Endangered Species Ceramic Bowl

Purpose: To become familiar with using endangered species as an art subject

To learn about photographer, Joel Satore and painter, Anne London, as well as the highly patterned art (alebrijes) from Oaxaca, Mexico

To become acquainted with basic ceramic vocabulary

To form and paint a ceramic animal bowl that contains both imagery of an endangered or threatened species of your choice and indication of the systems around it which promote that animal’s survival

Louisiana black bear, ceramic bowl, 8in/8in/1.5in

Artist Studied: Artist and Art Culture Studied: Anne London (painter) and Joel Satore (photographer), along with Oaxacan (art) alebrijes from Mexico

The main reason that these bears are endangered is due to habitat loss of their woodlands and wetlands. I emphasized this through a detailed background of vegetation the Louisiana black bear is often found in. On the bear I displayed patterns of some of their most important food sources such as honey and berries which are pictured around the bear's neck.

I chose the Louisiana black bear because I wanted to research an animal that lived in or near Texas, which is where I used to live. Since the Louisiana black bear is found near (and once in Texas) it was perfect. The Louisiana black bear is found in the woodlands and wetlands of the Mississippi River Valley which stretches through Louisiana, Mississippi, and eastern Texas. The background of my bowl depicts the typical habitat of the bears: thick forests and grass. Louisiana black bears are omnivores and in the spring they feed on beetles, berries, and honey, and in the fall they feed on fruits and sometimes wild pigs. I incorporated patterns of 2 of their main food sources, honey and berries, on the neck of the bear. The primary reason these bears are threatened is due to extreme habitat loss and hunting. Their habitat was cleared and used for agriculture but since then some habitat has been restored and the Louisiana black bear is starting to make a comeback.