"Good things come in three's they always say!"
#TheAgeofProtection #OPSID #Marineland #SWMM #Artfustion #LndOnt #SeaShepherd
Stephen Watson, brother of the founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and an incredible Ocean Artist and Animal Loving Vegan left us August 29, 2012. Since then a few things have come alive in memory of him. The two memorials and one dedication are from Marineland Animal Defense, Artfusion, & Artist for the Ocean. From helping free captive marine animals to viewing such a historic artist's moment on a wall to also bringing awareness through an ocean art book filled with visual voices of marine life - Stephen would definitely be smiling.
Stephen's latest art pieces will be on showcase at "The Arts Project" in London with Artist for the Ocean's artwork combining two ocean art styles with the same direction - to end the killing.
Event Link: Ocean Fusion Art Show
Where: "The Arts Project" 203 Dundas Street, London, Ontario
When: July 8th - 20th
Reception: Friday July 12th 6pm - 9pm
MEMORIAL # 1
The first one that was brought public on April 27th was by Marineland Animal Defense ( #OPSID & #Marineland ). This was the announcement of the STEPHEN WATSON MEMORIAL FUND."The Stephen Watson Memorial Fund is a public savings account which will grow - as the pressure from this campaign continues to grow. The funds in that account will never be released unless Marineland or a future buyer agree to end captive breeding programs, end importation of new animals and agree to transition animals out of the facility. The funds will be used for transportation and care only - getting animals out of the park and set up in their new non-profit, rehab or sanctuary homes - and will never be used to pay the park for the animals. If Marineland ever does transition and instead sends their animals to another captive for profit park - then this fund transfers to another grassroots pressure campaign at a marine park and continues with the same purpose and the same funds." ~Marineland Animal Defense
Below is a statement from Stephen’s wife, Renée Watson, on the fund.
Stephen was a man who believed in honour, integrity and living life authentically. He believed that all life had value and basic inherent rights, that being the right to live freely without imposition, oppression or fear. Although he felt this way for all sentient beings, he focused most of his energies towards increasing awareness of the plight of the oceans and the creatures living within.
Stephen was intimately connected to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society with his brother being Captain Paul Watson founder and director of this organization. Stephen’s gift as an artist was the way in which he could best support his brother’s organization, which he believed in so very much, and to bring attention to the loss and depletion of our oceans. He donated numerous art pieces to raise funds for organizations that focused their energies on keeping sea life safe and protected, in their natural environment.
The biggest affront to the largest of these ocean dwelling animals is the senseless slaughter, and perhaps worse, the capture and imprisonment of these majestic beings. MAD is a grassroots organization Stephen would be proud to be a part of. It would have given him great joy to see the end to theme parks that hold animals imprisoned, forced to entertain masses of humanity. Until that is a reality, naming this trust fund after him both honours him and keeps his presence in the struggle to shut down marine theme parks forever.
Oceans and the beings that live beneath the surface must be protected and allowed to replenish itself. For as Captain Paul would say, “if the oceans die, we die.”
Thank you
Sincerely Renée Watson.
You can help this fund build and be supportive to the animals trapped in captivity at Marineland Canada by donating to this fund at demonstrations, by pick up or drop off in the Niagara Region, or online via paypal or email money transfer to marinelandanimaldefense@gmail.com with the note “Stephen Watson Memorial Fund.”
MEMORIAL #2
With the friendship Stephen made with a local active event & gallery called "ARTFUSION" ( #SWMM #Artfusion #LndOnt )came an amazing project. Announced just days ago at the end of May they have scored an amazing wall in downtown London-Ontario where they will be combining donated paints and time from people to create a massive mural. Not just any mural though! This mural will be the exact painting that Stephen Watson completed prior to his passing.
WHO: Artfusion Gallery
WHAT: Painting London’s largest mural, depicting the last piece of the late Artfusion artist and ocean activist, Stephen Watson.
WHEN: August 2013, with launch event (Artfusion Fest 3) on August 30-31, 2013
WHERE: 197-199 Dundas Street in London, Ontario, Canada
WHY: The mural is in memorial of late artist Stephen Watson, who was passionate about the preservation of the world’s oceans. Tragically, Watson was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away in August 2012; his last piece, entitled Octopus’ Garden 2, is depicted on the mural. Through the preservation of the artist’s memory through art, Artfusion will achieve their mandate of transforming urban space for the purpose of economic prosperity within the creative cultural sector.
HOW: Artfusion will raise the funds necessary to complete the memorial mural and utilize our extensive networking of artists to complete the artist’s final piece to scale, making this project London’s largest mural.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Businesses have the opportunity to become an immortalized piece of history by financially supporting the Stephen Watson Memorial Mural. You can help to support Artfusion in the following ways:
- Corporate Sponsorship
- In-Kind Donation of supplies, goods, or services
- Donating a portion of retail proceeds to the project
Paint Drive - The Mural
Dedication #3
A new Ocean Art Book built to create a further Visual Voice for the ocean has been dedicated in memory of Stephen Watson. The book is called "21st Century - The Age of Protection" ( #TheAgeofProtection )author Bob Timmons "Artist for the Ocean" has known Stephen for the last 4 years of his life while it took 6 years to write, paint, and prepare this book. Stephen was amongst this Book's journey from the start and it was only natural to place his name into the book as a memorial of such a great spirit and ocean artist he respected greatly.
This book has just started its own Journey in Hong Kong, China at an Ocean Fundraiser and this is one major form of what it was meant to be a part of - creating awareness! The book had an Indiegogo campaign that just ended yesterday to help make paperback books and have them donated into Large Public Schools & Librairies around the world.
The Ebook will be on display in Hong Kong - China for the month of June collecting donations for the Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project. On June 29th this Ebook will be in Melbourne-Australia helping with the event "Dolphin Awareness Campaign" at the FED Square where 50% will go to help the organizers and 50% will go to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Australia whale campaign. The help is endless and fundraising is very important to most grassroots and charitable organization because sometimes donations is all they get to move forward with positive action.
Stephen Watson has created such energy and passion from who he was when he was alive and now we have all been honoured to continue this flow while he is still around us in an energy form. So there are three amazing ways to keep Stephen's name alive from his Life's Journey of passion through art and his ethical choices for freedom of all life! You now have the choice to help where ever you would like to in Stephen's name.
