http://www.whig.com/20171014/p...endangered-animals#/



Perry artist focuses exhibit on trophy hunting of endangered animals


By Edward Husar Herald-Whig

Posted: Oct. 14, 2017 8:50 pm

PERRY, Mo. -- As professional artist Craig Norton of Perry was doing research for an adult coloring book focusing on endangered animals, something kept gnawing at him.

Norton said he would frequently encounter disturbing photographs of big-game hunters posing with the carcasses of endangered animals they had just killed.

He said he saw one hunter standing victoriously atop a dead elephant while flexing his muscles and giving a thumbs-up sign.

He saw a hunter swaying with a dead cheetah in his arms as if dancing with the animal on prom night.

He saw a couple kissing and holding a "Just Married" sign while standing next to a dead grey zebra one of them had killed.

He saw hunters sitting on a dead giraffe while smoking cigars and toasting each other with champagne glasses.

He saw a photo of a boy -- about 10 or 12 years old -- relaxing alongside a lion he had shot.

"He was literally cozied up next to the dead lion, and he's playing on his iPad," Norton said.

All of these images -- and many others -- bothered Norton and stayed with him while he was producing the 45 pen-and-ink drawings that were eventually featured in his coloring book, "Endangered: Animals to Color," which was published in 2016.

Since then, Norton decided to express his feelings about "the negative effects of trophy hunting" by producing a series of paintings that focus on the killing of endangered animals.

The result is "Trophies," an art exhibit that opens Monday in the Hannibal-LaGrange University's Arts Department gallery. The exhibit will remain on display through Nov. 10. A reception with the artist -- open to the public -- is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

Norton, a father of six who makes a living as a professional artist, said he felt compelled to create the series of artworks as a way to make a statement about his concern for the loss of endangered animals.

"These beautiful animals stand no chance when facing a hunter with a gun," he said.

Norton is quick to point out that he is not opposed to legal hunting in general. He is specifically opposed to killing endangered animals.

"This exhibit has nothing to do with deer, turkey or duck hunters," he said.

Norton is worried that the continued hunting of endangered animals will lead to the extinction of more species.

"For every species that is wiped out, it affects so much more than people realize because the extinction of one species affects other species," he said.

Norton likens the extinction possibilities to a jigsaw puzzle.

"When one piece of that puzzle is suddenly missing, it affects the balance of things and is not complete," he said.

"There's not enough protection for these animals. Their numbers are dropping considerably. So I'm trying to get the debate going on whether this is the right thing or the wrong thing."

Norton said all of the paintings he produced for the exhibit were based on real photographs he encountered while doing research over the last couple of years.

"These are not fictional," he said. "They are based on real photographs, then I make it my own painting by adding things and subtracting things."

Norton even added editorial text to some of the paintings to help illustrate his points about "the complete and utter disrespect and disregard for the animals' life."

Norton, 43, is known for making statements about social issues when producing his work.

Over the years he developed gallery shows in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Baltimore featuring paintings, drawings and mixed-media work on such diverse subjects as the Holocaust, racial lynchings, gun violence and the travails that have faced Native Americans and the elderly.

He feels endangered animals deserve some attention as well.

"There are thousands of species at risk," he said.

More information and examples about Norton's artwork can be found on his website, craignortonart.com, and at craignortonart@facebook.com.

The problem with his type of exhibit is, he doesn't know which animals are ENDANGERED!

I have zero problem with making everyone aware of the plight of truly endangered animals, and who is killing them, but first a person must know which animals fit in that category. Otherwise his work does more damage than good.

This artist is the one who needs to learn something, not the kids he has his aim on!
.........................................................................

Quit reading at "adult coloring book".

An opportunist if ever there was one.

Yes, he is an opportunistic parasite and a slob himself.
Low brow techniques with his chosen medium.
He is a political cartoonist.
No, that is an insult to political cartoonists,
some of whom do good work.

Rip
.

Do these idiots know what classifies a species as endangered? Clearly not.

quote:

Over the years he developed gallery shows in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Baltimore featuring paintings, drawings and mixed-media work on such diverse subjects as the Holocaust, racial lynchings, gun violence and the travails that have faced Native Americans and the elderly.

Retard.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Over the years he developed gallery shows in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Baltimore featuring paintings, drawings and mixed-media work on such diverse subjects as the Holocaust, racial lynchings, gun violence and the travails that have faced Native Americans and the elderly.

Retard.

,..................Agreed!

quote:

Originally posted by Ongwe:
Quit reading at "adult coloring book".

From what I understand he is not fir enough to do that either!

Any loser picks hunting to stand against, as the public hypocracy has no bound!