Perceptions I – Charlotte Lowry Collins, artist

Autographed by Ian Somerhalder, with the message “With all my love and thanks.”

SOLD – Auctioned via Charity Buzz.

Charlotte’s donation to Hope for Habitat: Katrina X is inspired by Ian’s passion for animal rights, a commitment which she shares.

As Hurricane Katrina was approaching, so many people were left with the dilemma of how to care for their pets. Some were fortunate enough to evacuate to locations which allowed pets; others made the difficult decision of leaving their pets provisions, believing that the family would soon be returning home. As it turned out, that was not the case.

Throughout the Gulf South, thousands of animals were rescued after the Hurricane passed. Following the storm, many more families who had lost their homes had to leave their pets in the care of providers, in the hopes of being reunited in the near future. Additionally, the makeshift, post-Katrina animal shelter enabled many first responders and essential care personnel who were required to work throughout the recovery efforts to ensure that their beloved pets were provided proper care.

In the city of Slidell, a warehouse became a makeshift shelter for many of these animals, with volunteers providing care. In the end, some of the pets were reunited with their families. Others were adopted to new families and new chapters in their lives.

In the artist’s words:

My work tends to be abstract, which allows viewers to bring their own experiences into the interpretation. However, in this case, I wanted viewers to observe a specific experience as an objective observer. After Katrina, I saw so many traumatized people and animals. I think we can all relate to the ability of our fears tainting our reality. Every summer, I watch the storm forecasts in dread, and I created a series to remind me not to let my emotions get the upper hand.

This work is part of a series entitled Perceptions, which deals with how our thoughts affect our sense of reality, regardless of the actualities. In Perceptions I, I depicted Beaux, my rescued Weimaraner, resting peacefully on his new, luxurious bed, cuddled next to my husband. Above him, like a constant cartoon bubble, remains his abusive past, and the bullying he experienced by the other rescued dogs. No matter that he was the sole canine in our home, his new sanctuary.

I realized that all living beings are susceptible to misconceptions, and the skewed realities that follow.

In creating this experience, I was reminding myself to break this pattern, and possibly empower my viewers to relinquish their fears. With the milestone of the one decade since Katrina, we may all need some form of solace. Art has the power to heal with but a glance, if we but allow ourselves that moment.

See more of Charlotte’s work at www.RootedInLiberte.com.

CHARITY BUZZ AUCTION HAS ENDED.

To view listing, click here: Perceptions I – autographed by Ian Somerhalder.