Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

fundraiser

Loving Negra & Shopping for Sanctuaries

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First – there’s still time to shop until your heart’s content at many fabulous businesses that are giving 10% of their proceeds to the Sanctuary Century 100-mile charity bike ride in Portland that will benefit Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Hope Animal Sanctuary and Out to Pasture Sanctuary. Lots of the participating businesses are online, so there’s no excuse not to blow some money on chocolate, vegan food-stuffs, clothes, jewelry and more. If you’re on Facebook, go to the Sanctuary Century 10% Fundraiser Day event page and hit “more” to see the list of participating businesses. If you’re not on Facebook, you can see a not-quite-complete list of businesses on this announcement from Herbivore Clothing Company. You can also just make a straight-up donation here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/TheSanctuaryCentury/thesanctuarycentury2012

Now that you’ve shopped or are getting ready to shop or donate, below are some precious photos from today of J.B. interacting with Negra. It’s a very special occurrence to have these tender moments with Negra because she is the least interactive with her caregivers and often does not like to be touched.

We respect Negra’s wishes and only touch her when she asks to be groomed, which the chimpanzees do by pushing their bodies against the caging. We are big fans of safety at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, and we only do physical interactions with the chimps that do not put ourselves in a position to be bitten or grabbed, so that means that our fingers (or anything else attached to us, for that matter) never enter the fencing when the chimps have access to the other side.

JB grooming Negra's back

 

Negra was really enjoying this attention from J.B., as you’ll see from the three photos below. The chimps know the rules as well as we do, so they know what to expect when a human (only trained caregivers!) touches them, and they choose which parts of their body to present. They have each other for the big hugs and intense grooming sessions that help keep them a cohesive group of chimpanzees – they don’t rely on or need us for that.

JB groom Negra's neck

JB grooms Negra's belly

JB grooms Negra's belly 2

 

We’ve mentioned “getting kisses” from the chimps before. You can see what we mean by this in these two photos. You’ll notice that the only parts of J.B.’s body that he is letting Negra kiss are his elbow and the the back of his hand, and Negra sticks her lips out of the fencing in order to touch J.B., making things safe. This also allows Negra to invite J.B. to be kissed by putting her lips outside of the fencing, so we know when she’s looking for that kind of interaction and when she isn’t. Negra was giving J.B. some pretty long kisses today. Eventually, I felt like I might be intruding on a personal moment between them, so I decided to take the camera and let them have their privacy.

Negra kisses JB's elbow

Negra kises JB's hand

 

Wood Art and Art on Wood

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We have some amazing art pieces made out of wood in the Biddin’ for the Seven online auction.

I have been waiting since October to share three pieces created by retired biologist and woodturner Keith Welsh. He donated them for the Out of the Box auction last fall, but we received them a bit too late to include, so I’ve been hanging on to them and admiring them ever since. I really can’t decide which one I like the most. What do you think?

Brown Mallee

Brown Mallee

Brown Mallee is an Australian burl wood. The dish is 8″ in diameter. Woodturning artist Keith Welsh’s intent is to highlight the nature of wood by taking fallen trees that would normally be burned or thrown away and turn them into art.

 

New Orleans Pride

New Orleans vase

New Orleans Pride shows the influence of the French in the culture of Louisiana represented by a fleur-de-lis – also the symbol of the New Orleans Saints. The painted and intricately carved wooden vase is 7″ tall and 3.75″ in diameter.

I have a big appreciation for New Orleans after spending some time in the area after Hurricane Katrina. I think it’s perfect that this piece was a collaborative effort by several artists lending their personal touches to make this vase delicate and strong at the same time.

 

Out of Africa

Out of Africa

The cheery wood used to make this sturdy 8.25″ tall and 5.5″ diameter wooden vase by Keith Welsh is almost mesmerizing. The animals depicted on the vase are the perfect compliment to the natural grain of the wood.

 

Handpainted Barstool 1

Handpainted barstool 1

Have I mentioned that we have some amazingly talented volunteers?! This 29″ saddle style wood barstool was hand painted by volunteer Stephanie Perciful.

Not only does Stephanie have a natural artistic gift, she has a gift of throwing some of the most squeak-inducing parties for the chimpanzees at the sanctuary. Burrito loves her for it. The fun bonus to this beautiful barstool is Stephanie included a hidden chimpanzee somewhere in the design. I can’t wait to see guests at Sippin’ for the Seven looking for the chimp! This is one of two barstools by Stephanie that will be available for bidding.

 

Nine Lives – A Child’s Rocking Chair

nine lives rocking chair

I love that artist Jana Clark entitled this 29″ child-size wooden rocking chair “Nine Lives.” Most of my most treasured possessions had multiple lives before ending up with me. Jana was able to bring this little rocking chair back to life while maintaining its storied past.

The artist Jana and her husband Bill are good friends with Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest founder Keith LaChappelle and early financial supporters of Keith’s dream to create a home for rescued chimpanzees.

Even if you’re not able to attend Sippin’ for the Seven next Saturday to see all of the amazing art pieces in person, you can register for the online auction and bid til your heart’s content from March 24-26th. Good luck!

Primates are Creative

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I’m declaring March “Art Month!”

If you received the March E-News sent out today, then you may have taken a peak at the art that could soon be yours through Biddin’ for the Seven.

We’ll be adding more art to the online auction site as the month rolls on, including art made by Jamie Chimpanzee.

Watching Jamie create and knowing how incredibly artistic many Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters are inspired me to put together this auction.

You can see the pieces added so far on the Biddin’ for the Seven online auction site. Below are two featured pieces.

 

Chimp Ring by Tamela

Tamela is a multi-talented artist who has been following the chimpanzees since before their arrival to the sanctuary in 2008.  In addition to her contributions of several original art pieces for past fundraisers, she’s donated money to help us throw many fun and food-filled parties for the chimps and has donated items that the chimps still use everyday (like the big rubber maid tub that we sometimes fill with snow).

The ring is adjustable from a size seven to a size nine. It is 99.9% pure solid silver and the band is sterling silver. Tamela formed the chimp in fine silver clay, then kiln fired it and finished with a hand polish and a hard jeweler’s wax to protect the antique-like finish. What all of this detail boils down to is this: the ring is gorgeous andunique, and you need to bid on it. Register today on the auction site. Bidding for all items begins on March 24th.

 

Missy on a Mission by Margaret

Missy on a Mission by Margaret

Margaret H. Parkinson has a gift. She sees a photo that she’s drawn to and she brings it to life 100-fold with vibrant colors. The photo that Margaret’s 20″ x 16″ oil painting shown above was inspired by was posted on the blog on the third day the chimpanzees had access to Young’s Hill. See the photo and read the blog post – it will give even more meaning to the painting.

Margaret and her partner Karen visited the sanctuary before the chimpanzees arrived in 2008. In addition to donating several original paintings and prints, Margaret has been a generous financial supporter, volunteer, and writer for the sanctuary’s annual book (limited edition Year Three books are in print now and will also be available in the online auction).

The image of Missy on a Mission above is good, but the painting in person is breathtaking. Come see it displayed at the Sippin’ for the Seven event in Roslyn on March 24th and you’ll see what I mean.

 

*Next up for Art Month musings – Negra Inspires Us All

A Few of the Out of the Box Art Pieces

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Only a few days left to get tickets to Out of the Box 2011!

We have some really tremendous art in the auction this year! Big thanks to Jessie Johnson who headed up the art procurement. She and all procurement volunteers really outdid themselves this year.

These are just a few pieces:

Cosca I is a signed and numbered limited edition serigraph (certification included) by Victor Varsarely, leader of the Op-Art movement. It will be in “Negra’s Favorite Things” section of the silent auction. You can download a full list of silent auction items and preview live auction items on our auction preview page.

Cosca I

 

We have a few quilts in the auction this year – each one unique. One, made by Jodi Davila, is in the online auction. See her blue and yellow quilt and browse all online auction items (still more to add).

Here’s a gorgeous quilt that will be in the the “Annie & Missy: Girls Just Want to Have Fun” section of the silent auction in Seattle. The quilt was lovingly handmade by blog reader Annie Nordmark and is called Squares ²:

Squares 2 quilt

 

Tamela has made some  gorgeous necklaces this year. Two of them, Mr. B and In the Wild are in the online auction and two are in the Seattle auction.

Below is Tamela’s Miss Missy, which is also in the “Annie & Missy: Girls Just Want to Have Fun” section of the silent auction in Seattle:

Miss Missy

 

We have some amazingly talented supporters and volunteers! Here is a photo of a mirror with a beautiful hand-painted frame made by Volunteer Stephanie Perciful. You’ll find it in the “Burrito’s Corner” section of the silent auction (Burrito LOVES Stephanie):

Stephanie's mirror

 

Volunteer Seana Blake has created one-of-a-kind three-dimensional collages using enrichment well-loved by the chimpanzees (and one piece she created from discarded fence construction bits and other pieces of found metal objects).

There are five pieces by Seana total. I can’t decide what my favorite is, but it might be the one below called “Trolls are Delicious.” This will be up for bid, where else but the “Trollin’ with Foxe” section of the silent auction:

Trolls are Delicious

 

Margaret Parkinson has donated several prints of her artwork this year, including one print of her now famous Negra in the Sun (the original painting sold at the 2009 auction). You’ll find this in the “Trollin’ with Foxie” section of the silent auction too. And you can find a couple of other prints by Margaret in the online auction.

Negra in the sun framed

 

And speaking of this image, just added to the CSNW store is the greatest sweatshirt ever made. It’s a unisex hoodie made by Alternative Earth and is super-soft, mega-comfortable and has an image taken from the same photograph that inspired Margaret’s painting above. It’s not as gorgeously colorful as Margaret’s, but it’s pretty cool. The company that makes the blank sweatshirts, Alternative Apparel, retails them for $50, so getting the sweatshirt with Negra’s image for the same price is a bargain! Buy one now – you don’t want to go through the fall months without one of these hoodies – trust me. Here’s a photo of Sarah wearing a size medium:

 

Out of the Box Auction Preview

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Tickets are still available for the 2011 Out of the Box auction. We won’t be selling tickets at the door, so you really need to get yours now! This event is going to be so amazing!

Preview the live auction items, download a list of all the silent auction items, and register for the online auction on the auction preview page.

I’m loving the live auction line-up we have this year! – there’s definitely something for everyone  – from the Burrito special-label wine to getaways to Best Friends Sanctuary, Hawaii, New Zealand, California, Colorado, Fiji and the UK plus one and two night stays at hotels in Seattle, Vancouver and Portland.  All that and gift certificates for some of the best restaurants in Seattle, a year of tickets to the Showbox, plus three unique, limited edition hardback books of photos of the Cle Elum Seven. In addition to the Fund-a-Need to raise money for the medical clinic, we’ll also have an opportunity to “adopt” the CSNW caregivers.

And that’s just part of the live auction! The silent auction is just as exciting, with one-of-a-kind art pieces, tickets to Disneyland, a brand new red electric guitar, jewelry, wine, Segway tours, yoga, kayaking, spas, massage, LUSH gift boxes, tickets to concerts and concert venues, more restaurant gift certificates and much, much more. Check it all out on the preview page.

 

el san juan

Kensley Lodge

showbox

nest book

 

 

Auction Awesomeness

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We have so many amazing auction items this year! Have you gotten your tickets yet? Less than a month away to the Seattle event!

Tickets are moving, so you’d better get yours today and be sure to tell your friends so you can experience the auction together. It’s going to be so much fun!

 

Below are a just a FEW of the items. See more on our auction item preview page.

 

missy and boot

Be a Virtual Chimpanzee Caregiver for a Day, value: priceless

 

best friends

Three Night Stay at Best Friends Animal Society, value: $350

 

Muriwai

One Week Beach Cottage Stay in New Zealand, value: $1,000

 

Missy necklace by tamela

Miss Missy by Tamela, value: $78