Tue, Jun 7th, 2016

WHAT A SUMMER!!!

This has been an exciting, but busy summer with lots of art shows,wildlife events, interesting people and places like Tonga to read about,so we will work to catch you up through this journal over the next few months.

In April, While we were in Houston for the Bayou city art show, we held an art event with Peter Blinston, from wild dog conservation in Zimbabwe. We debuted Anne's new video and Peter did a presentation on his work with wild dogs in Zimbabwe. his Bush camp in Hwange Park treats about 1000 kids a year to four days of concentrated game drives, ecology lessons, painted dog biology and wildlife conservation messages.

In May we went to Africa just to open the new Lori o"neal wildlife conservation Center. it's a 40' x 60' steel building designed as a classroom and art studio for African children. Thanks to children in the wilderness and Sue Goatley( and her husband Ron), the building was completed on time and on budget. We spent several days working on the building and getting it ready to open.

We also took a day off to drive four and a half hours west of Victoria Falls to visit the painted dog conservation Center that Peter had built.
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Our experiences at painted dog conservation encouraged us to develop partnerships with the Bush school there as well as other established schools and camps dedicated to conservation work. Our curriculum and drawing activities dovetail perfectly with these programs and add an exciting creative element for the children to focus on. Jim and I were really excited to hear that the painted dog conservation Center was interested in partnering with us since it allows us to impact thousands more children without having to build buildings or "re-create the wheel". these ongoing programs already do with they do best and allow us to do what we do best -which is connecting creativity with conservation.

We spent the day working with about 30 children at the camp, teaching them how to draw endangered species and showing them art. Those drawing lessons were mixed with conservation messages and they ended up each finishing their own poster to bring home.

We returned to Victoria Falls to finish work on the conservation center and teach our first few classes in art and conservation. The building is great with good security, ample wall space for inspirational messages and artwork and lots of desks. Besides my artwork, several of our friends donated pieces to show the children how diverse art can be.

We were also invited to experience wilderness safaris new Bush camp ,Linkwasha, bordering Hwange park. it's a beautiful camp, situated perfectly in some very remote areas of Zimbabwe. Since the rainy season came late this year, there was water available everywhere and so the game was quite spread out. we probably only saw about one quarter wildlife we saw there last May, when it was much drier and the wildlife was concentrated near waterholes.

After returning home, we drove cross-country up to the Bellevue art fair in Washington visited with our old friends, Jan Harding,Wally Nagel and sarah mogk. We shared a great dinner, and had a great visit during the show. We left our van,"Tembo", in their care and flew home to get ready for our next adventure in Tonga.

You can now follow Anne's adventures through her Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/aelondonstudio/

Don't forget to check out our ARTS FOR ANIMALS Facebook page for more specific info on our work with African kids to teach them about art and Wildlife conservation-

https://www.facebook.com/artsforanimalsbyaelondon/

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The high point of our summer was opening our new wildlife center in Victoria Falls
The high point of our summer was opening our new wildlife center in Victoria Falls
The high point of our summer was opening our new wildlife center in Victoria Falls
 After the Bayou city show,Karan of Castex  energy loves animals and especially cats
After the Bayou city show,Karan of Castex energy loves animals and especially cats
I'm so proud that my work is exhibited so prominently in their offices and boardroom. Karan has been a friend and one of our strongest supporters for many years.
After the Bayou city show,Karan of Castex energy loves animals and especially cats
We  helped to hold an art event in Houston  where my art raised well over  $20,000
We helped to hold an art event in Houston where my art raised well over $20,000
We helped to hold an art event in Houston where my art raised well over $20,000
Peter Blinston Talked about The work that the painted dog conservation Center does with painted dogs
Peter Blinston Talked about The work that the painted dog conservation Center does with painted dogs
Peter Blinston Talked about The work that the painted dog conservation Center does with painted dogs
Working with Ghani ,  education director at the painted dog consEducation Ctr.
Working with Ghani , education director at the painted dog consEducation Ctr.
We traveled up to Hwange park and visited the painted dog conservation Center where we worked with children at their Bush camp.
Working with Ghani , education director at the painted dog consEducation Ctr.
The students get to customize their own posters
The students get to customize their own posters
The students get to customize their own posters
We're certainly proud of the new wildlife center
We're certainly proud of the new wildlife center
This will be a regional center where children can learn how important their wildlife is, gain inspiration and training and art, and have their first opportunity to learn about computers.
We're certainly proud of the new wildlife center
I really enjoy sharing the excitement of creativity  with these kids.
I really enjoy sharing the excitement of creativity with these kids.
I really enjoy sharing the excitement of creativity with these kids.
The children helped us decorate the walls of the new center with art and inspirational messages
The children helped us decorate the walls of the new center with art and inspirational messages
The children helped us decorate the walls of the new center with art and inspirational messages
Partying with the locals in Victoria Falls
Partying with the locals in Victoria Falls
We spent some time with Sue and her family. For fun, the locals go out to the unused airport and" tailgate" are watching the sun go down. We really treasure those times we get to spend with the local African people.
Partying with the locals in Victoria Falls
Our first class of kids taught at the new arts for animals wildlife Center
Our first class of kids taught at the new arts for animals wildlife Center
Our first class of kids taught at the new arts for animals wildlife Center
Hopefully this poster will influence children for for  months to come
Hopefully this poster will influence children for for months to come
Hopefully this poster will influence children for for months to come
Thanks to Rick and Lori, thousands of children will be exposed to art and wildlife conservation
Thanks to Rick and Lori, thousands of children will be exposed to art and wildlife conservation
Thanks to Rick and Lori, thousands of children will be exposed to art and wildlife conservation
Truly connecting creativity with conservation
Truly connecting creativity with conservation
Truly connecting creativity with conservation
Teaching in our new wildlife center
Teaching in our new wildlife center
Teaching in our new wildlife center
We made the 2 1/2 hour drive up to the painted dog conservation Center
We made the 2 1/2 hour drive up to the painted dog conservation Center
We went to see what our donations are accomplishing in central Zimbabwe
We made the 2 1/2 hour drive up to the painted dog conservation Center
Our new building can handle up to and at a time
Our new building can handle up to and at a time
Our new building can handle up to and at a time
We presented several pieces of art featuring painted dogs to the conservation Center
We presented several pieces of art featuring painted dogs to the conservation Center
We presented several pieces of art featuring painted dogs to the conservation Center
Art comes naturally to some of these kids
Art comes naturally to some of these kids
Art comes naturally to some of these kids
While my forte is art, Jim's is conservation
While my forte is art, Jim's is conservation
While my forte is art, Jim's is conservation
The kids loved personalizing their posters
The kids loved personalizing their posters
The kids loved personalizing their posters
 I really love the Excited looks on their faces
I really love the Excited looks on their faces
I really love the Excited looks on their faces
Our first class of the conservation center with their new posters
Our first class of the conservation center with their new posters
Our first class of the conservation center with their new posters
We taught several classes at the new center and enjoyed meeting lots of new kids
We taught several classes at the new center and enjoyed meeting lots of new kids
We taught several classes at the new center and enjoyed meeting lots of new kids
This is Descent,  the boy we gave a scholarship to last year
This is Descent, the boy we gave a scholarship to last year
Descent is Developing into quite an artist and is helping to mentor other children with artistic ability.
This is Descent, the boy we gave a scholarship to last year
While we were in Victoria Falls, we began working with the steel company on phase 2 of the conservation Center.
While we were in Victoria Falls, we began working with the steel company on phase 2 of the conservation Center.
While we were in Victoria Falls, we began working with the steel company on phase 2 of the conservation Center.
Although the game was scarce because of the abundance of water, we had one of our greatest lion encounters.
Although the game was scarce because of the abundance of water, we had one of our greatest lion encounters.
Although the game was scarce because of the abundance of water, we had one of our greatest lion encounters.
But it turned out to be one of the the most lion packed experiences  we have had
But it turned out to be one of the the most lion packed experiences we have had
But it turned out to be one of the the most lion packed experiences we have had
 It's scary when a lion freezes and his pupils focus on you
It's scary when a lion freezes and his pupils focus on you
It's scary when a lion freezes and his pupils focus on you
Sketching lions can be risky
Sketching lions can be risky
Sketching lions can be risky
The queen of beasts
The queen of beasts
The queen of beasts
This may was very wet and animals were very spread out
This may was very wet and animals were very spread out
This moment may turn out to be an art piece
This may was very wet and animals were very spread out