Studio Blog

The San Francisco Zoo

Outside the Studio

Selene Perez, Theresa Perez, Marcus McClure, Tonya Lewis, and I took the ‘L’ from Market and Church all the way out to the zoo. The sky was blue and it was warm and comfortable. Theresa requested she push the wheelchair for Tonya. I said it was OK until someone else wanted to. She wound up doing it for the entire trip except at the tricky junctures, getting on and off elevators and buses, when I requested a turn.

The excitement at the bridge crossing into the zoo was palpable, especially with all the school children everywhere on their own field trip. Of course we had to show our respects to the lemurs at the beginning. Nearby giraffes kindly moved closer to us for a look-see. We were careful to position Tonya for excellent views. I told the group that as artists we were all to draw at least one animal. At the monkey area, Tonya and I did a drawing of the lion-haired macaque. Observing and drawing the animal, I noticed how I slowed and quieted down, and began to look more carefully at the animal.

Everyone wanted to see the big cats, so off we went. A lioness was sunning next to the protective window allowing a viewer to get within a couple of feet. A male lion nearby gave off a few roars. We heard the zoo train and everyone requested this as our next stop, but first - lunch.

In the lunch area I suggested to Theresa, Selene, and Marcus they do their required drawing of the flamingos that were standing conveniently nearby. Theresa and Selene tried a drawing. Marcus eventually did a drawing of what he called “babies”.

The siren of the zoo train was now calling us. The train ride was perhaps a high point of the trip. Laughing, waving, and taking photos were included. Much of the zoo remained unexplored, but we had run out of time. We were tired but happy campers coming back on the ‘L’. Marcus, Theresa and Tonya met people and gave out postcards about CE’s 25th Anniversary exhibition. One woman on the train remarked that our group seemed full of happy people and it was true, there was joking and laughter all around. Tonya charmed the socks off a SF Transportation Officer. She was at peak performance. I was totally impressed.

# Posted by Larry on May 24, 2008