Introduction

On September 7th, 2012, SAVE THE FROGS! hosted its inaugural Art Show, a celebration of frog conservation through creative expression. The event, held at Art du Jour in downtown Santa Cruz, featured over 250 pieces of frog art from around the world. Each piece was a reflection of the beauty and importance of amphibians and helped raise funds for global amphibian conservation efforts.

Most of the artwork was submitted through the first three years of our SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest, which, in 2011 alone, received over 2,231 entries from 31 countries. It was an incredible showcase of talent, passion, and commitment to the cause.

The Art Show was a fun and educational evening, with Santa Cruz’s former Mayor, Mike Rotkin, as the Guest of Honor.

Event Highlights

In addition to the fantastic artwork, the event featured:

A presentation on The Wild World of Frogs by SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger
Free frog art classes by Rob Court of the Scribbles Institute
A live frog display by the Central Coast Herpetological Society
Live music performed by SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger and Aharon Wheels Bolsta showcasing a fusion of sounds from across the globe. Aharon weaves a dreamscape of resonant sounds with instruments from around the world, while Dr. Kriger played the bansuri, a bamboo flute from northern India.

SAVE THE FROGS! merchandise was also available, supporting eco-friendly, amphibian-focused conservation.

“Kerry, one of my favorite life experiences was working with you and Tai Stills on the art show/contest fundraiser”
– Nancy Macy, Santa Cruz, CA

Venue

The event took place at Art du Jour, located at 1013 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA.

Special Thanks

The event was a huge success, thanks to the contributions of many individuals and organizations. Special thanks to:

Santa Cruz High School art student Hannah Atkinson for helping with art submissions
SAVE THE FROGS! Board member Tai Stills for organizing and framing the artwork
Driscoll’s for providing organic fruit, and Storrs Winery for donating wine
Andy Rea and the Central Coast Herpetological Society for educating attendees about frogs
All the amazing volunteers who made the event possible, including Michael Starkey, Cori Elwood, and Jeremy Pelsinski

“So much work and such an impressive display…and so many supportive people. Loved it. You, and Tai, and all your members around the world are the ones deserving of gratitude for your inspiration and dedication to saving our world.”
– Nancy Macy, Valley Women’s Club, Santa Cruz, CA

About The SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest

The annual SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest continues to inspire and educate people worldwide. Between 2009 and 2023, we received 23,293 frog art entries from 114 countries. We look forward to your future submissions as we work together to protect amphibian populations and promote frog conservation!

“The SAVE THE FROGS! Art Show was lots of fun and I enjoyed helping people have a better understanding of why frogs are so important to our ecosystems. I liked educating your event attendees about the negative effects of purchasing wild caught animals.”
– Andy Rea, President, Central Coast Herpetological Society