Okey's Promise

This project was initiated as a Kickstarter campaign. Being constrained to a short time frame for raising the funds for the project, we did not meet the goal, and thus, received nothing. That is the way that Kickstarter works.

If it was just me, I might have reconsidered doing the project after failing to meet my fundraising goal. But this is not just about me. Many people helped me get the word out on their blogs, through tweets and through Facebook updates. A group of artists donated their art and craft items to an auction to raise funds. Various people dedicated their hearts and souls to making Okey's Promise succeed. And I am unbelievably touched and grateful.

Okey's Promise is not about one artist or one art project or one cat named Okey. Okey's Promise is a movement to create awareness and to make the world a better place - for all creatures great and small.

In honor of Okey and all of her dedicated Promise Keepers, I am extending the life of the "Okey's Promise: Celebrating the Human - Animal Bond" campaign. This ChipIn will serve to continue the fundraising campaign for the Okey's Promise: Celebrating the Human - Animal Bond project. I will honor all rewards listed on the original Kickstarter campaign with the ChipIn campaign.

(BTW-I have set this goal higher, because, with a ChipIn, you cannot exceed your goal. I want to leave room for higher donation, which will lead to a more extensive project.)

Project: I plan to create a large public artwork that will consist of several parts that can be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled for a traveling exhibit. The project will have a focus of raising awareness about the connections between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. The artwork will have a positive focus, featuring stories and faces of animals and people who have triumphed over the ugliness of violence.

I plan to create one overall artwork that consists of several pieces that come together as a whole. It will be a piece that evolves with bright colored imagery reminiscent of my previous pet themed creative endeavors, employing animal and human portraiture.

The size and scope of the project will depend on the amount of funding I receive. More funding will lead to a more substantial work, however, any level of funding will lead to a credible piece of art that meets the project's purpose.

Explanation: Some say that domestic violence and child abuse are more important concerns to address than the needs of animals. Here is the truth.

When animals are suffering in society, children are too. When there is violence to animals, there is likely violence to children and others who may be defenseless.

Okey’s Promise, named for a small rescued cat, is a public art initiative designed to create awareness about the connections between animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. Its purpose is to create six highly visible public artworks to bring the awareness to a national and global audience. (Watch the video for the first project that explains the genesis of Okey’s Promise.)

We must treat our animals well, in addition to addressing the needs of children and others in need in the community. Merely sharing the facts doesn't seem to get the point across, however.

Creating artwork that is highly visible to the community has a greater chance of connecting the dots for people. It is easy to ignore a fact sheet, but hard to dismiss a powerful public artwork that moves your heart and soul.

My hope is that this artwork will start a dialog about the combined issues of animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. I have created a website and blog dedicated to the issue: http://okeyspromise.com/ to facilitate the conversation.

Will you help me get the dialog going?This is my second project for the Okey's Promise: Art for a Cause initiative. The first project, funded by 85 Kickstarter backers, was recently completed and dedicated in the Canton, OH Arts District. My goal is to do six different projects along the same theme to create national and international awareness.

Funding Needs: Funding is needed to assist with the purchase of art materials, studio rent, and creative time spent painting the mural. The funding goal is a minimum. Additional funding would be greatly appreciated to assist with other costs that will inevitably arise in the process. The more funding I receive, the larger the scale of the work, and the more impactful the artwork will become.