| Art From an Unlikely Artist | | | | efforts with either orange juice or a box of |
| | | | Kool-Aid, which she receives for every |
| Amanda makes good money for her art, hundreds | | | | painting she completes. |
| of dollars on some pieces. Her particular | | | | |
| style is strictly abstract and she exhibits | | | | Amanda's art debuted to the public at the |
| some unorthodox mannerisms, but her work | | | | zoo's Primate Exhibit building last February. |
| garners the attention of many. | | | | The opening exhibition produced over 400 |
| | | | people who came to bid on 22 of Amanda's |
| Sometimes the artist sleeps late and only | | | | framed originals. The auction raised about |
| paints once a week. If the inspiration | | | | $4,800 for the zoo. A piece of Amanda's art |
| strikes and she does not have her supplies | | | | entitled: "Like the Weather" took a hefty |
| though, she shows her frustration by spitting | | | | price, $360. |
| and acting out! Well, what would you expect | | | | |
| from a 100-pound orangutan? | | | | And even though Amanda shares her cage with |
| | | | three other orangutans, she is, apparently, |
| Typically, her studio is littered with banana | | | | the only latent artist with drive and talent. |
| peels and other stuff lying around rotting, | | | | |
| but she like to climbs up, up, up into a | | | | She is also not shy about demonstrating her |
| cargo net to greet visitors. | | | | skills to onlookers and likes the attention |
| | | | she gets as a result. Zoo spokeswoman |
| Amanda lives at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, | | | | Jennifer Lauerman says, "She definitely knows |
| Minnesota. | | | | what is going on." And even though Amanda the |
| | | | orangutan artist doesn't get the luxury of |
| Her Como Zoo keeper, Mike Thell, says that | | | | spending her funds, she would probably buy |
| the Sumatran/Bornean orangutan started | | | | more bananas anyway. |
| painting in June as part of the zoo's | | | | |
| enrichment program. Animals in this zoo and | | | | Other animals too, have been taught to paint |
| others across the country, experience | | | | at various zoos around the country. Ruby, the |
| different incentive enhancements as well: | | | | elephant, has sold paintings for the Phoenix |
| there are the gorillas who have to maneuver | | | | Zoo and one of her creations netted almost |
| their treats out of plastic bottles, a polar | | | | $3,000. The Marine Science Center in |
| bear who has to scratch his way through a | | | | Clearwater, Florida, has shown some dolphin |
| block of ice to get his fish, and lions who | | | | art and in 1992, one of the originals went |
| get to roll around in their favorite herbs | | | | for as much as $175. |
| and spices. Animal behavior experts have | | | | |
| discovered that by supplying work for | | | | * * |
| animals, whether that means foraging for | | | | |
| food, navigating their terrain, or simply | | | | Ziggy, our soon-to-be twelve year old |
| doing unlikely projects like Amanda, the | | | | capuchin monkey loves artwork too, only she |
| animals fare better and exhibit a | | | | does not paint. I tried to introduce her to |
| "psychological well being." | | | | watercolor paints several times, but there |
| | | | was something about the brushes she could not |
| The intelligent, antsy Amanda just kind of | | | | get over. As a consequence, her favorite |
| took to painting after only a few | | | | medium is chalk, with crayons taking a close |
| demonstrations about what to do with the | | | | second. She often decorates the sides of her |
| brush and paints from the less-talented | | | | cage, her toys, and a large, wooden hanging |
| humans around her. Because she thrives as a | | | | monkey with bright colors. In fact, I find |
| result of her painting, every so often | | | | chalk marks on almost any flat surface, |
| bottles of nontoxic poster paint and thick | | | | including paper and unrequested mail. |
| sheets of paper are pushed up to her | | | | |
| chain-link fence. Part of Amanda's technique | | | | If you would like to introduce your monkey to |
| is to dip a fat paint brush into bright, | | | | art, let them observe your actions more than |
| primary colors and, after each thoughtful | | | | a few times, supply non-toxic products, and |
| stroke on paper, she will cleanse the brush | | | | as unobtrusively as possible, monitor their |
| in her mouth! Blue is a favorite hue. Several | | | | progress. For a reward, since boxed mixed |
| minutes of inspired painting take place and | | | | drinks contain too much sugar, think about |
| then she hands her brush back to Thell, licks | | | | rewarding your budding artist with a |
| the excess paint with her pointed tongue, and | | | | tablespoon of low fat, low sugar yogurt in |
| its done. "She usually gives it the tongue | | | | the lid or offer a couple of Jello cubes. |
| signature," Thell says. | | | | |
| | | | Andrea Campbell is the author of Bringing Up |
| It does take some coaxing to get Amanda to | | | | Ziggy: What Raising a Helping Hands Monkey |
| part with her work, but she will eventually | | | | Taught Me About Love, Commitment, and |
| push her creation under the cage door for | | | | Sacrifice . |
| retrieval. She is further rewarded for her | | | | |