Melody & Dylan, Santa Fe Sunrise (Santa Fe Collection)
Melody & Dylan, Santa Fe Sunrise (Santa Fe Collection), 20 x 20, acrylic on canvas, unframed, 2024
The Santa Fe Collection was created primarily by survivors of the Coulston Foundation in Alamogordo, New Mexico, a biomedical laboratory with the worst record of primate care in the history of the Animal Welfare Act.. These rescued chimps are now living in sanctuary at Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida. Just like humans, a few of these survivors enjoy the practice of painting, and find art therapeutic in healing from a traumatic past.
About the artist, Melody: I was born July 12, 2007 at Save the Chimps, due to a failed vasectomy in my father, Rufus. My mother, Megan, was an eight-year-old chimp – nearly a baby herself. Most chimpanzees do not have children until they are near the age of 14. Perhaps due to her young age, her history or for reasons unknown, Megan showed no interest in me, even refusing to touch me. As a result, the care staff of Save the Chimps was required to care of me on a 24-hour basis, very similar to a human infant.
In order for me to be near the chimpanzees, I was carried with the care staff during their daily rounds to the chimp buildings; I grew more independent and confident during my visits and my natural chimpanzee behaviors started to appear. At this time, Save the Chimps began to consider who my adoptive chimpanzee parents should be. I had met almost every chimp at the sanctuary but my strongest connection seemed to be not with my biological family, but with two chimps named Ron and April.
First, I interacted with Ron and April through a barrier under close supervision. Ron and April could not have been gentler and even groomed me through the mesh barrier. The next step was to meet Ron and April face-to-face without any barriers. As hoped, Ron and April were loving and patient. I was released onto Ron and April’s island in August 2008, taking my first steps towards April, my new mom, who then picked me up and carried me away.
Since that day, I have seen my family grow to include other chimps from all walks of life— former research lab subjects, former pets, and even two young males my age who have the spirit and energy to keep up with my antics. Sadly, my father Ron has passed away, but I have numerous other companions. I will never know isolation, pain and medical experimentation—I will only ever know the love and friendship of my chimpanzee companions and human caregivers.
About the artist, Dylan: I was born February 5, 2007 at a facility in Texas. My mother was inexperienced and sadly showed no interest in caring for me. My half-brother Marlon was born January 1, 2007 at the same facility and not long after his birth his mother became very ill. Despite attempts to save her, she passed away.
Save the Chimps was contacted and asked if they could provide emergency assistance. One of Save the Chimps’ staff members had extensive experience caring for infant chimpanzees, and she took on the task of providing 24 hour care. After a year, we were ready to join a chimpanzee family. We were introduced to our adopted mother, Roxy, adopted big sister Janice, and adopted father Abdul. In 2010, Marlon and I along with the rest of our family moved to Florida, where we were introduced to other chimpanzees. We love running, jumping, climbing and swinging all over our island!
This collection is part of the groundbreaking show, Interspecies: Human and Chimp Art Collaborations, July 13 - August 25, 2024
Learn more about Save the Chimps here.
100% of proceeds go to Save the Chimps. The gallery takes no commission on sales.
Melody & Dylan, Santa Fe Sunrise (Santa Fe Collection), 20 x 20, acrylic on canvas, unframed, 2024
The Santa Fe Collection was created primarily by survivors of the Coulston Foundation in Alamogordo, New Mexico, a biomedical laboratory with the worst record of primate care in the history of the Animal Welfare Act.. These rescued chimps are now living in sanctuary at Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida. Just like humans, a few of these survivors enjoy the practice of painting, and find art therapeutic in healing from a traumatic past.
About the artist, Melody: I was born July 12, 2007 at Save the Chimps, due to a failed vasectomy in my father, Rufus. My mother, Megan, was an eight-year-old chimp – nearly a baby herself. Most chimpanzees do not have children until they are near the age of 14. Perhaps due to her young age, her history or for reasons unknown, Megan showed no interest in me, even refusing to touch me. As a result, the care staff of Save the Chimps was required to care of me on a 24-hour basis, very similar to a human infant.
In order for me to be near the chimpanzees, I was carried with the care staff during their daily rounds to the chimp buildings; I grew more independent and confident during my visits and my natural chimpanzee behaviors started to appear. At this time, Save the Chimps began to consider who my adoptive chimpanzee parents should be. I had met almost every chimp at the sanctuary but my strongest connection seemed to be not with my biological family, but with two chimps named Ron and April.
First, I interacted with Ron and April through a barrier under close supervision. Ron and April could not have been gentler and even groomed me through the mesh barrier. The next step was to meet Ron and April face-to-face without any barriers. As hoped, Ron and April were loving and patient. I was released onto Ron and April’s island in August 2008, taking my first steps towards April, my new mom, who then picked me up and carried me away.
Since that day, I have seen my family grow to include other chimps from all walks of life— former research lab subjects, former pets, and even two young males my age who have the spirit and energy to keep up with my antics. Sadly, my father Ron has passed away, but I have numerous other companions. I will never know isolation, pain and medical experimentation—I will only ever know the love and friendship of my chimpanzee companions and human caregivers.
About the artist, Dylan: I was born February 5, 2007 at a facility in Texas. My mother was inexperienced and sadly showed no interest in caring for me. My half-brother Marlon was born January 1, 2007 at the same facility and not long after his birth his mother became very ill. Despite attempts to save her, she passed away.
Save the Chimps was contacted and asked if they could provide emergency assistance. One of Save the Chimps’ staff members had extensive experience caring for infant chimpanzees, and she took on the task of providing 24 hour care. After a year, we were ready to join a chimpanzee family. We were introduced to our adopted mother, Roxy, adopted big sister Janice, and adopted father Abdul. In 2010, Marlon and I along with the rest of our family moved to Florida, where we were introduced to other chimpanzees. We love running, jumping, climbing and swinging all over our island!
This collection is part of the groundbreaking show, Interspecies: Human and Chimp Art Collaborations, July 13 - August 25, 2024
Learn more about Save the Chimps here.
100% of proceeds go to Save the Chimps. The gallery takes no commission on sales.
Melody & Dylan, Santa Fe Sunrise (Santa Fe Collection), 20 x 20, acrylic on canvas, unframed, 2024
The Santa Fe Collection was created primarily by survivors of the Coulston Foundation in Alamogordo, New Mexico, a biomedical laboratory with the worst record of primate care in the history of the Animal Welfare Act.. These rescued chimps are now living in sanctuary at Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida. Just like humans, a few of these survivors enjoy the practice of painting, and find art therapeutic in healing from a traumatic past.
About the artist, Melody: I was born July 12, 2007 at Save the Chimps, due to a failed vasectomy in my father, Rufus. My mother, Megan, was an eight-year-old chimp – nearly a baby herself. Most chimpanzees do not have children until they are near the age of 14. Perhaps due to her young age, her history or for reasons unknown, Megan showed no interest in me, even refusing to touch me. As a result, the care staff of Save the Chimps was required to care of me on a 24-hour basis, very similar to a human infant.
In order for me to be near the chimpanzees, I was carried with the care staff during their daily rounds to the chimp buildings; I grew more independent and confident during my visits and my natural chimpanzee behaviors started to appear. At this time, Save the Chimps began to consider who my adoptive chimpanzee parents should be. I had met almost every chimp at the sanctuary but my strongest connection seemed to be not with my biological family, but with two chimps named Ron and April.
First, I interacted with Ron and April through a barrier under close supervision. Ron and April could not have been gentler and even groomed me through the mesh barrier. The next step was to meet Ron and April face-to-face without any barriers. As hoped, Ron and April were loving and patient. I was released onto Ron and April’s island in August 2008, taking my first steps towards April, my new mom, who then picked me up and carried me away.
Since that day, I have seen my family grow to include other chimps from all walks of life— former research lab subjects, former pets, and even two young males my age who have the spirit and energy to keep up with my antics. Sadly, my father Ron has passed away, but I have numerous other companions. I will never know isolation, pain and medical experimentation—I will only ever know the love and friendship of my chimpanzee companions and human caregivers.
About the artist, Dylan: I was born February 5, 2007 at a facility in Texas. My mother was inexperienced and sadly showed no interest in caring for me. My half-brother Marlon was born January 1, 2007 at the same facility and not long after his birth his mother became very ill. Despite attempts to save her, she passed away.
Save the Chimps was contacted and asked if they could provide emergency assistance. One of Save the Chimps’ staff members had extensive experience caring for infant chimpanzees, and she took on the task of providing 24 hour care. After a year, we were ready to join a chimpanzee family. We were introduced to our adopted mother, Roxy, adopted big sister Janice, and adopted father Abdul. In 2010, Marlon and I along with the rest of our family moved to Florida, where we were introduced to other chimpanzees. We love running, jumping, climbing and swinging all over our island!
This collection is part of the groundbreaking show, Interspecies: Human and Chimp Art Collaborations, July 13 - August 25, 2024
Learn more about Save the Chimps here.
100% of proceeds go to Save the Chimps. The gallery takes no commission on sales.