FRANK Gallery opens animal-themed exhibit

Animals of all kinds will be represented and celebrated at Chapel Hill’s FRANK Gallery in the new exhibit, ANIMALS: Forces of Nature.

An opening reception will be held Friday for the show that opened Tuesday, created by artists Nerys Levy and Sudie Rakusin.

Torey Mishoe, the gallery’s manager, said FRANK typically has six themed shows each year. Because different artists design each show, he said the shows are all different from one another.

“Each one kind of takes on a life and personality of its own,” Mishoe said.

Mishoe said the exhibit is meant to help viewers appreciate animals other than ordinary domesticated pets, such as cats and dogs.

“This is really a celebration of animals,” she said. “It is very light and very fun.”

Rakusin, one of the curators who volunteered to work on the show, said although it took a lot of effort, the end product was gratifying.

“Through my lifetime I have become more connected to animals than to humans,” she said.

“The concept of this show was to celebrate animals and represent them with the dignity and love and admiration and respect they so deserve.”

Rakusin said the art will not depict negative images of animals, such as neglected animals. Instead animals will be shown in an uplifting and positive light.

“There is a lot of awful stuff that is going on, but we decided we didn’t want any images representing that,” she said.

Levy, another curator for the exhibit, said the idea of an animal-based exhibit had been in the works for more than a year, and it was something both curators wanted to do.

She said the show is meant to raise awareness about the true purpose of animals.

“We are trying to raise an awareness that animals inhabit and are a major part of the ecosystem,” she said. “They aren’t there for our purposes — they have their own purposes.”

She said animals can be thought of as more than pets.

“I really think that animals are a part of our lives and to be revered and respected and learned from,” she said. “We can learn so much if we just take the time.”

Rakusin also said she hopes the exhibit will move people and make them realize the emotional depth animals are capable of.

“I hope that this exhibit and these images will touch people’s hearts and move them and allow them to understand these are breathing beings like us — they feel joy and pain and sadness,” said said.

Levy said she hopes people will realize more about animals.

“I hope people will appreciate animals more. They are forces of nature,” she said.