In "Savage," Zoo Miami Animals Create Unique Paintings In Exhibit Benefiting Conservation (PHOTOS)

This Saturday, Bakehouse Art Complex is hosting "Savage," an exhibit by animals for animals.

Critters and beasts from Zoo Miami used their snouts, trunks, and feet to paint one-of-a-kind artworks. Sales will benefit conservation efforts at the local zoo and beyond.

And before animal rights activists get worked up about the bright paint on Roshe the Tiger's chin, zoo staff says the animals' well-being was a top priority.

Zoo Miami's Conservation and Research Manger Frank Ridgley confirmed that all paints used were non-toxic tempera paint. What's more, he told HuffPost Miami that many animals greeted the canvas and paints enthusiastically.

"One elephant makes her 'happy' squeaks while painting," he said. Watch the video of Nellie happily painting on Zoo Miami's Facebook page.

"Keepers often incorporate the painting into enrichment activities," Ridgley added. "Putting scents and spices in the paint stimulate activity and exploration."

Zoo Miami and the South Florida Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (SFAAZK) present "Savage," Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m at the Bakehouse Art Complex. There will also be food trucks, live music, raffles, and a silent auction. Some the four-legged Picassos will be onsite to hear your praise. Admission is free.

See Zoo Miami animals create the paintings:

Comments

[sweetiebird]

01:41 AM on 02/25/2012

There are actually some wonderful dissertations on the aesthetics of animal paintings with an emphasis on those by monkeys and great apes. In fact,during the 1950s paintings by chimpanzees were exhibited and compared to the work of Picasso. One of the paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo who was a resident of the London Zoo became part of Picasso's collection of paintings. It is nice to see the work of animals coming back into the art world especially when it supports such a worthy cause.

[Igor Purlantov]

10:15 AM on 02/04/2012

Wonderful project. Wishing all of the animals lots of success! igor-purlantov.org

[evilchihuahua]

10:40 AM on 02/03/2012

I jus g-otter get one of these! ;)

[GraphicMatt]

03:26 PM on 02/03/2012

Otters are mean lil bastads.....they would get along well with an evil chihuahua.

[evilchihuahua]

04:20 PM on 02/03/2012

I was talking the paintings.
My little bastar, errr, little darlings would tear the poor thing apart.

[kareemachan]

02:57 PM on 02/04/2012

I disagree, and I worked for years in a place with both river and sea otters. Playful? You bet. Intelligent? You'd better believe it. Loving mothers? Definitely. Okay, one youngster had a hissy fit when his mom made him dive for his own clams, but l've never seen any mean ones.

[lageorgia]

09:43 AM on 02/03/2012

As an artist myself, am I about to be outsourced? It is amazing and beautiful.

[Prison Planet]

08:56 AM on 02/03/2012

The next step is very ovious --
-
Have one of the Animals run for President, America is running
out of options and sanity

[Prison Planet]

08:54 AM on 02/03/2012

Is there such an art and painting sessions held
for the poor kids in the slums ?
or are they a step lower than the Zoo animals ?
This whole thing is no different than people making animals wear
clothing ... for crying out loud

[GraphicMatt]

01:38 PM on 02/03/2012

Yes.....there are programs for poor kids to create art in some cities. Was this exhibit silly? Sure it was. Did it raise money for conservation efforts is the question you should be asking.

[LemmonHerk]

06:50 AM on 02/03/2012

"Tempura paint"? Really? Paint that's somehow made from lightly-battered Japanese food? Try "tempera paint", idiot.

[Prison Planet]

08:50 AM on 02/03/2012

The one who knows more has the Onus
to teach the less knowledgable without insults
-
The student would be appreciative
-
Cheers from a Zen Master

[LemmonHerk]

09:02 AM on 02/03/2012

When someone makes a living from their command of the written word, they are rightly held to a higher standard. A mistake like that would be a teaching moment for an average person, but an alleged writer should know better.

[foresure]

04:23 PM on 02/03/2012

LemmonHerk:

I entirely missed that. Good for you.

[karen lyons kalmenson]

06:30 AM on 02/03/2012

if they could paint their way to freedom and natural lives, they would

[Blazen52]

01:19 AM on 02/03/2012

I love it! The Tree Kangaroo was just amazing. The aquarium at Galveston, Texas does a similar thing with penguins. They just get the penguins to walk across a canvas with paint on their feet and it is adorable, they can even do one for you in person in the "penguin encounter" tour. I purchased a rockhopper penguin foot print art piece, well worth the cause.

[twr0505]

11:44 PM on 02/02/2012

What a cool idea....oh and it proves to me we did NOT evolve from the monkey, because I could NEVER paint that good!! :)

[eulogy8894]

08:53 PM on 02/03/2012

Oh, studpuppy, no one will ever accuse you of having "evolved"....

[zmg88]

11:36 PM on 02/02/2012

pussydoodles! I hope at least SOMEONE knows where that’s from.

[wmechaneer]

11:16 PM on 02/02/2012

Some are proving they're not colorblind, and handing them tools causes them to work their minds around new concepts. I understand most have demanded iPads as reward.

[undrgrndgirl]

08:02 PM on 02/02/2012

really cool. i want the elephant's purple and black piece!

i see the zoo haters haven't made it to the comments, yet.

[wmechaneer]

11:19 PM on 02/02/2012

Can't wait to see Peta's nude warriors partner with some otters and tree kangaroos with paintbrushes in their paws. Should be a hoot.

[barham619]

07:45 PM on 02/02/2012

Most of them are better than anything Jackson Pollock ever did.

[wmechaneer]

11:14 PM on 02/02/2012

Agreed. Look for the sixties movie, "The Wheeler Dealers," as there's an absolutely hilarious take-off on Pollock.

Pablo Picasso was once approcached during lunch by a Texas millionaire. The rich Texan offered $25,000 for an "original Picasso," and slammed his check on the table. Picasso put the check away in his pocket, picked up a menu and signed his name on it before slamming it onto the table for the Texan.

That's "art."

[Gronkie]

10:49 AM on 02/03/2012

Much as I think these paintings are cute (I like the elephant's artwork the best), I have to disagree with you.

[barham619]

02:07 PM on 02/04/2012

Well, their are also those people that call the work of Andres Serrano art. You have to question their vision, intelect and sense of decency.

[Tom Haig]

07:43 PM on 02/02/2012

Precious!

:)