As a conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps save species from extinction

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As a conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps save species from extinction

Art against extinction

Name: Art against extinction exhibition
Start: 2024-08-01T09:30:00+09:30
End: 2024-08-31T17:00:00+09:30

Thursday 1 – Saturday 31 August 2024
Visitor Centre top floor, Sanaa Exhibition Room
Free entry | Open 9:30am – 5pm daily

We’re delighted to be showcasing some incredible wildlife art and photography at Monarto Safari Park, as part of the 2024 South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival. See artworks from wildlife conservation artist Deb Farrimond, amateur wildlife photographer Steve Farrimond and scratchboard artist Patrick Hedges.

As a conservation charity, saving species from extinction is at the heart of what we do. We manage world-renowned breeding and conservation programs at Monarto Safari Park, Adelaide Zoo and in the wild. Art for extinction allows visitors to reflect on the importance of conservation and the incredible creatures that need our help.

Artworks will be available for sale, with proceeds donated to Zoos SA’s conservation programs.

Pawprint paint splodges on white background. Orange text reads 'Art against Extinction'

Steve Farrimond

Medium: Photographic

Steve Farrimond is an amateur wildlife photographer, passionate about the conservation and protection of our planets endangered and vulnerable species. Inspired by his wife Deb who is a talented wildlife conservation artist, his original goal was to capture images that Deb could bring to life through her pastel, charcoal and scratchboard artworks. He feels at peace when immersed in nature, observing and capturing images of the beauty that our planet has to offer.

Along with Deb, Steve aims to evoke emotions, generate conversations, raise awareness and encourage others to consider how they can play a part in saving our planets wildlife. To that extent, both he and Deb aim to travel and capture images across the globe, educating themselves in relation to the issues facing various species and conservation efforts across different regions. In recent years, they have focused on Africa and Australia and will visit Borneo in 2024.

As part of Steve’s conservation focus, all sales of his photographic images are donated to conservation foundations across the globe. If Steve can play a small role in raising awareness and encouraging others to consider how we conserve or save our planets wildlife, he will sleep well at night.

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Deb Farrimond

Medium: Pastel and Charcoal

Deb’s passion and love for wildlife and animals of all kinds is one of her earliest childhood memories. Deb was like a moth to a flame if visiting a place where she could spend time with animals, feeling a special connection and being at peace while she was around them. Quite often the connection was reciprocal while visiting family and friends, having a normally shy animal spending time with Deb.

As a child, Deb loved to draw and paint, especially horses. This love of animals and art has been with Deb throughout her lifetime, and for the last few years she has been able to dedicate her artistic talents to wildlife conservation, something Deb is fiercely passionate about.

Travelling throughout Australia and overseas to meet and photograph many endangered species has been so fulfilling and special. As a wildlife artist, getting to know these creatures by spending time observing them in their natural habitat, their movements, fur, muscles, eyes, etc. has helped to bring them to life on paper, using pastels and charcoal, two of Deb’s favourite mediums.

Deb’s passion for wildlife conservation and raising awareness through her work, has seen her invited multiple times to local schools to share her experiences and knowledge of conservation issues with students. She also volunteers for a local wildlife rescue group, rescuing and rehabilitating koala’s and echidna’s.

A multi award winning artist with commissioned works around the world, Deb will continue to paint wildlife and support conservation efforts by donating proceeds of sales to conservation groups in Australia and overseas.

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Patrick Hedges

Medium: Scratchboard

Patrick was born in East Africa into a family that was mad about wildlife and art. After East Africa, Patrick lived in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and has now lived in Australia for the last 34 years. Patrick considers himself amazingly lucky to have lived in such fabulous places. England had its charm and gorgeous countryside which saw him hiking on a regular basis, drinking in the scenery, and Australia is full of unique flora and fauna that is worth learning about and looking after. How can one not be inspired to create wildlife art with such a heritage?

Patrick has maintained an active passion for conservation both of wildlife and of the environment in general, since wildlife cannot exist without a healthy environment. He seeks out opportunities where his art can support conservation initiatives and was fortunate to have the great Dr Jane Goodall open one of his exhibitions.

“I know what I do is a drop in the ocean, but I try. If each of us helps to conserve some natural corner of the globe, and if we try to inspire others to do the same, then the world will be a better place. I have been juried as a “Master of Scratchboard Art” in the International Society of Scratchboard Artists (ISSA) and a signature member of the iconic Society of Animal Artists and have won awards in numerous international exhibitions.”

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