acrylic; 20×16”
“With my care for animals, I chose the topic of Zoo’s and circuses. I love animals, and zoos have been around for the longest time, yet there’s no change. They’re becoming a huge problem with animal abuse and changes overtime with the animals. Through my research I learned pros and cons within them. They were used as a way to make quick, easy money and entertainment. Starting a zoo, they would capture animals in the wild, and would torture and make them miserable, going without proper care they need to survive. Nothing changed until the 19th century when animal cruelty laws were created. Zoos, who do take proper care of animals, could learn new things about them, future advancements, and prevent extinction. Being young and clueless, going to the zoo was the best day of your life, it was fun, exciting. They might still seem fun and all rainbows and sunshine, but it’s not. Held captive, away from their real home. Overtime, just raising and depending on humans to survive, it changes their mindset. Zoos could leave animals feeling stressed and could change them physiologically. It’s bad for their health too, not getting enough socialization, light, proper food. I’m passionate about this topic because its something that always interested me. Although their fun, it’s not fair for animals to suffer for our satisfaction. They deserve fair share in this world, they roamed the grounds before us. Animals deserve to be free, in their actual home, not locked away, used for entertainment. Animals are a part of nature, each animal benefits each other, without one it would be incomplete. If we keep allowing this treatment, were gonna be the clowns.”
ARTIST BIO: Haylee Huff is a grade 12 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.