FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 7, 2005

CONTACT: Angela Battle, (515) 271-3831, angela.battle@drake.edu
Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE EXHIBIT COMBINES ART AND RESEARCH ON GREAT APES

Students in Angela Battle's painting class recently toured Great Ape Trust of Iowa, where they observed Azy and Knobi, two adult orangutans, and met with Robert Shumaker, director of orangutan research at the facility. Shumaker also visited the art class at Drake to present additional information on primate cognitive research, including the ability of orangutans to use a system of symbols, arranged according to certain rules, to communicate.

The students are now creating a visual response to the experience with the orangutans and to Shumaker's research. Their paintings will be displayed in an exhibition titled "The Shumaker Project: Artists Respond to Primate Cognitive Research" from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2 in the Weeks Gallery in the lobby of the Harmon Fine Arts Center. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18.

The exhibition also will feature drawings by the orangutans at Great Ape Trust. "Apparently they love to draw and we're thrilled to be able to include some of their drawings in the exhibition," said Battle, assistant professor of art at Drake. "During the opening reception, we plan to show a video of the orangutans creating their drawings."

Battle described the class visit to Great Ape Trust as inspiring. "It was an amazing experience for me as well as the students," she added. "We felt privileged to watch Dr. Shumaker interact with Azy and Knobi and to perhaps understand the orangutans a little better. In some ways it was like looking at yourself."

In addition to the art project, Shumaker is already involved at Drake as a university fellow and he teaches two courses - Introduction to Primatology and Primate Cognition.

Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a world-class research center in Des Moines dedicated to studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes.

Cutline for attached photo: Angela Battle and her students meet Azy and Knobi.

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