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Sable, Turquoise Trail (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, Sable: I was born December 16, 1999 to parents Kohei and Wes. I was born at The Coulston Foundation during a time when the lab was entering into extreme financial difficulty. To try to raise money, Coulston sold a number of chimps to the entertainment business. I was purchased by a Hollywood trainer, who later agreed to get out of the chimp business and send me and my companion Cody to Save the Chimps, as a part of a court settlement.

Now, I’m back with my mom, Kohei, and we’re part of a big, boisterous chimpanzee family. I’m a huge fan of food and juice, and when I have a cup in hand, you’ll see me asking the staff for a refill. My favorite spot to enjoy a meal is from the comfort of a hammock, just relaxing and savoring every bite. Despite the staff’s efforts to keep them out of reach, I can’t resist grabbing the water hoses—thank goodness for long sticks on our island that help me in my mischievous plans. Living here, I’m just a happy, spirited chimp making the most of retirement!

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

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