University of Wisconsin-Not In Our Name

Vivisection Victims, ©2009 Elana Goren
Aquatint Etching

One of my etchings was used in an article about horrible experiments being done at the University of Wisconsin. Here's the link to the article and a call-to-action: Maternal Deprivation at UW-Madison Today.

Installation View of Thesis Show

"LD50"
Monotype, ©2012, Elana Goren

My wonderful sister took shots of my work installed for the thesis show. The monotype, "LD50," is the one in the middle of the 3 prints in a row over the book pedestal in the top photo. The opening was great, I got alot of support from fellow artists, other friends and family. I am finally finished with grad school and looking forward to having my time back and moving ahead.

Carrier Pigeon show

Lab AnimalMonotype, ©2010, Elana Goren

Carrier Pigeon Magazine is releasing it's fifth issue and is having an exhibition celebrating the release at Grit N' Glory on Orchard Street in NYC from February 23 until March 1. The above print will be included in the show. You can see more of my work in Carrier Pigeon Issue 4, available here.

Coming soon:

I plan to share some of my latest experiments with watercolor monotypes.

Another in a series

"Lab Animal"

Plate size: 15" x 11 3/8"

 Monotype on Rives BFK

This is another monotype that is part of a series that I'm doing on primates used for vivisection in the labs. My work on these monoprints has been difficult in two ways. Firstly, and more poignantly, I have to work through the anger and disgust that I feel at the scientists who torture primates, sentient and sensitive cousins to our species. And secondly, I have work through my learning curve in creating monotypes. 

I can see that I am getting better at this as I work, but it does get frustrating when they don't all come out as well as I'd like. Hence, the previous post on what to do when faced with that particular challenge. You may also want to read the comment that Aime Roman made on my last post. She offers some good advice about other media to use besides pastels on monotypes. 

And by the way, kudos to Aime for making the list of 50 Incredibly Inspiring Printmaking Blogs!

Dealing with Vivisection

 "Vivisection Victims #809,689,432 & 3"

Plate size: 18" x 24"

Aquatint Etching

Keeping with themes that define my work and that mean the most to me, I am working with an issue that invariably cuts to the heart of how misguided and immoral we can be as humans. I am specifically referring to vivisection, torture of animals in the name of science. The word "vivisection" literally means "the action of cutting into or dissecting a living body."

Non-human animals are so completely at our mercy that they become easy victims of a multi-billion dollar industry that profits from and justifies its horrific practices by using the defense that it is all done for the good of humanity. I find it ironic that one of the practices that turns humans into monsters, vivisection, is referred by some as necessary and good, proclaimed as something done in service to all.

I have nightmares after seeing hidden videos of what goes on behind closed doors in animal laboratories. It's amazing that we're into the 21st century and these barbaric practices that date back to ancient times still exist and constitute a profitable business for corporations, universities, animal dealers, cage and food manufacturers, animal breeders and transporters and scientists receiving grants.

In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that "crush videos" are legal. I am compelled to make a declaration of my own. Cruelty in all its forms needs to be prohibited and not promoted in any civilized society of humans.

You may be familiar with the quote by Gandhi:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." 
Or this quote by George Bernard Shaw:
"The Anti-Vivisector does not deny that physiologists must make experiments and even take chances with new methods. He says that they must not seek knowledge by criminal methods, just as they must not make money by criminal methods. He does not object to Galileo dropping cannon balls from the top of the leaning tower of Pisa; but he would object to shoving off two dogs or American tourists."
I just couldn't have said it better myself.