Houston is going ape over gorillas.
Right before our eyes, large-scale murals featuring King Kong-sized creatures are appearing throughout the city. The "urban jungle" transformation is happening as part of the Houston Zoo's campaign to promote its new two-acre gorilla environment, "Gorillas of the African Forest," set to open on Memorial Day.
The gigantic pieces will remain up for at least of six months as a collaborative project among the zoo, artists and business owners.
The zoo recently commissioned five well-known Houston artists/muralists who are taking to the streets to cover walls with their individual inspirations of the seven western lowland gorillas soon to join the African Forest as residents. The gigantic pieces will remain up for at least of six months as a collaborative project among the zoo, artists and business owners.
So far, Anat Ronen is putting the final touches her painting on the wall of Richards Antiques at 3701 Main St., as is Mr. D at 2119 Washington Ave. Next to follow with their interpretations of the wild are Nicky Davis, Michael Rodriguez and GONZO247 of Aerosol Warfare, who began his street art creation today at the Downtown Food Park, 1311 Leland St.
Art lovers and animal enthusiasts are encouraged to follow along as the murals take shape.
"Gorillas of the African Forest" will hold two groups of western lowland gorillas. The primates will spend their days alternating between an outdoor habitat filled with lush landscape that mimics an African forest and a multi-tiered night house that includes private bedrooms, an artistic 23-foot-tall climbing tree and a behind-the-scenes outdoor yard.
The gorilla habitat, which also will house red river hogs, brings this most-requested animal back to the zoo after a 10-year absence.
Anat Ronen at work.
