Nuwandart - August 2004 - Reggie Jackson

Nuwandart Gallery, located at 258 A St. Ashland, is proud to present another fresh start for a new year. The gallery owner Johan Ziems will feature, photographs and other works examining one specific effect our culture and presence has on our little furry friends. After 10 years of traveling the world Johan has compiled a wide collection of specimens ranging from birds, turtles to deer and even wallabies and kangaroos, native in Australia. The show is a strong reminder of how our inventions have affected nearly all species in the animal kingdom. Johan has photographically captured the animal’s often dramatic transition in artistic ways, paying them his respects before journeying on. He has taken his role as an observer and documented the effect of our speed and encroachment into nature’s living room and now for the first time is sharing his images with the public.
“ It’s very dangerous taking these road-kill pictures” Johan states “ you have to pay attention to the fast traffic and often only get a few seconds in the middle of the road snapping a shot. People are often angry at me for getting in their way, a few times I’ve almost become the subject of the shot.
The show is a reminder for us all, that we are not alone and should be aware of the effect we have on the other creatures roaming our world. The human mind is an amazing thing, but we should never forget the effect our behavior has over our furry friends. The dead eyes of a beautiful fox or kangaroo, bloodshot and run over by a car will leave you with a feeling of compassion for our co inhabitants in this life. If not that, at least you might wear your seat belt, seeing what happens to a body hit by an object 1000 times heavier and traveling at an enormous speed. Most road kills die instantly and suffer little. You might be scrapping some fur from your bumper or cursing the dent in your grill, but for an animal it often means leaving newborns and young ones alone and vulnerable, thus taking their lives as well to satisfy our craving for speed and size! This show contains material of a graphic nature and may not be suitable for everyone.