SUBMISSION: What's The Price On Your Head? by Katherine Turpenoff
Life size coin purse of a North American crocodile head. I am using my respect of, and my interest in research of animals to talk about the importance of animals. I believe that sometimes people forget how important animals are to the human way of life, and that animals are not just food or commodities.
There have always been deep connections between humans and animals, such as religion, economy, science, nature, food, as pets (etc.). As the human population grows so does demand, and this demand that people have for more and more has put a strain on the connections we have with animals.
Beauty, comedy, or striking colors are often part of my process. The raw brutality of what happens to some animals can cause an instinct to look away, so I use humor or something interesting to create a draw. Then the underlying, and heavier, message will slowly appear. I never want my work to repulse. I choose to demonstrate that animals are living beings, and not just a means to an end.