The Holidays are upon us. Do you have an animal lover on your list? A devoted conservationist? How about that VIP in your life… or the person who has everything?
Or maybe you’re looking for something really different to do as a couple…. or an unforgettable family activity? Something to talk about for years to come…
In this post you will find answers to both. Aren’t you glad you come to the Houston Zoo website and read their blogs???
My suggestion: A true one-of-a-kind gift of art like this fantastic piece. And watching it being created…
A striking image, beautiful colors too. The artist is none other than an orangutan! Did you that we have several animals that paint as part of their daily enrichment programs? We’ve discovered some are quite talented. And now you can give animal art or the gift being able to be there and watch as the piece is created!!! CLICK HERE for all the details!
Our very own Cindy Leeson met me the other day to let me see how it was done. I was escorted behind the large orangutan habitat, past tall bamboo trees to a door. There I stepped into a different world –the indoor home of the orangs. I was introduced to Cheyenne, a 37 year old Bornean and Sumantran hybrid, who is as well known for being a wonderful surrogate mother. With her was little Indah, the 5 year old she’s been raising. I also met the very large and handsome Rudi who was relaxing across the room. When our other Orangutan family is on exhibit, these three have their time in these quarters to nap, play and socialize with their keepers. Making art is one of the things they do for fun.
All of our orangutans paint, some with their fingers or “browse”, which is usually small branches of bamboo or ginger. But they also use a brush like the one you see Cindy holding below.
Cheyenne is particularly good at wielding that brush, and it was she who I got the treat and honor to see use it. As Indah tried her best to steal the show with comical antics, her mother sat contemplating what she’d like to do with the canvas that Cindy held out for her. We picked the colors — light buttery yellow, turquoise and black on a red background. A leftie, Cheyenne chose to start with the turquoise, fanning it out top to bottom then accented it with short sweeps of yellow. She paused. Cindy pointed to the black and asked what Cheyenne was going to do with it. Cheyenne went back to work but didn’t touch the black. After a bit she stopped again, so Cindy asked if Cheyenne was done or going to do anything with that black. Cheyenne stuck the brush where the black was, and with a few strokes from side to side, pulled the whole painting together. Below is the end result!
Cindy displays the 16 x20 canvas Cheyene painted before my very eyes!
After we were sure Cheyenne was done, she was awarded several bites of cold, juicy pineapple. And, just like I’ve been known to do at home (sssh!), Cindy held the bowl for her to sip a little of the juice too. You can bet Indah wanted in on that. She felt she’d done her best to be charming and entertain us the whole time, climbing ropes, swinging on the hammock, and rolling paper around her as she did somersaults on the floor (to name a few). She had indeed, and got her share of the sweet treat.
Orangutans are a highly endangered species, and a painting by one of them is even rarer indeed. To actually visit with them behind the scenes and witness them painting is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And if that isn’t enough, the proceeds go to conservation!!!
So if you’d like to learn more about this, CLICK HERE for our animal painting experience with orangutans or elephants. If you’re just interested in the artwork CLICK HERE for information about creations by a wider variety of our animals.
If this has your wheels turning, and you’d like more gift choices from the zoo CLICK HERE for a plethora of unique ideas.
Happy Holidays from all of us to you!
Written by Rochelle Joseph. Visit my personal animal blog at http://naturegirrrl.blogspot.com.
Photo of painting on black canvas by Stephanie Adams. Photos of Cindy by Rochelle Joseph