Young Rescued Pigeon healing from pox and eye infection, 3 (2023) Pintura por Elodie M. Richard

“it's a sad story...It all started with covid 19, when I lost my company and became addicted to opioid drugs. I had severe depression and then these drugs helped me, but I became addicted and stayed at home for 5 years and started taking care of pigeons…During winter, pigeons would find shelter on my balcony, nest and lay eggs... It was minus 17 degrees Celsius and I was afraid that the babies would die, but they survived with my help of food, water, etc…I became interested in helping them, I live in Chorzow near Katowice in Silesia (Poland), where the Pigeon Tradition is very important . It used to be bigger, but it is still there.During winter in 2005/2006, an awful tragedy took place here in Katowice at the Pigeon Fair - it collapsed under the pressure of 40 cm of snow and huge frost of minus 30 degrees...Inside the Market hall 65 people died and 140 were injured, I helped deliver blankets, warm meals and food for the rescue operation. I was 25 years old and I started working as a taxi driver in Katowice and we had relief operations. The sight of lost and terrified pigeons flying everywhere looking for their guardian was extremely sad and deeply moving. People were screaming and terrified. A very sad dayI live near two large and beautiful parks:
WPKiW in Katowice and Park Roz in Chorzów, there are a lot of pigeons, ducks and other birds here, but I catch pigeons or the sick ones, especially the young ones with pus-filled eyes, infections, pox virus, or their legs that have strings tangled in their veins... I'm helping because people think they're flying rats that only make mess with their droppings, but it's known that during World War I and World War Il they saved many lives.
Pigeons are very clever and intelligent, I've noticed it myself, of course, everyone has a different character. I think that such a description is enough and it is very graphic.
Pigeons give me a lot of joy.
There is a war between Russia and Ukraine behind our borders and, if nothing else, all this also causes anxiety among the population in Poland. All this affects everyday mental functioning, the mood is tense and depressive. It is difficult to plan something for a long time, but nature and animals provide solace.”

“We have an association here called
Gruszenik, which helps pigeons and people send them sick pigeons from all over Poland. I support them financially.
I can’t help everyone on my own. Sometimes it's hard to catch them.”

Roman continues to support the Gruszenik Polish pigeon rescue organization besides saving pigeons in need of help. He lives in the town of Chorzów, and being a pianist himself, he loves Chopin.

About the artist who created this piece:
My name is Elodie Richard, I am a French artist based in Central Florida. I am a mother of four rescued pigeons, Sada, Hugo, Mathis (diamond doves) and Juju (Rock Pigeon). Pigeons have thousands of years of history intertwined with ours, they symbolize peace, faith, fidelity, love, hope and happiness. Mankind owes them so much!! The reality of their lives though and how they are unfairly rejected or mistreated by us is not so glorious for our own image as humans. How come such emotionally complex, gentle and smart creatures are nowadays so overlooked after thousands of years of service, being celebrated, honored, loved and praised all around the world and in all cultures/religions? In truth the way we treat pigeons reflect our own humanity, and maybe they are still here in our modern clearly unhappy urban lives to help us retrieve these lost values that make us good humans.
This is why I create a series of portraits that witness their unique beauty despite their handicaps or injuries. These birds incredible stories of survival and rescue deserve to be honored. Each pigeon story will be different.
Let the Pigeons show off their stories and true beauty to the world, and help them get the recognition and respect they deserve.

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