If you have the CSNW 2019 calendar, you get to look at this beautiful photo of Negra all month long:
You’ll also notice (or may already know) that we celebrate Negra’s honorary birthday on June 13th, the anniversary of the chimpanzees’ arrival to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.
Negra remains the eldest of the group of seven chimpanzees. She dominated our thoughts as we were preparing the sanctuary for the group’s arrival. She had spent the most time in biomedical research and had suffered perhaps more than any of the other chimpanzees, showing the signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder upon her arrival.
We were excited to see all of the chimpanzees fully realize their new sanctuary life, but I for one could not stop thinking about being able to witness Negra experience all of the new comforts, choices, and space at the sanctuary. This video of her in the playroom for the first time captured what will forever be one of my most cherished moments.
The expression on her face today in this photo reminded me of the video:
Which of course led me to think of the most iconic image of Negra that we have: Negra in the Sun
This is the original photo I took in 2008:
Then artist Margaret H. Parkinson created this breathtaking painting based on the photo:
Margaret’s painting then inspired other artists, most recently mosaic artist Lisa Whatne.
Here is a close-up of Lisa’s truly stunning piece:
And guess what!? The Negra in the Sun mosaic is available for bidding in the HOOT! 2019 gala auction on June 15th! Even those who are not able to make it to the event can place an absentee bid on this mosaic as well as most of the other items in the auction! Absentee bidding begins Monday, June 10th at 8:00 a.m. See all items on the auction preview site now (items are still being added).
I can’t wait to find out who the lucky winner of the mosaic is going to be!
Wow, that video is beautiful and heartbreaking 🙂
Thank you so much for your daily posts. This one was truly special.
Incredible stuff… what pure wonderfulness it is to see Negra in her home…. that face is priceless in all it’s forms… Thank you!
Love you Negra! I was so happy to see my beautiful girl and her big sunflower when I turned over my calendar page today. : ) I can’t believe how different Negra looks today compared to the video from 2008. She looks so peacefully happy as you give her that soft belly rub. Oh that face.
I want to let you know that I enjoy my canvas wrap (purchased from a past HOOT!) of Negra in the Sun every single solitary day. Brings me such joy! It has a place of honor in my studio. (Margaret H. Parkinson you are an amazing artist, you captured everything Negra in this bright sunburst of a painting.) I am also blown away by Lisa Whatne’s mosaic of Neggie in the sun, and I know it must be even more incredible in person.
I believe everyday is for Negra. Thank you CSNW for giving Negra a life she deserves.
That little smile at the end of the video tells it all — what the Sanctuary means to all the chimps who now live there. It will be wonderful to see the first day arrivals of the chimps who will be coming soon. Loved this post, Diana.
Diana, thanks for posting these…l don’t know that I’ve ever seen that original photo or the video, although I’d probably seen the paintings……..I dare to say that if you ever decide to move Mr. B’s photo from the sanctuary’s home page, this is the replacement photo! That look………of seeing the sun, appreciating the sun, feeling its warmth, discovering what it can feel like………you can almost hear her sigh of relief……aaaah! That’s truly a picture of what sanctuary is.
And that video! That in spite of all of her past traumas, she trusted you within the first weeks to come over for a belly rub, that she know she’d get one, and that you were there to help and not hurt, pinch, poke or prod…….it’s heartwarming! What I wouldn’t give to rub that belly! 😛
I absolutely revere Negra. What a survivor, and what a symbol of how conscientious human primates are called to act to ensure the health and well-being of non-human primate next-of-kin. As with last summer, I wish Negra and her neighbors a season of joy and rejuvenation as bright as the sunflower she has foraged.
The photo of Negra in the sun has been in my cubicle for years. It makes me so happy. Thank you and happy birthday month Negra!