Holtzman Wildlife Foundation and Front Room Gallery present
Thomas Broadbent, “The Envelope” Limited Edition Fine Art Print to support Endangered Wildlife
Thomas Broadbent, “The Envelope” Limited Edition Fine Art Print to support Endangered Wildlife
Thomas Broadbent, “The Envelope” limited edition fine art pigment print, 22”x30” (edition of 750 signed and numbered by the artist.)
Detroit-based Holtzman Wildlife Foundation, NY-based Front Room Gallery, Skink Ink and award-winning wildlife artist Thomas Broadbent have come together during the COVID-19 crisis to drive awareness and raise critically important funding for five organizations protecting five magnificent endangered species throughout the world.
Commissioned by Jonathan Holtzman, “The Envelope” depicts five endangered species all supporting one another and delivering an important message to the world. Realist wildlife artist Thomas Broadbent took inspiration for this piece from a folk tale titled Town Musicians of Bremen, published by the Grimm’s’ Brothers in 1819. It tells the story of four aging domestic animals—a donkey, dog, cat and rooster—who, after a lifetime of hard work, are neglected and impoverished by their masters. They decide to leave their respective homes, run away and work together on the road helping others, creating a better life for themselves and ultimately living happily ever after.
Broadbent’s work depicts a black rhino, a Grauer’s Gorilla, Malayan Sun Bear, Red Panda and a Lemur all stacked on top of each other. The lemur caries a bright yellow envelope in his mouth. “I wanted the message to be mysterious,” says Broadbent, “But we all know what it says. These magnificent animals are showing their strength and fortitude while taking action in the face of potential extinction. They are asking for our help.”
One half of the cost of each $325 limited-edition, museum-quality print will go directly to conserve, repopulate and protect these five animals. Upon purchasing a print at frontroomles.com, the donation may be directed to either support a single animal, or have it split evenly among Rhino Conservation Botswana, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, Animals Asia Foundation Limited, Red Panda Network and Centre ValBio Madagascar.
To learn more about this campaign visit https://www.frontroomles.com/ or http://holtzmanwildlifefoundation.org/
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
The Black Rhinoceros | Rhino Conservation Botswana
Listed as Critically Endangered, there are now less than 5,500 Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis) left on Earth. The black rhino species is at a tipping point, as record numbers are brutally attacked and killed for their horns to feed the illegal rhino horn trade in Vietnam and other countries in Asia. If the number of deaths continue, black rhinos will soon be extinct.
Rhino Conservation Botswana is working closely with governments and other partners to protect and build the small populations of black and white rhinos that were re-introduced into the wild in Botswana, Africa, a decade ago. The organization’s mission is to increase rhino numbers, creating increased populations of black and white rhino living wild in the Okavango Delta—buffering these species against global extinction. Their mission is supported by three pillars: conservation, education and community. Learn more at https://rhinoconservationbotswana.com/
Grauer’s Gorilla | GRACE (Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education)
Located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), GRACE is the world’s only sanctuary for the critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas. With fewer than 3,800 left in the wild, Grauer’s gorillas are the last mystery ape, as insecurity and instability in the DRC have left them almost unknown. The gorillas at GRACE are a by-product of illegal hunting—infants are captured during poaching events and then sold on the black markets as pets.
For the gorillas lucky enough to be rescued from this fate, GRACE provides critical emergency medical care, as well as a safe haven for them to heal and connect with other gorillas. The gorillas at GRACE live together in a large forest, which allows them to climb trees, make nests and forage for themselves. The ultimate goal is to return them to the wild as part of a coordinated conservation effort to save the last remaining Grauer’s gorillas. Learn more at https://gracegorillas.org/
Malayan Sun Bear | Animals Asia Foundation
Classified as vulnerable to extinction, Malayan sun bears are at risk due to habitat destruction, poaching and hunting for black market medical byproducts. The world’s smallest bear species, the Malayan sun bear has a length of up to about 5 feet and can weigh up to 150 lbs. It once extended from across mainland Southeast Asia to Sumatra and Borneo, but the animal is now found only in small pockets throughout its range. It has a distinctive orange-colored, crescent-shaped chest blaze which, in some folktales, is said to represent the rising sun.
Animals Asia is devoted to ending bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals in China, Vietnam and Indonesia. We promote compassion and respect for all animals and work to bring about long-term change. Founded in 1998, Animals Asia staff members have rescued more than 600 bears and provided them with forever homes at its sanctuaries in China and Vietnam. Learn more at https://www.animalsasia.org/
The Red Panda | Red Panda Network
The red panda is a mysterious, tree-dwelling mammal of the Eastern Himalayas. They are carnivores that eat almost exclusively bamboo leaves and serve as an important indicator of ecological health in the Eastern Himalayan Forests. The worldwide red panda population had declined by 50% over the last 20 years due to habitat loss and poaching. It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 in the world, and as few as 2,500 remaining in the wild.
The Red Panda Network (RPN) is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. Since 2007, RPN has been at the forefront of protecting this endangered species and working with the people who live among red pandas to create sustainable solutions to threats such as habit loss and poaching. Learn more at https://www.redpandanetwork.org/
Lemur | Centre ValBio
Madagascar is the only country in the world where lemurs are found in the wild, and the species is in crisis. Since a political coup in 2009, laws are not being enforced and illegal logging, forest fires and lemur hunting is rampant throughout much of the country.
Centre ValBio operates a world-class research station sited on the edge of Madagascar's beautiful and abundant Ranomafana National Park. Under the direction of world-renowned primatologist Patricia Wright, Centre ValBio facilitates hands-on science to sustain the resources and people of Madagascar. In collaboration with villagers, they are expanding the frontiers of education, knowledge and protection, while safeguarding biodiversity for future generations. Learn more at https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/centre-valbio/
Holtzman Wildlife Foundation
Holtzman Wildlife Foundation was founded in 2015 with a mission to assist small, grant-funded projects in getting the backing and exposure they need to improve outcomes for endangered species. The Foundation has a history of providing successful grants to projects on every continent in the world, as well as in the oceans and air.
Our mission is to reduce and reverse negative human and environmental impact on endangered wildlife by funding and supporting projects that create lasting change through education, advocacy and repopulation worldwide. We encourage educational initiatives, with a strong emphasis on environmental impact and endangered species protection. We seek to influence public policy on endangered species by supporting organizations that engage in education and advocacy activities. Learn more at http://holtzmanwildlifefoundation.org/
Front Room Gallery
Front Room Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Manhattan's Lower East Side, founded in 1999. Directed by Daniel Aycock and Kathleen Vance, the gallery's contemporary fine art program presents new concepts in contemporary painting, photography and installation. The gallery's curatorial focus is on artwork that addresses environmental, social and political concerns, presenting artists that maintain the highest level of skill and individual concept.
Skink Ink
Skink Ink is a Fine Art printer which specializes in fine art ink-jet printing using pigmented inks and archival papers.
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