Internationally acclaimed wildlife artist, Susan Sommer-Luarca and her not-for-profit foundation, Susan Sommer-Luarca For Habitat (SSL4HABITAT), have formed a partnership with Wehrenberg Theatres, the nations largest mid-west theatre chain. This partnership will support SSL4HABITAT's mission; "To preserve wildlife and its habitat through sharing art and education."
The first giant mural will be painted at the Campbell 16 cinema, located at South Campbell and 4005 South Avenue. The 30 feet tall and 380 feet long mural is to be created on the giant, west facing wall on Campbell Ave. This mural's theme is "WILD HORSES". Susan Sommer-Luarca who started her foundation in 2006, is an internationally known and widely acclaimed artist. Susan's support of wildlife and indeed her driving passion to bring awareness to the threat of much of our wildlife and their continued threatened habitats, is the artist's well known mission of her SSL4HABITAT foundation. From her gallery in Springfield , Missouri Susan stated; " SSL4HABITAT is very fortunate to have such a great partner as Wehrenberg Theaters, such a company who makes this commitment, helps immensely in helping the foundation bring its message of conservation and preservation of wildlife nationwide". While the artist has traveled nationwide painting murals for the foundation of any number of different species and habitat, the focus of "Wild Horses" is truly near and dear to the Susan's heart. While the wild horse population is continually under pressure and ever shrinking, Missouri is left with only one wild herd of 20 horses in Shannon County. The mural project will be started on September 10, 2008 and its completion is slated for September 29, 2008.
ABOUT SUSAN SOMMER-LUARCA
Susan Sommer-Luarca painted live at all three legs of the 2007 and 2008 Triple Crown as well as Official Triple Crown Artist 2008, and was invited to paint live at the NFL Experience at Super Bowl XLII. She has been selected to be the Official Artist of the 2008 Preakness® Stakes. Susan Sommer-Luarca is also an Official Artist of the 2008 USA Olympic Team for the 2008 Bejiing Olympic Summer Games.
Susan Sommer-Luarca was born and raised in southwest Missouri on her family's farm. Susan grew up with respect, love and compassion for all animals. At the early age of eight and with no formal art training, Susan was drawing and painting the many horses on the farm with great attention to detail. As Susan grew, so did the scope and scale of her art. Susan has been painting larger than life murals and fine works of art for more than twenty years, detailing wildlife and its habitat for all to enjoy. From her huge eighty-foot life-size blue whales to stampeding wild horses, Susan has painted her murals across the USA .
Over twelve years ago Bass Pro Shops, a world wide and known supporter of conservation and wildlife recognized Susan's artistic talent and her love for all that is wildlife. Bass Pro Shops commissioned Susan to paint her larger than life murals in many of their Outdoor World stores across America . In 1995, Susan painted what at the time was the largest continuous indoor mural in the United States . At over 14,000 square feet the mural depicted an underwater scene with an array of oceanic life including coral reefs, whales, sharks, stingrays and a variety of other sealife. Susan's work has been seen and aired by many of the major national media outlets including, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, ESPN, NY Times, LA Times, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune and People magazine, just to name a few. In 2006 Susan started her own wildlife conservation and preservation foundation, the "SSL for Habitat." Formed as a not-for-profit organization. Susan is committed to her vision of garnering awareness to the necessary preservation of wildlife and its supporting natural habitat. Susan intends to help educate the world through her larger than life murals which will be painted from coast to coast and around the world.
