Rainforest Appreciation Artists
Feel the ‘Wow!’
We make art to celebrate rainforests and increase appreciation of their intrinsic value, the wonders they contain and their vital importance for the planet and for our own lives. We hold art exhibitions to attract, engage and inspire. Our hub is the Save the Rainforest exhibition in Queensgate Market, Huddersfield, UK. We are the co-creators of the ‘Because…’ project, which aims to harness global creative energies to help save the rainforest.
Our Mission
Our mission is to raise awareness of the vital importance of the rainforests; to increase appreciation of their stunning wildlife; to bring together like-minded people; to create intriguing and engaging artwork; to provide accessible and appealing information about our impact upon the natural world; and to inspire and motivate people to help protect the world’s remaining rainforests.
The story of RAA
A meeting of artists
Rainforest Appreciation Artists (‘RAA’) was formed in January 2020, emerging from an exciting collaboration which developed after an ‘Endangered Rainforest Creatures’ art workshop held in October 2019. The workshop was organised by Judy Hinchliffe, as part of the HAS Annual Exhibition’s calendar of events, and took place in Queensgate Market alongside the ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition.
Patrycja Kos and Alicja Bartosinska joined in as participants. A collaboration developed out of this meeting of artists and led to the formation of RAA. Marcia McTerrelley was a major contributor to the exhibition in its early days. Pardis Ghasemi joined the team in 2021.
The current exhibition has been on show since August 2019 and is the second ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition.
The first ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition
The first ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition was on display for two weeks in April 2019. It was organised by Judy Hinchliffe in association with Huddersfield Art Society (HAS) and featured forty-five artworks painted by the Society’s artists. Although HAS were not involved in the organisation of the second exhibition, many of the paintings created by HAS members for the first one are still on display, thanks to the generosity of the artists.
The exhibition has been made possible by Creative Kirklees and Temporary Contemporary and our the support of our hosts, Queensgate Market/Kirklees Markets and we are deeply grateful for their support and hospitality and for making us so welcome. In our turn, we bring colour and fun to the Market.
Developing and expanding
The ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition has been developing and expanding since it began. It has also moved to different spaces within the Market. Currently, the exhibition occupies six units, which were previously empty stalls. These are located close to the Piazza Arcade entrance, which is opposite Huddersfield’s Central Library and Art Gallery. Our Facebook page, ‘Rainforest Appreciation Artists’, which was launched in January 2020, provides a visual record of many of the developments.
Exhibition highlights of 2020 – “What’s that Creature?”
Patrycja and Judy organised two art workshops in 2020 – one in January and one in February, and the exhibition area was expanded to accommodate new artwork that was produced there. The ‘Rainforest Scene’ and ‘Panther Panel’ went on display in October 2020, in time for a ‘What’s that Creature?’ event.
The purpose of these events was to engage members of the public and generate or foster interest in the wildlife of the rainforest. In addition to the visual representations, we shared fascinating facts about the featured creatures.
2021 – ‘Because…’
The ‘Because…’ project was launched in January 2021, to expand the work of the ‘Save the Rainforest’ exhibition. Our mission is to harness global creative energies to increase appreciation of rainforests and raise awareness of their importance for the whole planet. ‘Because…’ is a collaboration between Rainforest Appreciation Artists and CollaborARTi, a Huddersfield-based group of artists, designers and creative professionals.
Our inspiration and purpose
As Sir David Attenborough has said, people will only take care of something if they have an affection for it, an appreciation of it. Our purpose is to use imagery to generate or increase that affection and appreciation.
“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched.. and want to save things that they love.” Steve Irwin (1962-2006)
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