been stationed in the area of Runyoni and Chanzu for this last week. They attacked the camp taking 17 weapons, 5 handsets and 6 mobile phones.

The rangers are using what vehicles they have to try and evacuate the guards and their families from these two patrol posts, as well as from the Bukima Patrol Post, which is now very likely to also be a rebel target.

Unfortunately because of these circumstances, they are now unable to work in the Gorilla Sector.

The BBC reports that Laurent Nkunda has declared war on the DR Congo government: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6974362.stm


I hate to bring such horrible news. The rangers and the gorillas are in my prayers.

Please know that we are continuing with our auction as scheduled. After this war they will need our help more than ever.

~ Robin Andreae

Art for Mountain Gorillas? Here's Why

This is just some of what the rangers do:

The rangers of DR Congo daily put their lives on the line protecting endangered mountain gorillas. While in the line of duty, well over 120 rangers have been killed during the last 10 years. Just 3 days ago, one ranger was killed and a camp worker was critically injured.

One of the rangers many duties protecting the gorillas is removing traps like those shown above. With each patrol they find many of these traps, which are destroyed back at the main park station at Rumangabo These deadly traps kill and injure many types of wildlife.

Here's what we can do to help:

With our doantions we can provide the rangers with the tools neccessary to perform their duties.

This is why we do it: