the animal lounge: of mice and men

Please visit my website janeohara.com for some new additions- in the news section, and a couple of recent paintings under new work are added. Here's my latest painting 'Empowered' 48"x24" . When I lived in LA I learned that rats lived in the palm trees. So if you live near palm trees make sure the palm tree isn't touching your house so they don't make the leap! This painting I did thinking of exactly how unempowered a huge number of rats and mice are. I received a comment last blog entry where the writer expressed resignation to the need for animal testing on rodents. I DO appreciate any and all comments, so thank you. This IS The Animal Lounge , so relax, and get chatting 'bout your thoughts and feelings. Here's a few excerpts from what I wrote back - starting in response to her comment that the rodents at the lab at her workplace were well loved:

"The fact that there are good labs with animal testing is heartening, and since they are not about to go away I applaud all efforts for standards, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I don't believe that we as humans have the right to use sentient beings to test on. Just like alternative power sources vs oil as a debate, I don't deny the use of oil, but to justify war and politically compromising our standards, pollution, etc with the argument that we need and use oil, and have always used oil, is not enough. But if we say, we HAVE to find another answer, then we do. wind, water,solar, and so on. It's the same with medical testing on animals. There are other ways. There are simulators of different kinds and frankly there is a HUGE amount of repetition. Animals are still dying to show cigarettes are dangerous.(Thank you March of Dimes) AND the animal testing has become big business in itself- laws require testing on animals, and many satellite biz's like breeding and selling, sometimes bred with specific diseases and deformities,sometimes rounded up from shelters, etc. But it also is not dependable. If it was why would there be a Vioxx recall for example. article: Vioxx suit faults animal tests
How many animals died for that drug-? I don't see a mouse or a rat on a different level than a dog. I believe they feel as much /love as much/ have as much fear as a dog. (and I won't go into how dogs are used in animal testing here.....) "

Any of you have any thoughts on this?

So NOW you can see some of my framed limited edition prints at Courtyards as I mentioned last blog.

I also have another wonderful home design gallery carrying a variety of my work. pia sjolin design gallery. Thank you Dana Herbert for the suggestion and connection! Beginning of May, Pia -an artist herself, is putting up a new show with some of my paintings and framed giclees, and now there are also many matted and unframed limited edition prints available. This is a beautiful new space in Canton, CT. I will keep you posted on the May show. I'm very excited about both of these new venues, I have been putting it out there that I want to show my fine art prints, and with joy I can announce that it's happening!