Tiffany LesterDuring my travels I'm always amazed when I'm privileged to go behind-the-scenes at zoos to see where the keepers work, as well as to meet gorillas up close and personal. Without realizing it, I've started a collection of artwork done by gorilla keepers and upon reviewing it all, it's remarkable that people who take care of gorillas for a living are also such talented artists. See if you don't agree. And if you know any gorilla keepers out there who have such a talent, please let me know!
(Click on the photo to enlarge it for better viewing!)
Tiffany Lester
Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. I first met Tiffany when she worked at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas a couple years ago at a conference and I purchased her lovely watercolors of the gorilla Kambula, as well as some other pieces. This July (2006) I was looking for something special for Steuart's birthday and I asked if she did commission work, which she did. So since she was working with the gorillas in Atlanta now, I asked her to do a portrait of Choomba, who is Steuart's favorite female gorilla. She caught Choomba's lovely facial expression in this piece, which has a place of honor in our bedroom - the only room of our home not covered from the floor-to-ceiling with gorillas! For more of Tiffany's wonderful artwork, see her website: www.knuckleprints.com.
Richard Johnstone-Scott
Jersey Zoo, Channel Islands, U.K. Richard's a well-known artist, author and highly respected expert on gorilla husbandry. His love for gorillas shines through in each piece he creates. See "Super Silverbacks" for a drawing of Jambo, done by Richard on one of his letters to us. The drawing here was on a note card from Richard and is entitled "Ya Kwanza's firstborn," showing the amazing tenderness typical of many silverbacks when they become fathers.
Sam LaMalfa
Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Sam (now retired) designed the logo for the Second International Gorilla Workshop held in Milwaukee in 1992. At the silent auction to raise funds for gorillas and conservation, Sam offered this drawing of Samson, my first gorilla love. Sam took care of Samson for many years and he captured Samson's spirit in this drawing, which I simply had to out-bid everyone to get for my own!
Frans Keizer
Apenheul Zoo, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. I was chatting with Frans and the keepers at Apenheul several years ago, about my collection of gorilla-keeper-art. At the time I had no idea I was talking to one such artist. Later, Frans sent me a copy of this drawing he'd done of Bongo, in a classic Bongo pose. Frans showed me other fabulous works he'd done, but so far I haven't been able to convince him to part with any (give me time!). For more on Bongo, see the Bongo Group Website
Keith Lloyd - who now has his
own website!
London Zoo, London, England. Keith's artistic talents show up in his art as well as photography. I purchased one of his pieces at the Milwaukee Gorilla Workshop and teased him incessantly for years afterwards, until he could stand it/me no longer and sent me more of his great work, which are featured proudly in my home. Thanks Keith!
Graham Catlow
Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, Scotland. On our 1998 U.K. gorilla trip we visited Scotland for the first time. I'd met Graham in Milwaukee in 1992, but didn't realize he was one of those talented keeper-artists, until I peaked through an open door to the keepers' kitchen in the monkey house at the Edinburgh Zoo and saw these drawings up on the cupboards. After jumping up and down, begging and basically making a fool of myself, Graham graciously gave me my own copies, which I immediately had framed. (Left to right: Yinka, Kumba and Momo).
Sacha van Rietschoten
Artis Zoo, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In October 1999, Sacha's co-worker, Gerard van der Kroon and his wife and daughter visited Gorilla Haven. Sacha was Awali's keeper; Awali was the first gorilla Steuart got to hold and we consider him a major inspiration behind Gorilla Haven. This is a birth announcement for Sacha's daughter, Nuria Lydia born in September 1999, drawn by Sacha. If I remember correctly, the gorilla is based on one of Artis' beloved females named Banja who had died the year before. In the drawing, the gorilla is holding her foot just like Banja used to do. For those of you who don't speak Dutch, the birth announcement says: "It's a human!"
Heidi Genter
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. In March 2000, Heidi and her sister Emily visited Gorilla Haven and presented us with copies of Heidi's watercolors of two gorillas she cared for. On the left is silverback Barney (since deceased) and on the right is his daughter Asha (still at CMZ) in the throes of a joyful chestbeat. Thanks Heidi.
(MR.)
Perry Beliz
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. This is a drawing of silverback Lash while he was still at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo before moving to Jacksonville, Florida a couple of years ago. Perry, a keeper at the CMZ at the time, drew this picture from a photo taken by one of his colleagues. This is the second keeper from the CMZ with amazing artistic talent... It must be the high altitudes?!