Protect the Sacred

Protect the Sacred

Stand up for your beliefs,

Stand for the downtrodden, the forgotten

Stand for those without a voice, those we cannot hear

Stand for the animals and plants, for the soil and water, rocks and air

Stand strong and purposeful

Root your feet and do not give way, with the elegance and courage of the bison

Soar in the skies with your dreams

Fly above the small-minded

Fly above fear and violence, with your hopes and dreams to guide you

Alight where you can see across the wide wonderful Earth

Where you can see the love that flows through it all

Soar so high that justice and your mind are clear, where your heart is pure

Where you are one with the great spirit

Fly through the air with the power and keen eye of the eagle

Flow like water through life

Never to be defeated

Possibly held up, but never destroyed

Flow with your goal in mind and never forget

Nourish life with your very essence

Course over that which is filthy and cleanse it with your clarity

Strengthen the weak like ripples, and break down hate like a tidal wave

Be as water is, both creator and destroyer

Give birth to life, and help those that have passed to begin again

Bloom as a flower does

Let your petals unfurl towards the sun

Grow as tall as you can

Open yourself to the world with brilliance and clarity of purpose

Bring bright beauty, grace, and joy wherever you go

Be as the flowers are, and remember that life is ephemeral

One day, let yourself fall away, sweet and peacefully

Knowing that you are leaving this place richer than how you found it for your being

Protect the sacred in all that you do 

In all that you are

For you are it as well

And it, you

Pangolin Clothing Company

Justin Allen is a friend of mine who lives in Western Massachusetts. He has started a clothing company that raises awareness about endangered species as well as helps contribute to their conservation.  Justin and his co-founder, Craig Velozo, are building their company and starting to work with other artists as well, to design more work and help protect some of our most endangered animals. 

Some Pangolin models getting their wild on!

Currently they have a small collection of designs, which are consciously made and sourced. They buy their shirts from American Apparel, ensuring the socially-just production of their products. Each of the shirts cost a mere $25 and they donate at the minimum of 50% of their profits to conservation of the animals they highlight. 

A happy Pangolin T-shirt owner

In their own words: "Founded in July 2014 by Justin Allen and Craig Velozo, Pangolin launched with a few simple goals in mind: Create unique clothing that stands on its own, provide support and protection to endangered animals, and raise awareness about what’s being done to help."

Red panda design from Pangolin

Check it out and support them here: http://www.pangolinclothingcompany.com

Tricia Zimic

In delicate palettes and dynamic compositions, Tricia Zimic juxtaposes native wildlife with cityscapes to address how human society affects the natural environment. Zimic works in as a re-forester and make some of her art based on things she sees and experiences in the field. She works in porcelain sculpture as well as in oil paint. She researches the conservation status of her subject matter and then explores interesting ways of portraying them and their story. She shows a bobcat in the city, a salamander next to its beer can home, the battle between native and invasive species, and haunting images of toxic landscapes where our very survival is questioned. 

"To me, these pieces are as fragile as the true animals and remain a record of what we have with us today but may lose tomorrow." -Tricia Zimic

The Garden of Earthly Delights: As it is
A triptych: As it was, As it is, and As it will be

Zimic with The Garden of Earthly Delights
In the description of this piece:
"Years ago Chief Seattle said to his tribesmen ‘What is man without beasts? If all beasts were gone, men would die from loneliness of spirit.  For whatever happens to beasts soon happens to man.'"

UprisingAddressing the contentious debate over the presence of wolves in and around human development. Here the wolves are taking back their territory that we have taken from them.

Zimic working on a sculpture.

Flight or Fight
Depicting a fight between native species of New Jersey and alien invasives from Europe.