Bristol Zoo WOW! Gorillas - Endangered PJs

Season's Greetings!

2011-12-15T13:56:00.000Z

Santa Gorilla © Frances Cony

Bert is on a WOW! Gorilla Mug

2011-12-02T01:36:00.000Z


Limited edition mugs available from Wild in Art for £10 plus P&P

Features Apescape, Endangered PJs, Apple of my Eye and Lipstick on the Gorilla. For further information and to order, see the Wild in Art website.

WOW! Gorilla badges available now

2011-12-02T01:22:00.001Z

Available from Bristol Zoo for £1

Chocolate!!!!

2011-12-02T01:19:00.001Z

Belated posting of Auction Prices

2011-11-24T20:27:00.000Z

Spooky Bert - Hallowe'en 2011

2011-11-04T22:05:00.001Z

Photo © Burges Salmon

Bert is getting into the swing of things at Burges Salmon, his new home. He's living near the café and has his own security pass.

Bert at Burges Salmon

2011-10-23T20:26:00.005+01:00

Bert in Burges Salmon's Atrium (© Burges Salmon)
Looks like he's been picking his nose again!

Photos of the Gorilla Auction

2011-10-14T00:41:00.001+01:00

See here for photos of the gorillas and BBC's Points West's Alex Lovell. Photos taken by the auctioneers Hollis Morgan.

Bert arrives at Burges Salmon

2011-10-13T00:39:00.000+01:00

Bert arrived at his new home at Burges Salmon on Monday afternoon.

He must've been anticipating his new home when he got the gift bag dropped off on Friday...!

Thanks to Bert

2011-10-10T01:04:00.002+01:00

On Friday, I found a gift bag on my doorstep...from Bert.

"Thank you" to him for the sweets, and to the person who helped him deliver them. I don't think Bert delivered them himself as it may just have been noticed...

Gift bag from Bert

Letter from Bert

Bert bought by Burges Salmon

2011-10-05T22:40:00.004+01:00

Smiley Bert in anticipation of being bought and going to a welcoming new home

I got a very nice email on Monday from a partner at the Bristol law firm Burges Salmon, saying that she had bought Bert at the auction on behalf of the firm. She said that all the staff are very excited; but not as excited as her 7 year old son.

I have been invited to be interviewed for the in-house newsletter and to meet Bert when he arrives at his new home.

Thanks to Burges Salmon for buying Bert for £6.5K, and for offering him a new home! All money to go to Ape conservation and The Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal in aid of Bristol Children's Hospital.

Bristol Zoo Wow! Gorillas Auction surpasses all expectations

2011-10-01T02:15:00.011+01:00

The back of Bert...

Probably won't see him again...depending on who bought him; a business or an individual and whether he's likely to be on display somewhere or live a more private life in someone's home.

The Auction was very interesting and exciting at times. Spent quite a lot of time wondering what music might be played to accompany Bert onto the stage. Previously, a choir had sung Autumn Leaves for Su Lees's Distinctly Different (Dee Dee) with her silver-leaved purple body. An Elvis singalike in a lovely gold jacket had been "all shook up" for Elvis. Bert in his pyjamas was serenaded with Mr Sandman written by P. Ballard and sung by The Chordettes.

The Auction was introduced by Dr Bryan Carroll, the zoo's director, the Head of Mammals at the zoo, a doctor from Bristol Children's Hospital, and Charlie Langhorne from Wild in Art.

The artists in the audience were made to stand up and take applause at one stage. The artist sculptor of Wild in Art, Chris Wilkinson, who designed the gorilla sculpture canvas the other artists painted on, was also acknowledged.

Two gorillas were on stage at any one time having been brought there by territorial army soldiers. They were each on a revolve so that they could be seen from each angle. The gorilla to be auctioned was spotlighted, whilst the gorilla-in-waiting was draped in black cloth. The auction was amusingly conducted by Andrew Morgan of Hollis Morgan.

Endangered PJs was lot 56 and was sold quite quickly for £6 500. The previous gorilla Still Life: Alfred by Arianne Wolodarsky had raised the second highest price of £12 000. Lot 53, the giant-hatted Brunel lookalike Gorisambard by Tim Miness had started a bidding war and had been sold for the amazing price of £23 000!

Altogether, the Auction raised £427 300 for the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal for Bristol Children's Hospital and Ape conservation charities.

The BBC's DIY SOS's Custard was sold in aid of Children in Need for £5250.

See photos of the auction by clicking here.

See Gorilla Auction LIVE TONIGHT

2011-09-29T18:46:00.001+01:00

See the auction live on a web cam via http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/auction

Frances's endangered PJs (or Bert) is lot 56 (out of 60!).

You can also buy raffle tickets to win a school-size unpainted gorilla, bit of a Formula 1 engine or a ceramic ape. See zoo site for details.

Bristol Gorillas back in Bristol - Bristol Zoo (24-28 September)

2011-09-25T14:03:00.002+01:00

Bert and the rest of the gorillas guys & girls are back in Bristol. They are now lined up on the central lawn at the zoo. They can be seen until closing time on Wednesday 28 September.

On Thursday 29 September, 60 of the apes will be auctioned at The Victoria Rooms, in aid of The Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal in aid of Bristol Children's Hospital, and ape conservation. There are no tickets left for the auction but there will be a live web cam feed of the events at the auction to the auction page http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/auction on Thursday evening.

Bert in London (until Thurs 22 Sept 2011)

2011-09-20T19:53:00.004+01:00

Bert would have great views if he could look round about him. He's surrounded by views of Tower Bridge to his left, and behind him, HMS Belfast, The Gherkin and the Tower of London...and of course 19 other colourful Bristol Zoo Wow! Gorillas. There is also another NEW Gorilla painted in the last few days.

Bert & Tower Bridge (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

...& The Tower of London (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

...& The Gherkin (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

The Gorillas have already been visited by the press, including Newsround (CBBC), and lots of people, including my cousin and ex-Bath illustrator friend.

Gorillas on Parade (& HMS Belfast) (photo: Liz Shaw)

Trip to London (16-22 September)

2011-09-16T13:46:00.003+01:00

20 Bristol Zoo Wow! Gorillas are in London for 7 days from today to promote the auction back in Bristol at 7pm at the Victoria Rooms on Thursday 29 September. Bert is one of them. See his bottom just visible in a photo of the apes in front of Tower Bridge in the Bristol Wow! Gorilla Facebook album.

Inspecting Bert

2011-09-16T13:37:00.002+01:00

Inspecting Bert on one of my 9 visits to Bitton, bearing in mind all the shoe scuffs etc were going to have to be removed before a trip to London, a mass gathering at Bristol Zoo and the auction.

(Photo: Hilary Hawkins)

Bert at Bitton

2011-08-06T01:12:00.003+01:00

Bert at Bitton, where he is apparently a hit with the local kids. (9 July 2011)

A couple of little boys (aged about 4 or 5) wanted to 'poke him in the eye or bottom'...with coffee stirrers. I tried to tell them about bushmeat and endangered animals. It went a bit over their heads! A little girl said that she liked him.

Map of Gorilla Locations

2011-07-11T01:14:00.001+01:00

Download a map of where the full-size Wow! Gorillas are to be found.
Even better are the maps that can be picked up from Bristol Libraries, and other places, as they also give the names, sponsors and artists of the apes. Apparently the locations of the mini apes decorated by schools will appear on the Bristol Zoo website eventually.

Guide books, presumably featuring photos of all the Wow! Gorillas, comments and possibly profiles of the artists are available (hopefully by now) from Bristol Zoo and the Tourist Information Office, for £2.95.

LOADSA pix of Gorillas on the streets

2011-07-11T00:57:00.001+01:00

The public have posted LOADS of pictures on the Wow! Gorillas Facebook page of all the big Gorillas (probably) except Anthony Hitchcock's Guerrilla Tourist, which is in Birmingham Coach Station encouraging people to change their travel plans and come to Bristol, as well as lots of the 101 little apes decorated by Bristol schoolchildren.

Anthony's Hubert outside the Holiday Inn City Centre, Bond Street, has been much admired though. He used to be known as Joe, when I knew him,

There are a couple of pictures of Bert on the 'Wall'.

YouTube film of Gorilla Flotilla

2011-07-11T00:47:00.000+01:00

Bristol Zoo has posted a film of the Gorilla Flotilla on YouTube

Bitton Station - new home to Bert

2011-07-05T03:23:00.005+01:00

Contrary to earlier posts, my gorilla Bert is not to be seen outside Bristol Zoo, but at Bitton Station.
Bitton Station is part of The Avon Valley Railway. Volunteers have restored this bit of the Midland Railway Line, and run steam trains from there throughout the summer. See the timetable here.

Bitton Station is also on the Bristol - Bath Cyclepath, a 13 mile off-road route for walkers and cyclists between the two cities. There is a picnic area, pub, river and horse-riding route in the area. The nearby Willsbridge Mill is part of a Avon Wildlife Trust reserve, with an education centre. See all the things happening and available in the area here.

Noah (currently outside Bristol Zoo)

Meanwhile, another gorilla sponsored by Mama Bear's Day Nursery, which went on the gorilla flotilla, is the gorilla greeting visitors to Bristol Zoo. It represents animals in pairs, and is called Noah.

BBC slideshows of Gorilla Flotilla

2011-07-05T02:23:00.000+01:00

Both CBBC
and BBC Bristol have slideshows of the WOW Gorillas in Bristol Docks.

Gorilla Flotilla, Bristol Docks - THIS MORNING

2011-07-04T01:56:00.001+01:00

Some of the gorillas will be taking a Ferry trip around Bristol Docks in 3 boats this morning, starting about 11.15am. See them in the vicinity of the Centre, Arnolfini, M-Shed, and Thekla.

Some other gorillas will be watching from near the Arnolfini.

For further details of the Gorilla Flotilla itinerary and other Wow Gorilla info, click link.

HTV West report on the secret hideaway of the gorillas

2011-06-21T01:31:00.005+01:00

HTV Report on WOW Gorillas
(Wed 15 June 2001)

See the news report by clicking on the orange link above.

Waiting to leave (or just getting some fresh air because of varnish-spraying)

2011-06-21T00:59:00.002+01:00

With an UpFest gorilla behind

Naming the animals

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Bert's Booty

2011-06-15T01:02:00.003+01:00

Swinging Bert - slide show

Not quite the effect I had in mind, but the best I can do!!!

Apology

2011-06-14T03:07:00.005+01:00

Oops! Sorry, Nadine and June. I seem to have accidentally deleted the comments you made on one of my posts when I changed its date to put the photos in the correct sequential order. I deleted my response too, if that helps.

Beasties complete!

2011-06-14T03:02:00.007+01:00

Now all I have to do is add the endangered animals' names...at all kinds of angles in nice handwriting!

A few days ago

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Starting painting

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Outlining the animals

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Photocopies all over...

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Rounding up the animals

2011-06-03T02:08:00.002+01:00

Matching the animal positions on Bert to the ceramic version of Endangered PJs

Other gorillas at the A Bond

2011-06-03T01:14:00.007+01:00

There were 18 gorillas at the A Bond as far as I could count. Some lurking in little rooms in the dark. I haven't counted them recently, but there are less white bubble-wrapped gorillas, and more new bubble-wrapped finished ones arriving from studios from all over Bristol and beyond...

These gorillas shown here are in various stages of development. See other pictures on Wow! Gorillas/Facebook

Feet of Clay

2011-06-03T00:31:00.000+01:00

Original design - Endangered PJs

A few of the Bristol WOW! Gorillas are being reproduced as ceramic models. The first sample of the ceramic of mine had interpreted the collar incorrectly, unsurprisingly since the shoulder hides the collar in my submitted design. Also the animals were a bit rigidly placed. I wanted them a bit more wonky. The second sample was much better.

I need to make my big gorilla match the ceramic, as far as possible. Bert (aka Endangered PJs) has much longer forearms than the ceramic version, so has a few more animals on his arms.

Ceramic prototype (Mark I) - Endangered PJs

Ceramic prototype (Mark II) - Endangered PJs


Ceramic prototype (Mark II) - Endangered PJs

Growing red

2011-05-31T01:58:00.000+01:00

Two-tone Bert

Feet apart

After surgery

To make the pyjamas closer in colour to my original design and to the ceramic model, which is being made, I added another coat of a more transparent red. The dusky pink looked soft and brush-cottony, but the slightly deeper red, although not so even, still looks like red pyjama fabric...if not quite so soft.

Preparing for Bed

2011-05-31T01:41:00.000+01:00

Bert's beautifully curvy bottom in his dusky pink pyjamas

Going grey

2011-05-31T00:43:00.000+01:00

I was advised to paint Bert all grey first; that doing this would prevent the white fibreglass showing through the red pyjamas, as the red acrylic paint tends to be transparent. Here is Bert half grey.

Photo: Carys Tait

Bubble-wrapped

2011-05-26T01:24:00.001+01:00

Someone else's un-unwrapped, bubble-wrapped ape at The A Bond

Bristol Zoo WOW! Gorillas submissions

2011-05-25T22:25:00.002+01:00

Bristol Zoo Gardens, UK, is 175 years old this year. To commemorate this birthday, and to raise awareness of the gorilla conservation work in Cameroon being supported by the zoo, they have planned amongst other things a public art event. For this they have collaborated with Wild in Art who have form in bringing art, wildlife and cities together!

There will be about 50 gorillas on the streets of Bristol this summer; well, painted sculptures of gorillas. The artists have been sponsored by companies that have connections with Bristol. In September, the gorillas will be auctioned in aid of two charities. Ape Action Africa works for the conservation of gorillas and other primates, and the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal raising money for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Bristol is the home of Aardman - makers of the Wallace & Gromit animation films.

I submitted two designs, and had one selected.

Endangered PJs


Yet another case of Gorilla Gardening

My design Endangered PJs has been generously sponsored by Mama Bear's Day Nursery who provide childcare locally. Thanks to them.

I'm now painting it...