A three-day LIFE Lynx art workshop took place between August 30, and September 1. The participants worked in the heart of nature, at the guesthouse Jure Tourism, Gornje Poljane, Slovenia, under the mentorship of academic painter Karmen Bajec. LIFE Lynx project team members presented to the participant interesting facts about lynx, along with latest findings on lynx research in Slovenia and the reasons for their endangered status. After the lecture, artists visited typical lynx habitat.
Dr. Miha Krofel gave a lecture about lynx. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
Searching for animal tracks. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
For a day, the art workshop has joined the international Floating Castle festival, which took place in Kozarišče. Festival visitors had an opportunity to discover more about the lynx and measures to preserve the Dinaric lynx population. They were able to see the art in progress and talk to the artists, while children painted the plaster casts of large carnivores’ paws.
Workshop for children. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
Art in progress. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
On the last day, the participants of the art workshops set up an exhibition of their art works in Snežnik Castle. At the opening of the exhibition, we spoke about the importance of art in communicating nature conservation topics and the opportunities that the presence of lynx can present for the development of natural and cultural tourism in the region.
Art exhibition. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
The mayor of Loška Dolina municipality welcomed the artists and opened the art exhibition. Photo: Irena Kavčič, LIFE Lynx
We are thankful to Slovenian National Museum, Društvo ljubiteljev gradu Snežnik, Javni zavod Snežnik, Društvo žena in deklet na podeželju Ostrnice, Guesthouse Turizem Jure and musician Zala Mele for their help with the art workshop implementation.