Tina Koufas-Eisbacher

Artist Statement

My love affair with animals began in childhood, but it was as an adult when I became involved and passionate about the treatment, rights and rescue of all animals - especially greyhounds. Thus it is only fitting that my work reflects that passion, and also the passion I feel for the environment we inhabit.

My artwork has evolved over the years, from idealist to realist. I created, designed and taught jewelry for many years, and have worked in many mediums. Both black and white photography are my real passions.

Over the last several years I have worked exclusively in traditional color photography. I developed a technique in the darkroom using positive & negative transparencies as overlays to create the ghostly figures of people and greyhounds that are at the very center of my work. Using this same technique, I have incorporated my drawings into some of the images. There is no digital manipulation involved in any aspect of the process.

Through my photography I aim to stimulate one's vision and curiosity by creating a thought provoking and surreal world to experience. My photos speak of futures that have been ravaged by nuclear war and pollution, but many images are meant to banish any myths or concepts of man's relationship to animals, or lack of.

I think of my works as various pieces of a puzzle that are still incomplete. the scenes range from the end of nuclear was to rebirth, in which everything, including the environment has a gas mask on. This is also a world in which life is business as usual, or is it? Why then are there greyhounds reduced to bones, that keep running and running and running? And why, in what appears to be an image of a popular bar, are there animals and people appearing to be having a good time together, as opposed to a similar photo that takes an opposite approach?

What is it that the viewer is to ponder when looking at the different images? And what if anything has happened to humanities "humanity"?

My intense love of animals and my ongoing participation in GREAT (greyhound rescue), DART (Disaster Animal Response Team), hurricanes Charlie and Katrina, and just living on this planet have had a profound impact on my perception and outlook on humanity as it relates to animals and the environment.

My work may appear dark at times, but I tend to see it as a statement about the way the world has become.

If social and political ideas don't change, I foresee a world in which gas masks will be the norm, and there will be an Exit........Nowhere.

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida & attended local schools
Wanted to be a criminal lawyer since childhood & began college as law major
Junior year of college changed major to Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
Received a B.F.A. in Art from Western Carolina University, Certification in Art Education (K-12) from University of South Florida  
Married, live in Largo with husband and 5 greyhounds
Visual Arts Dept. Chair @ a high school in St. Petersburg and currently teach photography (traditional & digital), Drawing & 2-Dimensional Design
Jewelry, Drawing & Photography works exhibited and featured in juried art shows & local galleries
Vegetarian & Animal Rights Activist
Member of D.A.R.T. team (Pinellas County Disaster Animal Response Team): on going
Active member of G.R.E.A.T. (Greyhound Rescue and Adoption of Tampa Bay): Fostered and rescued hundreds of greyhounds, etc.
Co-Founded GPA of Largo - 1994
Volunteer with Animal Awareness Club students from school at the SPCA: various jobs include dog walking, cat care taking, introductions of animals, and anything else  that is needed to be done.
Member of S.A.R.T. (State Agricultural Response Team)
Am a student in ongoing classes of Photography & Veterinary Technology.