Eleven-Year-Old Brings Farmyard Friends to Museum for Gallery Night

By Finn Jackson
Artist

Hi, my name is Finn, I am 11 years old, and I really like to paint and draw. My second favorite things in the world are animals. When I went to Heartland Farm Sanctuary, I didn’t realize that it would change my life.

Heartland is the only animal sanctuary for farm animals in the state. It also hosts a farm camp so kids of all ages can learn about farm animals and their care. When you first come to Heartland, you will hear much squawking and not much reason to donate money, but all you have to do is stay one day and you will see why I do what I do.

I first came to Heartland through a camp and immediately thought of a girl who I had read about who made and sold drawings to help birds in the Gulf oil spill. I decided to make and sell portraits of Heartland’s animals and donate the money to the farm to help pay for housing and food. So far I have donated over $3,000 to help the animals of Heartland.

These [featured pieces] are the best of my more than 40 paintings. If you are interested in buying a painting or a commission, please give your name and number to the front desk. Thank you for coming to my show.

About the Artist

Eleven-year-old Finn Jackson paints and draws portraits of the animals that reside at Heartland Farm Sanctuary and donates proceeds from sales of his artwork to the farm. Jackson started combining painting and philanthropy when he was just seven years old. A portion of sales from Finn’s work will be directed toward improvements to help keep his beloved animal friends warm, safe and dry.

Jackson will attend the exhibit opening on October 2 – as will a number of live farm animals, who will join forces with the Madison Children’s Museum Rooftop chickens to help celebrate.

About Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Heartland Farm Sanctuary, located in Verona, is the only farm animal sanctuary in Wisconsin. Heartland is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide care for farm animals in need, nurture people through the human-animal bond, and foster respect and kindness toward animals and each other. Heartland recently launched a fund-raising campaign to renovate its 18,000 square-foot barn. Learn more at heartlandfarmsanctuary.org.

Farmyard Friends opens on October 2, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., during Gallery Night. Admission to the entire museum is free on that evening. In addition, the Community Concourse, where the exhibit is housed, is always free to visit.