Mural Project: Handle with Care
A Project to Bring Art, Conservation, and People Together
This fall, Zoo New England plans to host SNIK, an internationally-acclaimed UK-based stencil art duo who specialize in large-scale murals. SNIK will be painting the two exterior concrete walls outside Franklin Park Zoo's Tropical Forest building in addition to five murals within the Tropical Forest in an effort to raise awareness of ZNE's conservation efforts. The murals will incorporate both plant and animal representations, mirroring the connective theme of the habitats and highlighting some of the conservation efforts that ZNE is leading and taking part in.
Through a total visual transformation of this space, the Handle with Care project is an opportunity to connect conservation and art, while inspiring ZNE's visitors to learn more about our conservation projects and take their part in making the world a better place for imperiled wildlife.
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The Artists
Internationally-acclaimed artists SNIK combine the creation of hand-cut, multilayered stencils with haunting, ethereal portraiture, born from a male/ female dual perspective. This traditional-craft, progressive-ethos approach has seen the duo commissioned on walls the world over; their post-industrial scenes loom large over passersby in locations as diverse as Scotland, Norway, Miami and Hong Kong. The simple aesthetics of spilling, tangled hair and floating fabrics are a modern scrutiny of pre-raphaelite sensibilities. These peaceful subjects are paired with the duo’s love of the natural world, capturing its reclamation of our lives and surroundings as decades and eras pass. This cycle of growth and decay has taken progressive prominence in works, often created with location-specific intentions.
EXHALE - a multi-site mural project spanning the remote Norwegian island Utsira and mainland city Stavanger. Video produced by Doug Gillen.
SNIKs latest project explores the strength and inevitability of our vital connection to nature, each mural finding a home in extraordinary, unique surroundings. A fourth piece was created on the mainland in the city of Stavanger, a reminder that wilder encroachments into our lives are never too far.
SNIKs keen interest in preserving the natural world and its inhabitants lays the foundations for their drive to collaborate with Zoo New England on Handle With Care. All sponsors will be provided with a media pack from the Handle With Care Project
Bridging The Gap Between Art & Conservation
H.W.C aims to engage younger generations in the importance of taking care of the natural world, to protect its fragile eco systems and endangered species so that they can be cherished for future generations. H.W.C. aims to demonstrate how the arts and conservation can be brought closer together through mutual passion and using an individuals platform to spread a shared message.
We hope that by demonstrating how a creative platform can be used as a catalyst for change and ignite conversation, that others will use theirs in the same positive and cross disciplinary way. By bringing together two industries and worlds we can make a more impactful change together.
How You Can Get Involved
The Handle with Care project has many corporate and individual sponsorship packages available. To learn more, please email development@zoonewengland.org.
Thank You to our Project Partners
Headline Partners ($10,000 - $24,999)
Project Partners ($5,500 - $9,999)
Advocates ($1,000 - $5,499)
Individual Donors $500 - $999
Thank you for your support!
