In the spring of 1999, Charlie and I received an amazing E-mail from an interesting photographer/writer/conservationist who lived in Slovenia. We did not even know where Slovenia was much less the city of Ljubljana. Slovenia was formerly part of Yugoslavia and Ljubljana is not far from Venice! Matevz Lenarcic had seen our web site and was intrigued by our study at Kambalnoe Lake. What had attracted his attention most was our co-existence study. We were surprised to learn from Matevz that there are about 500 grizzlies in his mountainous country but unfortunately many are being killed due to conflict with farmers. "Charlie, could you come to my country and talk to our local government officials about your research?" he asked. "Also, Maureen, could you present some of your art in a gallery here?"

For me this brought to fruition the travelling component of my art exhibition, "Through the Eyes of the Bear". For Charlie this was an opportunity to talk about how man and grizzlies can share habitat safely and without conflict while carrying on agricultural activities.

On February 24, 2000 we gave an illustrated talk at Masters Gallery Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, titled "Living with Bears". (View the artwork on line at the Masters Gallery website, with more on this website) Not only did we want to address our favorite topic, but we also wanted to promote the premiere of my exhibition "Through the Eyes of the Bear" at the opening of the new Art Gallery of Calgary on March 2, 2000.

Matevz Lenarcic has been a very busy man since the conception of our tour. He convinced local Government Officials of the necessity of hosting our tour. He succeeded in engaging the well-known Krka Gallery, in Ljubljana, to exhibit the travelling component of "Through the Eyes of the Bear" from March 22 to March 29, 2000. A noon hour opening is planned and will include press and government and foreign representatives among invited guests. That evening we are invited to a dinner with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Smerkolj. On the 23rd, Charlie will sit in a panel discussion for 70 minutes for local TV to discuss co-existence issues. March 24th, Charlie will deliver a lecture with discussion in Bistra Castle, near Ljubljana (organized by the Hunting Association) March 25th, he will show slides and talk at the Forestry Institute. On March 26th we will likely both participate in a third lecture in Rodica, near Ljubljana, which has been organized by ecologist, Dr. Natasa Siard. On the 28th a finale to our visit is planned with press interviews!

On the 29th of March, Charlie will return to Canada. I will travel to Marnay-sur- Seine, outside of Paris, to the second venue for my travelling exhibition - at camac Gallery. I return to Canada four days before my comprehensive Exhibition of "Through the Eyes of the Bear" closes at the Art Gallery of Calgary.

Watch for entries from Slovenia and Frnace! Opening exhibition at the new Art Gallery of Calgary, "Through the Eyes of the Bear" , live, on this site March 2 and 3, 2000.