African Sojourn (Madaras Gallery)
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Contact: Diana Madaras at diana@madaras.com, or call 520-623-4000.
Animals to be Big Winners of Artist’s African Sojourn
Sisters Donate Combined Creative Talents to Help Wildlife
TUCSON, Arizona -- The African animals portrayed in an art show opening May 18th at Madaras Gallery in Tucson, Arizona will be among the beneficiaries of the event: artist Diana Madaras will donate all proceeds from the sale of her original African Sojourn paintings to groups that help animals both in Africa and locally. Several noted artists also will donate paintings, including Master Wildlife Artist Dino Paravano, now of Tucson, who lived in South Africa for more than 40 years. The month-long show at the gallery at 3001 E. Skyline Drive is expected to generate tens of thousands of dollars in donations.
 Madaras’ sister Sandy Levine, who has been a television producer for more than 20 years, will go on safari in South Africa in April – traveling in her sister’s footsteps – to gather footage to promote the upcoming art show, and illustrate why the wild animals of Africa need support. A resident of Toms River, New Jersey, Levine currently is involved in several television projects, including hosting and producing a program on animal welfare for New Jersey's PBS station, NJN. The philanthropic show is the result of a chance meeting between Madaras and Terry von Guilleaume, owner of Destination Southern Africa, a tour and safari company which specializes in tailor-made trips to Africa. “I was being honored by Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT) for my charity work,” said Madaras. “I heard Terry had donated a safari to be auctioned at the gala. We spoke and when he learned I had an animal foundation called Art for Animals, he knew we could do some good things together.” Von Guilleaume offered to give Madaras a free safari, and Madaras agreed to donate the proceeds from the paintings that resulted from the trip. “I’m taking an opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ by donating to a South African sanctuary dedicated to preserving the awesome wild creatures of Africa and their habitat,” said Madaras. Two local organizations -- Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo and TROT’s equine therapy program -- also will benefit.
When von Guilleaume learned Madaras’ sister is a seasoned television producer who is eager to get out the word about the show, he offered to send her on a safari as well. “This is an unbelievable opportunity,” said Levine. “When I heard about the project I immediately saw video and television playing a role. So many fundraisers donate 10% or 15% of proceeds to a given charity. Here, 100% of proceeds will go to good causes.”
Von Guilleaume, a native South African who has a long history of supporting philanthropic causes in his home country, said he is excited about the unique partnership. “This is an opportunity for us to give back directly to what draws most visitors to Africa, which is the wildlife.” Von Guilleaume and Madaras chose as their South African charity SanWild, a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in the Limpopo Province. At SanWild, injured and orphaned lions, zebras, elephants and many other wild animals are rehabilitated, then released on SanWild’s protected preserve. “By releasing the animals on SanWild’s property, we know they’re safe from poachers, and that they will never be used in trophy hunting,” said von Guilleaume.
Going on safari had been a lifelong dream of Madaras, and the three-week photographic trip in the fall of 2007 through South Africa and Botswana, arranged by Destination Southern Africa, exceeded her expectations. “It was an amazing experience to see the animals in the wild, to be so close to them and to observe their behavior,” Madaras said. “It was a privilege. I was overwhelmed by their magnificence.”
The resulting colorful, dramatic paintings reflect the beauty and wildness Madaras encountered on her adventure. “Painting these African animals has been euphoric,” Madaras said. “The paintings are inspired. When I
 painted the lion, for some reason I knew his mane was going to have pink in it. From there the painting flowed freely and easily, as if it came from somewhere outside of me.” Elephants, cheetahs, baboons, rhinos and leopards are among the animals Madaras saw up close on safari—animals she is concerned about saving. “If we don’t pay attention, there won’t be any wild animals in Africa,” Madaras said, “and what a catastrophic loss that would be to this planet.”
The African Sojourn show will feature watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, and will kick off with a VIP reception on May 18th from 3 to 6 p.m. for gallery patrons, supporters of TROT and Reid Park Zoo, as well as guests of Destination Southern Africa.
For more information call Madaras Gallery at 520-623-4000, or visit www.madaras.com.
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Diana Madaras – Background
 Philanthropy is nothing new to artist Diana Madaras, who owns two galleries in Tucson that feature her work exclusively. Since opening her first gallery in 1999 Madaras has donated about $50,000 worth of art each year to various charities –more than 100 groups all together—including the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson, the American Cancer Society and the Arthritis Foundation. In 1999 Madaras founded Art for Animals, a nonprofit foundation which is funded by proceeds from the sale of her artwork. To date the foundation has donated more than $76,000 to12 groups working to help endangered, abandoned, abused and neglected animals
Madaras' deep love for animals began in early childhood, and is part of a long-standing family tradition. Her father, noted veterinarian Dr. Bernard Levine and mother, Dorothy Lawrence founded an animal hospital in Toms River, New Jersey in 1956, and Madaras grew up working in the family’s hospital, helping both wild and domestic animals. Today her brother, Dr. Richard Levine is a veterinarian and medical director of the hospital. Her sister Sandy Levine has hosted and produced Homeless Tails on NJN Public Television for the past 13 years.
Madaras is a signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild. She has been featured in nine one-woman shows and her art has hung in the Tucson Museum of Art. Included among her commissioned work are paintings for Westin, Loews and Miraval resorts, as well as for the estate of the former president of Mexico.
Madaras has been honored with numerous awards for her community service, and she has been featured in dozens of print and television stories.
Additional Information about Madaras’ Art for Animals Foundation:
· Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Art for Animals has donated $15,000 to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, helping to provide medical care for animals that otherwise may not have been given a second chance, and funding efforts to investigate suspected cases of abuse and neglect. In one example, a little mixed-breed poodle named Boo was brought to the shelter with a broken leg caused by her owner kicking her. Art for Animals’ donations helped fund the medical care needed to repair Boo’s leg, thus saving her life. Boo eventually made a full recovery and was adopted into a loving home. “We’re very fortunate to have Diana in the community,” said Gail Brown, director of development for the Humane Society. “She is a huge supporter of animal welfare issues. In addition to her financial support, she donates artwork. I can’t say enough about her.” Mike Duffey is the animal cruelty investigator for the Humane Society. “Without funding we couldn’t do what we do,” said Duffey. “Most of the injuries caused by criminal acts are reparable. When Diana donates money to have the animals medically treated, others follow suit. She’s the driving force behind the funds we receive.”
Contact Information
Diana Madaras, Madaras Gallery owner. Tel: 520-623-4000; Email: diana@madaras.com; Web: www.madaras.com
Terry von Guilleaume, president, Destination Southern Africa. Tel: 520-882-3600 or 1-800-203-6724; Email: terryvg@dsavacations.com; Web: www.myafricavacation.com
Sandy Levine, television producer. Tel: 732-349-6601; Email: levinesand@aol.com; Web: www.njn.net/television/njnseries/homelesstails
SanWild wildlife rehabilitation center and sanctuary, Louise Joubert. Tel: 011 27 15-318 7900; Email: louise@sanwild.org; Web: www.sanwild.org
Reid Park Zoo-Tucson Zoological Society, Chris Mayer, events director. Tel: 520-881-4753; Email: cmayer@tucsonzoo.org; Web: www.tucsonzoo.org
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), Leslie Esselburn, executive director. Tel: 520-749-2360; Email: leslietrot@juno.com; Web: www.horseweb.com/trot
St. Louis Zoo Curator Martha Fischer, re WildCare Institute Grevy’s Zebra Fund. Tel: 1-800-966-8877; Email: Fischer@stlzoo.org; Web: www.stlzoo.org
Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Gail Brown, director of development. Tel: 520-321-3704 X 117; Email: gbrown@hssaz.org; Web: www.hssaz.org
Animal Cruelty Investigator for HSSAZ, Mike Duffey. Tel: 520-881-7420; Email: mduffey@hssaz.org
Jackie Ludwig, adopted Boo. Tel: 520-791-6105; Email: Jackie.ludwig@marriott.com
Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary, Karen Pomroy, president/founder. Tel: 520-398-2814; Email: karen@eqinevoices.org; Web: www.equinevoices.org
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learning that the Grevy’s zebra is endangered, Madaras decided to donate 50% of every purchase with this zebra’s image to the St. Louis Zoo WildCare Institute, which is working to save the Grevy’s zebra. “We are grateful for this unique partnership which joins art and international conservation,” said Martha Fischer, zoo curator. “Diana’s significant contribution to the Grevy’s Zebra Trust and to community conservation efforts in Kenya and Ethiopia has provided important support for the critically endangered Grevy’s zebra.” The Art for Animals donation helped the preservation effort garner the honor as one of theTop Ten Wildlife Conservation Success Stories in 2007. 
told her we would like to honor her at our gala, she immediately offered to create and donate an original painting for the event.” Esselburn said Madaras is alsothe first artist TROT called when the group decided to hold a fundraiser where an artist and a horse “paint together.” “Diana got it right away,” said Esselburn. “She even helped name the event, ‘Vincent Van Horse.’” One of Bisbee’s paintings was auctioned for $4000, and Bisbee now has collectors who wait every year to see what he and Madaras will create. “We have made thousands of dollars through the Vincent Van Horse Art Studio,” said Esselburn. “Diana has helped TROT get it out there, and create a greater awareness for our organization.” 
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