"Perfect World": A Video for Blog Action Day 2009

In honor of Blog Action Day 2009, I have put together this montage, reminding us of how important it is to take care of our world. Climate change is real. Please take some time to reflect on the dangers we present to the natural balance of the world, and rededicate yourself to being the change our world needs.



Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT

Follow works in progress by BZTAT on Twitter by searching #bztatptg.

Art Adventures Studios
Buy Artwork and Gifts by BZTAT
Art Adventures Studios, located in downtown Canton, OH near Second April Galerie and the historic Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography.

Taking Care of Stray and Feral Cats

Although this is my art blog, most of my art is about the love of animals. Most of my followers are animal lovers. So today I am posting a video that really is educational, not artful, just because I want to share it with other animal lovers.

It saddens me how our communities take such a heartless approach to dealing with domesticated animals living in the wild. We have alternatives. Please share this video with others and advocate for Trap-Spay/Neuter-Release programs in your community. Thank you Alley Cat Allies for the video.

President Obama: Nobel Laureate

We all awoke to the surprising news that the President of the United States Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. In listening to his acceptance speech, it is clear that he was as surprised as anyone about the news. Even so, he accepted it with grace and humility with the challenge to everyone to share in its significance.

There are those who disagree that he should receive the award. He is new in his role of President, and has barely scratched the surface of what we hope that will accomplish in his lifetime. The results of what he has done so far are not yet tangible.

The work of peace is abstract, intangible and nuanced. President Obama has done more than is visible to the naked eye, simply by remedying the horrible swashbuckler posture that our nation had taken on over the past 8-9 years. He has brought the qualities of dignity, respect, wisdom and diplomacy back to the White House. And he has stared down critics from all sides with grace.

I think that makes him VERY deserving of the prize.

For a day, lets put aside the political bickering and celebrate what the rest of the world sees in this great man's ability to inspire and lead.

Celebrate your pride in President Obama with a T-shirt or gift from Art Adventures Studios!

Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT

Follow works in progress by BZTAT on Twitter by searching #bztatptg.

Art Adventures Studios
Buy Artwork and Gifts by BZTAT
Art Adventures Studios, located in downtown Canton, OH near Second April Galerie and the historic Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography.

Poem: An Ode to Abandoned Pets

Artwork by BZTAT

Poem by Paul Digby


As the nights turn colder.

Four green lights, eerie orbs in the dark
Glint, then blink.
A rapid scamper behind blown hydrangeas
sends one kitten under cover
As another
darts across a moon-dappled lawn.

Other litters mewl into the world
Spawned by unwanted, abandoned creatures
Who screamed in the company of night
The part-time, pass time members of families moved on.
Doors closed, key-turned - blank as walls.

Scamper. Scarper.
"Scram!"
So many walls.

Inside warm homes we wonder at the incapacity
of others to care.
In warmth we sink into sofa somas
and feel out the problem.

"If only people were more responsible!"
say the responsible.
"If only people thought!"
say the thinkers.
"If only people cared!"
Say the carers as they tend the newest addition to their litter.

And their litters litter their living rooms,
Their bedrooms
Their hallways and their basements -
They purr up their trash-cans
Fur up the corners
Massage de-clawed, unflawed paddy paws and mewl.

Other cats rustle into corners under decks; within outhouses,
and prowl sidewalks.
They jaywalk - till light dash, then dart and hide.

KITTENS NEED HOMES - PLEASE TAKE ONE!
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE TAKE FIVE!

The haves have already
And cannot afford the time for concern.
The have-nots cannot
afford
- to concern themselves,
this time.

We need a new name - say the etymologists
We need a new outlook - say the onlookers
We need more money - say the controllers

Outside, under a hydrangea bush, soft dark turns to cold - and eyes close.

--By Paul Digby


My dear friend Paul sent me this poem, inspired by his compassion and sadness about the welfare of abandoned animals that roam the streets in our communities. His poem inspired the artwork that you see above.

With the rise of home foreclosures and economic disasters facing families, family pets are being left to the wild all too often. We need to do more in our communities to help families maintain their pets during economic hard times. We need to do more to encourage spay/neuter programs. We need to help abandoned animals find homes. Can you help? Please consider donating time, money and your spirit to your local animal rescue group. And if you can take in a new pet, please consider some of those at your local shelter. You will be so glad that you did!

BZTAT and her official spokescat, Brewskie Butt, support Friends of Stark Pound in Stark County, OH. If you would like to donate to this fine group, please check out the First Giving widget in the sidebar. Thx!

Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT

Follow works in progress by BZTAT on Twitter by searching #bztatptg.

Art Adventures Studios
Buy Artwork and Gifts by BZTAT
Art Adventures Studios, located in downtown Canton, OHnear Second April Galerie and the historic Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography.