Thursday, 4:30 PM
Zoo auctions gorilla's art on the Internet
One of Okie's masterpieces.
By Globe Staff
Sometimes artists can be real animals. Just ask Okie, a western lowland gorilla, the creator of three paintings that could sell for thousands on the Internet this week.
The Franklin Park Zoo is auctioning off three of Okie's "masterpieces" on eBay to celebrate the end of a summer-long gorilla art exhibit.
Most of the paintings in the exhibit were by Okie, who seems to enjoy fingerpainting, which is part of the zoo's efforts to keep the animals intellectually stimulated, said zoo spokeswoman Brianne Barrett.
The zoo, which will use the proceeds to pay for its continued revitalization, has sold such paintings before, with the pictures fetching $2,500 to $10,000 apiece, Barrett said.
The exhibit also includes several paintings by Little Joe, the gorilla who made headlines when he escaped in 2003 and attacked and injured a teenager and toddler.
Okie is considered the group's carefree artist-in-residence. He's been fingerpainting since 2004.
The exhibit runs through Friday. The auction will remain open until Saturday evening.
