Urban Animals - Art Gallery of Alberta

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program
Endangered Species Public Awareness Project
Background:
Read and discuss the article Grizzlies at ‘risk’: province, and address the following questions:
–What does “endangered” mean to you?
–Why are some animals endangered?
–Which animals do you know that are endangered?
–What responsibility do people have to protect endangered animals?
–How are they trying to protect these animals?
–What can you do to protect endangered animals?
–Why do you think some artists choose endangered animals as subjects for their works of art?
Activities:
1. Have students analyze artworks that deal with endangered species. Some artists include
Andy Warhol, A.E. London, Linda G. Fisher, John Banovich.
2. Have each student choose one species assessed by Alberta’s Endangered Species
Conservation Committee (ESCC). Their endangered animal research project should be based
on the following questions:
How and why did the animal become endangered?
What (if anything) is being done to help the animal survive?
What else can we do to help the animal survive?
3. The students should also include background information about their animals such as diet and
habitat.
4. After the written research is completed, have students create works of art about their animals
as a “Public Awareness” piece to be displayed with their research findings. Possible art media
may include: watercolour, linocut, charcoal, collage, etc.
Vocabulary:
Define the following terms used by the Endangered Species Conservation Committee:
species at risk
extinct
extirpated
endangered
threatened
species of special concern
data deficient
The peregrine falcon is making a remarkable
comeback in Canada. Once extirpated east of the
Rocky Mountains and south of the Boreal forest,
this species is now set to come off the list of
endangered and threatened species in Canada.
AFA Travelling Exhibition Program, Edmonton, AB. Ph: 780.428.3830 Fax: 780.421.0479
youraga.ca