Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

out of the box

Burrito’s journey with you

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A lot of you began following the story of the Cle Elum Seven even before their arrival to the sanctuary in June, 2008.  I was thinking today about how far we’ve come together. I started to think about Burrito.

This is for friends old and new.

Burrito was the first one to be moved from the truck that took the chimps from the basement laboratory in Pennsylvania to his new sanctuary home.

burrito's cage coming off of truck

 

Everything was new to him

Burrito when he first arrived

 

We soon discovered his passion for all food

burrito eating pomegranate

 

Not always brimming with confidence, he was the most anxious when the chimps were given access to the steel outdoor area shortly after their arrival. And in 2010, after the greenhouse panels were put up for the winter, he went through a period when he seemed anxious about being in the greenhouse. But he overcame whatever was holding him back.

burrito toy in mouth in the greenhouse

And now look at him

burrito foraging in grass

burrito pilo youngs hill

If you live anywhere within a 300 mile radius (or larger) of Seattle, I hope that you’ll join us at the Out of the Box auction on Friday.  Join 200 other Burrito fans – there are still some tickets available. Along with the great auction items, including exclusive “chimp stuff” (like Jamie’s hand-colored mask I forgot to include in my post yesterday), we’ll be celebrating the journey of Burrito and all of the Cle Elum Seven. It will be a magical evening – I guarantee it.

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

 

 

A Little Bit of Burrito in Your Life

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I was looking through some photos from last month and came across two of Burrito that I had to share

burrito biting log

 

 

Look closely at the one below – he’s hugging a coconut.

burrito hugging coconut

 

Burrito is featured on this year’s special label wine – only available at the 2011 Out of the Box auction in Seattle! Get your tickets quick!

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

 

 

 

 

Out of the Box!

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Tickets are now on sale for Out of the Box 2011, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest’s gala auction in Seattle. They are going fast, so get yours while they last!

There will also be an online auction for out-of-town supporters. The online auction site is up and we’ve added information about our important Fund-a-Need project. Auction items will be added in the coming weeks, and there will be some incredible items! The online auction is shorter this year: October 7-9th.

I am looking for a few more Individual Sponsors for the event. We have some specific expenses that need covering, including $250 worth of gas for the truck we are renting to get all of the auction stuff from Cle Elum to Seattle and back ($250 is a Play Face Sponsor level), about $500 (Play Laugh Sponsor level) for really cool volunteer auction t-shirts (we’ll sell a few too), and about $500 in printing costs (another Play Laugh Sponsor could cover this).

Individual Sponsorships range from $100 Head Nod / Table Sponsors to $5,000 Pant Hoot Sponsors, with some fun sponsor levels in between. Perhaps blog readers could team up to donate towards a particular level? Learn more about who’s already stepped up to sponsor and how you can do the same on our Auction Sponsors page or just send me an email: [email protected].

Out of the Box 2011 is truly our biggest event to date. Volunteers worked really hard to procure awesome things for you to bid on. The Seattle event is going to have a wonderful food and wine, thanks to the chef at Bell Harbor and generous donations from Field Roast Grain Meat and Goose Ridge Vineyard and Winery, plus more wine from Dulces Bistro & Wine, Chandler Reach and Saviah Cellars.

Personally, I can’t wait!

auction 2011 logo

Auction Photos!

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We were very lucky to have documentary photographer Karen Ducey volunteer her services at the Out of the Box auction this year. Everyone can view the photos and even purchase favorites. Just click here and enter the password chimps when prompted. Proceeds from the sale of the photos will go to the sanctuary.

I am still amazed by everyone who donated items, sponsored, volunteered and attended Out of the Box, and to all who participated in our first ever online auction.

Thanks to all of you, the auctions combined raised over $100,000 and the chimps will be on Young’s Hill next year.

Here are a few photos to give you a flavor for the Oct. 1st auction evening:

Silent Auction:

Out of the Box silent Auction

Live Auction

Out of the Box live auction

Dessert Dash:

You really have to view all of the photos to take in the whole event. It was such a special night full of unforgettable moments and an amazing collective energy. It will be difficult to top, but we’re already working on 2011’s auction!