IN DANGER:
Threatened & Endangered Animals

Project: Safehaven004

Location: Sumatra, Indonesia

The In Danger project is a high-end art book being produced by Expedition Art in collaboration with some of the most well-known concept artists, designers and fine artists in the world. We are currently working with 51 different artists from 8 countries, as they create imagery of 97 unique animals. Each animal portrayed in the book has a detailed description, interesting facts about the creature as well as insightful thoughts from the artist. Each project Expedition Art produces donates to a partner non-profit organization that directly affects wildlife and nature conservation.

Our goal is to educate and raise awareness through art.

Expedition Art is selling "In Danger: Endangered and Threatened Animals" to raise money to save animal habitats.

Video: Expedition Art and Imagination International are publishing "In Danger", a book that will help fund wildlife conservation efforts. (Image by Iain McCaig)

Why Save Our Endangered Species?

Since life began, plants and animals have become extinct because of naturally changing physical and biological conditions. But today’s rate of extinction is not natural. It’s been sped up because of humans. A recent study estimated that the extinction rate has increased a hundredfold over the last century. The main force driving this is habitat loss. Tropical rainforests around the world, which may contain up to one half of all living species, are losing millions of acres every year. Uncounted species are lost as these habitats are destroyed. As species are lost, so are our options for future discovery and advancement. The impacts of biodiversity loss include the loss of new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming.

Many people believe that every creature has an intrinsic value. An extinct species can never be replaced. We are accustomed to a rich diversity in nature, which has given inspiration to countless writers and artists, and all others who treasure variety in the natural world.
Science tells us that ecosystems provide us with a host of things we can't do without, and that the more diverse each ecosystem is, the better. One of the many tangible benefits of biological diversity has been its contributions to the field of medicine. From providing cures to deadly diseases to maintaining natural ecosystems and improving overall quality of life, the benefits of preserving endangered species are invaluable. In fact, saving endangered species from becoming extinct and protecting their environments is crucial for our health and the future of our children. No matter how small or obscure a species, it could be important to us later.

Because each plant or animal is part of a larger ecosystem, preserving any one could create a ripple effect. Take the gray wolf as a case study. When the species was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, the impact was far-reaching. The packs helped keep the elk population in check, which meant that willow and aspen trees were in less danger of being overeaten. The branches and leaves of those trees cooled the streams, which boosted the population of native trout, provided homes for migratory birds, and supplied more food for beavers. The dams built by the beavers created happier marshland habitat for otters, mink, and ducks.

- Robin Goodpaster

Learn about the animals!

Artists

Kei Acedera
Nicolas Acuna
Laurel D. Austin
Daren Bader
Naomi Baker
Shannon Beaumont
Greg Beecham
Aaron Blaise
Aleksi Briclot
Wesley Burt
Luis Carrasco
Manny Carrasco
Alisa Caves
Jason Chan
Bobby Chiu
J.A.W. Cooper
Thierry Doizon
Paschalis Dougalis
Kness
Bruno Gore
Chihiro Howe
Esther van Hulsen
Viktor Kalvachev
Justin Kaufman
Han Soo Kim ("Hans Olo")
Kim Jung Gi

Kekai Kotaki
Jonathan Kuo
Steph Laberis
David Levy
Janet Luxton
Christina Louise Marent
Iain McCaig
Shawn Melchor
Brynn Metheney
Thabiso Mhlaba
Dan Milligan
Borislav Mitkov
Charity Oetgen
Karla Ortiz
John Park
Ronda Rousey
Don Seegmiller
Allison Theus
Kristy Tipton
A.J. Trahan
Jose Vasquez
Joe Weatherly
Claire Wendling
Terryl Whitlatch
Mike Wiesmeier

Sponsor

PROJECT TEAM

Kristy graduated with a degree in Fine Art and Visual Communication from the University of Texas in Austin. She has spent 20 years leading creative teams on video game and film projects for the entertainment industry. Most recently, she has been working for high-tech clients including DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), overseeing teams working on advanced and emerging technology projects. In addition, she consults with the Cubic Global Innovation team to promote creative problem-solving, team building and rapid-prototyping of new products through technology incubator events across the world. She is responsible for all Cubic Innovation media projects, including a multi-year partnership with the celebrated Tiburon Media group. Her award-winning photographs are being used for education and awareness on the benefits of dehorning initiatives to deter poaching activities.

Megan is a visual designer who has a passion for creating meaningful visual experiences through web and print media. While growing up in Europe, she developed a love for Art and Art History. Her experiences
subsequently paved the way for a career in Visual Design! She has expressed her creativity in a wide range
of fields including emergency medicine, multi-cultural design and service learning. Most recently, she is
creating seamless user interfaces for the Department of Defense and city-wide transportation systems.

Megan is an alumnus from Texas State University where she graduated with a BFA in Communication
Design in 2016.

Lauren comes to this project following the least linear trajectory of just about anyone she knows. Musical theater nerd, salsa dancer, mountaineer, master organizer, creative writing enthusiast...you name it, she is probably less degrees of separation than Hollywood from Kevin Bacon.

After studying theater at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and International Communications at the University of Washington, her love for adventure (and gelato) took her to Europe for a couple of years. When she came back to the states, she followed her then-boyfriend to Austin (which she still considers the best mistake of her life), where she finished her degree at the University of Texas in the Didactic Program of Dietetics, got her 450-hour Pilates instructor certification, became a project manager at a multinational Defense and Transportation company, got involved in Expedition Art and then jumped on a plane back to Europe where she is currently writing a collection of short stories and eating, praying, and self-loving all through Italy. After all, her mother always said, "If you're bored, you're boring".

Kelly Hinnen is a visual designer and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. Being a visual learner, she was classically trained in fine arts as an oil painter since the age of eight. Throughout high school, Kelly transitioned into more digital media, mastering photography and learning the foundations of communication design. During this time, she was best known for her award-winning self-portraits and avant-garde collages. For the last four years, Kelly has been dedicated to honing her craft by studying essential elements for good design. Kelly graduated from Texas State University in December 2017 with a BFA in Communication Design and now works as a freelance designer and artist. An avid wildlife enthusiast, Kelly was excited to be a part of this creative conservation project.

Robin’s fiction has been featured in Black Mirror Magazine and Panther City Review. She writes mystery and science fiction short stories. Robin believes in protecting the Earth and its inhabitants. Her goal to visit every national park in the U.S. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, son and dog. You can check out her work at behance.net/robingoodpaster.

Nicole Overton wears many hats! She is a marketing copywriter for several universities and colleges across the country including University of West Florida, Eastern Michigan University, University of Texas Arlington, Mississippi College, and Arkansas State, just to name a few.

She ghostwrites books, speeches and website content for several high-profile individuals. And she is an established sensitivity reader, having worked for various publishers including Katherine Tegen Books and Simon & Schuster. She holds a BA degree in Media Communications from Webster University and is currently pursuing her master’s in Professional Creative Writing from the University of Denver. When she isn’t busy writing or reading, you can find her rooting for the Dallas Cowboys with her husband and five children.

Ashley Bles is a freelance journalist and independent scholar who specializes in profiling artists and comic creators. She has been published multiple times as well as presented research and spoke at Comic Con International in 2015 and 2016. She jokingly describes her writing as telling the stories of people who make cool things since she can't.

John Tipton & Guinness - Creative/Technical Assistants

John is Expedition Art's jack-of-all trades. He started his career creating sound fx and music for video games, and currently plies his trade as a video strategist at Dell. John still has aspirations of a musical career, being a photo journalist, coffee connoisseur and glamper.

Guinness is our Wire Fox Terrier in-residence.

IN DANGER: Threatened & Endangered Animals