Laura Walton found deep meaning in aimless lines and scribbles painted on a board by a primate.

In fact, the rudimentary painting inspired persistent questions: What is it that makes us human? What separates us? Looking at drawings by cavemen, is artwork part of that distinction?

The questions — not necessarily a search for their answers — led Walton to create an intricate mixed-media art, involving a mannequin head, a microphone and a circuit board.

Clara Dutton talks about her oil painting of Cameron Park Zoo elephants Tembo (left) and Tanya. The two outer paintings were done by the elephants themselves (Tembo’s artwork on the left, Tanya’s on the right).
Rod Aydelotte/Tribune-Herald

Walton’s piece, along with 20 other works of art inspired and half-created by Cameron Park Zoo creatures, is on sale at Croft Art Gallery, 712 Austin Ave.

The art includes photography, paintings, ceramics, sculptures and mixed media, with prices ranging from $25 to $800. All proceeds benefit the Cameron Park Zoo’s conservation fund.

The display will run for at least a month, said Katie Croft, who co-owns the gallery.

The display already raised $3,500 for the zoo at a private showing Thursday evening, Croft said. She said plenty of pieces are still up for sale.

Cindy Michaelis, the zoo’s director of development, said the theme of the project is caring and preserving.

“If mankind doesn’t start caring about the world, things are going to go south pretty quick,” she said. “People globally and locally have started to understand the importance of animal conservation, resource conservation, water conservation.

Holt Getterman’s American flag painting, undertaken with elephants Tembo and Tanya.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

“This is a fun way to get people to think about how we’re all connected.”

The project had elephants painting with their supersized noses, giraffes holding paintbrushes in their mouths and raccoons with paint-dipped paws dancing on a canvas.

Most of the artists watched their animal partners paint or spent time at the zoo for inspiration, said the 35-year-old Walton, who has been a professional artist in Waco for the past decade.

“You look at these animals playing in the paint and just think, ‘What is the difference between us and them?’ ” she said. “It was humbling and flattering to be asked to do this.”

For animals involved in the art project, it was a form of enrichment exercise — something that Michaelis said helps keep zoo creatures’ minds sharp and living longer.

“Hopefully it will make people aware that these animals do a lot more than just stare at you when you stare at them,” she said. “There’s a lot we can do to make sure our animals are healthy and happy.”

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