What’s new at the Akron Zoo?
The Akron Zoo has welcomed a male snow leopard, who is now on exhibit. Tai Lung arrived from the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa in March. He is eight years old and was born on May 26, 2009.
Tai Lung came to the Akron Zoo based on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan (SSP). Animal care staff will introduce Tai Lung to female snow leopard, Shanti, gradually over the coming months.
In September 2017, the IUCN Red List downgraded the snow leopard’s status from endangered to vulnerable. While snow leopard numbers are believed to have increased, their status is still an area of concern. Snow leopard numbers in the wild are estimated to range from 2,500 to 10,000. Snow leopards are native to the Himalayan mountain range in central Asia and have been facing habitat loss and poaching due to the illegal fur trade, as well as human conflict.
Through a partnership with the Snow Leopard Trust, the Akron Zoo supports community education initiatives in the snow leopards home range and field monitoring of snow leopards. The zoo is actively involved in the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan, and since 2012 has added seven snow leopards to the snow leopard population.
Tai Lung’s arrival comes after the zoo’s previous male snow leopard, Roscoe, passed away in the summer of 2017. Shanti and Roscoe were parents to three sets of cubs in 2012, 2014 and 2016. For more information about what’s new at the Akron Zoo visit www.akronzoo.org
What’s new at Canton Museum of Art?
The new exhibition, “African Menagerie: The Inquisition,” at the Canton Museum of Art (CMA) showcases the artwork of one of the world’s premier painters of wildlife: Brian Jarvi. This panoramic adventure discusses the plight of African wildlife species with a visually stunning centerpiece measuring ten-foot by five-foot. Over forty related research sketches and mixed media studies accompany this lavishly painted centerpiece. The works call attention to the Earth’s wildlife extinction crisis. From the jungles around the equator, where mountain gorillas and chimpanzees barely endure, to the grasslands of Zimbabwe, the animals whose very iconic presense has become a symbol of wildness to all of us, are dwindling at an alarming rate. This exhibition is on view now through July 22, 2018.
Brian Jarvi uses firsthand observation to create very popular, realistic portrayals of wildlife. By combining intricate detail, dramatic lighting, and anatomical accuracy, he has become widely known for his “up close and personal” compositions. Africa and its incredible wildlife has been Jarvi’s passion for the past decade. Amidst the lush African scenery and wildlife, Brian creates new masterpieces. “The excitement lies in transferring situations I have witnessed on Safari onto canvas,” says Jarvi. “When choosing the themes and subjects of my paintings, I like to draw on personal experience, for example, a bull elephant making a charge or lions attacking a cape buffalo. The tremendous diversity, the sheer numbers, and often-sobering confrontations of the wildlife have spawned more ideas than I can ever hope to put on canvas.”
A Minnesota resident most of his life, Jarvi is the first artist to win both the Minnesota Duck and Pheasant contests in consecutive years and only the second artist in history to win both Minnesota’s major print contests.
Brian spent his youth in northern Minnesota sketching the rugged land and the animals that inhabit the area. Today, Jarvi, his wife Raelene, and their two daughters live on a lake in the north woods. Jarvi continues to go on Safari to expand his repertoire of experience and knowledge of the majestic African imagery.
About the Canton Museum of Art
The Canton Museum of Art (CMA) is one of Ohio’s premier museums for an exceptional visual arts experience. CMA is recognized for powerful national touring exhibits; dynamic CMA-original exhibits; an unrivaled Permanent Collection of American watercolors and contemporary ceramics; and innovative education outreach programs, in-Museum classes, and workshops. CMA is one of only two Stark County museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. For more information, including hours, exhibits, classes, and special events, call 330.453.7666, visit www.cantonart.org, Facebook at “Canton Museum of Art,” or @CantonMuseum on Twitter.
Museum Admission: Regular admission is $8 Adults; $6, Seniors and Students (with valid I.D.); Museum Members are Free; and Children 12 and under, Free. Tickets are available at the Museum Ticket Office during Museum hours. For group visits, discounts, and tours, please call 330.453.7666 at least two weeks prior to your visit for reservations and/or to request a docent-led tour.
Media Images: High-resolution images can be downloaded via the provided link below.
Hours – Monday: Closed; Tues – Thurs: 10am – 8pm; Fri – Sat: 10am – 5pm; Sun: 1 – 5pm
Location: The Canton Museum of Art is located in the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Avenue North, Canton, Ohio 44702. Free onsite parking is available around the Museum. Call 330.453.7666 for information and directions or visit our website at www.cantonart.org.
