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