🎨🦦 Presenting "All Creatures Great and Small"! 🌟
Prepare to be amazed by this extraordinary artwork, a collaboration between our playful resident zoo star, Albert the Otter, and the exceptionally talented local artist Sharon Luella Easterling! 🎨🦦

In "All Creatures Great and Small," Albert's playful paw prints set the stage for Sharon Luella's artistic prowess. With fine art pens and paper, she meticulously illustrated an otter, adorning each section with her intricate hand-drawn patterns. The result? A captivating masterpiece that celebrates the beauty of nature and artistry! 🎨🦦
Roar & Pour Wine Fest Presented by Kaw Valley Bank and Kendall Construction occurs on April 27th and features wines from around the world, food samplings, and live music. The focal point of this fundraiser is the animal art collaboration, which will be available via silent auction starting April 19. You do not need to be at the event to bid on auction items.

Visit https://store.topekazoo.org/#/SpecialEvents/RoarAndPour to purchase your tickets today!

Artist Statement:
Sharon Luella's inspiration behind her artwork "All Creatures Great and Small" began as she researched photographs and images of otters and discovered how they hold their hands as they stand on their hind legs. This sparked a connection for her, leading her to contemplate the idea of prayer and God's love for all creatures, including animals. The process of watching Albert the Otter leave his paw prints on paper, guided by his caretaker with the promise of a fish as a reward, highlights the harmonious relationship between humans and animals. From there, Sharon Luella drew an image of an otter including her hand-drawn intricate patterns in each section using fine art pens and paper. She cut up the paw prints, decoupaged them to a flat canvas, and attached her artwork with a foam adhesive which slightly raised it off the canvas providing a 3D effect. Having it framed gave it the perfect finishing touch.

THE RESULTS ARE IN! 🏆

Participants were asked to write a story ✍️ or produce a piece of art 🖌️to raise awareness about a real-life conservation issue such as habitat loss, climate change, threatened and endangered species and more.

All who entered a writing or art piece will receive FREE entry to the Zoo for our Party for the Planet 🌍 celebration on April 20th, 2024. There were five age categories, and a winner and honorable mention were selected from each category! All stories and art pieces will be on display at Party for the Planet!

Winners of each category will be contacted by the end of Monday, April 15th to discuss their prize. 🏆

Don't mind us, just stacking some fun for the summer! 🧱

Curious about what we're building up? Visit the link here: https://topekazoo.org/sean-kenneys-animal-super-powers/

In the meantime, please excuse our progress- especially near our Virginia opossum unit inside Animals & Man!

🦛💋 Introducing "Hippo Kisses" and “Butterfly Kisses!” 🦋💋
Get ready to fall in love with these extraordinary masterpieces, born from a delightful collaboration between our charming resident zoo celebrity, Vision "Tank" the hippo, and the incredibly talented Becky Drager!

Becky began “Hippo Kisses” with a vibrant portrait capturing Vision's playful spirit and endearing personality. Then, with a smooch from Vision himself, the canvas was graced with his adorable kiss, adding a touch of whimsy and charm to the already stunning artwork! 💖🎨

“Butterfly Kisses” Vision playfully planted his signature smooch on the canvas, Becky worked her magic, painting a breathtaking butterfly around his kiss. The result? A whimsical fusion of nature's charm and artistic creativity! 🦛🎨

Roar & Pour Wine Fest Presented by Kaw Valley Bank and Kendall Construction occurs on April 27th and features wines from around the world, food samplings, and live music. The focal point of this fundraiser is the animal art collaboration, which will be available via silent auction starting April 19. You do not need to be at the event to bid on auction items.

Visit https://store.topekazoo.org/#/SpecialEvents/RoarAndPour to purchase your tickets today!

Artist Statement:
I was thrilled to be asked to be part of the 2024 Roar and Pour event at the Topeka Zoo. I was even more delighted to be assigned Tank, the hippo, as my painting partner. We have a history, so I felt it was destiny to paint with him. Thirteen years ago, Tank was born at the Topeka Zoo. Kirk and I went to an evening zoo tour. As we walked our tour route exciting news came over the radio, the Mama Hippo was about to give birth. We were told if we stayed very quiet, we could watch the birth. We were led over to the outside enclosure to watch this amazing moment of Tank entering the world. Now years later, we are together again. Tank is a much bigger boy now, but so cute and so talented. In January 2024, I had the privilege of meeting Tank again. He was a very willing participant. After a bite of food, the zookeeper rubbed red paint on his nose and mouth. I pressed the canvas on Tank’s snout and Tank kissed the canvas with red kisses. I enjoyed using these canvases to come up with two paintings for the auction. It was a fabulous experience and one I will never forget.