Eastern Kentucky University is hosting its biennial "Living with Animals" conference. The international conference includes presenters and attendees from countries like Germany, France, Denmark, and Sweden.
Bob Mitchell, who coordinates EKU’s animal studies program, says the multidisciplinary event considers the efforts by humans to understand animals and how to teach university courses on the subject. “How we enjoy animals, how we do bad things to animals, and about how we live with them. How should we live with them is one of the big questions. And we get to see how we have lived with them in the past,” said Mitchell.
Eastern is unique with its bachelor’s degree program in animal studies. Animals in art are being emphasized during the 5 day conference.
Curtis Bartone uses animal imagery in his drawings, prints, and paintings. “So, I’m not making overtly, this is so awful that this animal is being treated badly. It’s sort of showing the complexities of the issue, which is something I’m interested in, but I think it also invites viewers into the work more,” Bartone said.
EKU is unique with its bachelor’s degree program in animal studies. The international conference considers human-animal interaction, the efforts to understand animals, and how to teach university courses on the subject. ?