Art

Item Description

Miss Rita Barnes comes to the auction, donating her 20"x 30" original acryllic painting:                  

"In the early 1970’s I saw my first and only Orca at Dudley Zoo here in the UK. Cuddles was his name and he was held in a very, very small pool. I remember being very close to the water, so close I could almost reach out and touch him.

He filled this small pool and appeared to have no room whatsoever in which to turn. As he silently moved in front of me we made eye contact – words cannot explain the effect looking into this Orca’s eyes had on me. I never again visited a captive animal facility.

I tried to find out as much as I could about Cuddles and found that he was captured in October 1968 in Washington, USA and that he had been a member of J or L Pod. Back then I had no idea what J or L Pod was.

This experience began my involvement in the anti-captivity movement. Over the years, as my family grew up I became more involved in anti-captivity issues. I have learnt much and understand so much more than when I was a young woman back in the 1970’s. I learnt about the worldwide capture of cetaceans and focused my attention on the Orca’s.

I learnt about Shamu, Keiko, Kalina, Gudrun, Corky, Kandu, Tilikuk, Morgan and Lolita. Lolita stole my heart. There were similarities between Cuddles and Lolita. They were captured in the same area and could possibly have belonged to the same Pod.

With time on my hands I returned to my love of art some 5 years ago and began creating original wildlife art and was soon drawn to producing artwork of Orca’s and other Cetaceans, Whales and Marine Life.

Veronica saw some of my work on Facebook and emailed me to ask if I would donate to the Spring Fling. Without hesitation I agreed to donate artwork depicting Lolita. I began work on an oil painting and whilst waiting for layers to dry I had an idea for another piece of art which I quickly sketched out. Lolita reunited with her family. Two pieces would now be going to Chicago painted with love to raise money for Lolita’s rehabilitation. At this time I was also affected by the Shark Cull in Australia and decided to donate a piece I had created in 2013 of a Whale Shark in honour of all the activists striving to end this slaughter.

I hope everyone enjoys looking at my art and obviously wish with all my heart that all three pieces raise lots and lots of money for this great cause."