Petaluma sloth turns art world upside down

Centuries of artists have been drawing inspiration from majestic and elegant animals, but one creature in particular is rapidly gaining prominence among a group of Petaluma creators - the sloth.

The unveiling is fast approaching for the Sept. 10 opening of an art show that celebrates one of nature’s slowest moving animals, and the Back House Gallery at Heebe Jeebe will be filled with tributes to the mammal across multiple mediums for the month-long exhibit.

The community art show opening is being held as a benefit for Classroom Safari, a longstanding local organization that rescues exotic animals – including wallabies, lemurs and servals – and educates multiple generations about the importance of preservation and wildlife. In July, the organization procured a 6-month-old two-toed sloth from a Florida pet store, and the 3.5 pound animal is in need of a permanent habitat, Vice Chief Operating Officer Brandi Blue said.

Sloths, which originate from central and south America, require a warm and humid environment for survival. The organization is attempting to raise between $4,000 and $5,000 to build a custom greenhouse that will be decked out with a retractable roof, plants, ropes and a small pool to accommodate the sloth as she grows to be a 20-pound adult, Blue said.

The new sloth, a handful of handlers and a variety of other animals from Classroom Safari will also be at the event, which will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the 46 Kentucky St. gallery and will spill over into Lions and Tigers and Hair at 18 Kentucky St. There’s no entry fee for the show, but attendees will have an opportunity to take photos with the sloth and other animals for a donation, Blue said.

Classroom Safari staff is also planning to announce the name of the sloth at the event, with possible contenders including Willow, Luna and Meryl Sleep, Blue said. She added that the animal is wonderfully strange addition to the Classroom Safari program.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with awesome animals, and sloths are the weirdest one I’ve ever worked with. They’re such a different animal, I can’t even describe it - you have to see it to believe it,” Blue said. “They’re like a reptile mixed with a monkey. It’s a weird animal, but it’s such a privilege to have one and be able to share.”

According to gallery owner and curator Drew Washer, the sloth has become increasingly popular in the realm of novelty art and toys and her Heebe Jeebe General Store carries merchandise such as socks, tea strainers and magnets that are emblazoned with the animal’s drowsy likeness.

Washer said she envisions many artists in the show being influenced by the animal’s oddities.

“The sloth is just a beloved creature,” she said, “They’re so unique and their survival in the world is relatable … they have these huge challenges and quirky ways of being in the world. The world is so complex feeling and overwhelming and sometimes sloths simplify the world to its basic nature - you’re figuring out what you need to do in a simple way without paying attention to the world too much.”

The show isn’t juried and the only criteria for submissions is that the artwork is professional and is related to sloths, their habitats or their traits, Washer said. The drop off date for finished pieces isn’t until two days before the show, but she said some creators have already developed concepts such as a sloth bust, a painting of a sloth riding a horse and portrait of a sloth running.

“(The show) is a completely unique thing that doesn’t happen every day and it’s community driven in every aspect,” she said.

Classroom Safari, which has been operating in Petaluma for 38 years and this month received nonprofit status, will also be fundraising at the art show to collect money for a new outreach van, which would allow the organization’s three paid employees and 30 volunteers to expand the reach of its programs for classrooms, birthday parties and other educational events, Blue said.

Once the organization reaches its funding goals for the van and the habitat, it will focus efforts on gathering a pot of money to secure seven to 10 acres to establish a permanent interactive sanctuary in Sonoma County, Blue said. The 160 animals - most of which are rescued and can’t be returned to the wild - are currently kept on a private three-acre parcel in Petaluma, but creating a public zoo would allow the organization to showcase its animals and further its mission of promoting preservation of animals in the wild, Blue said.

Blue said the art show also provides an outlet to connect with the community while celebrating a quirky animal that’s become one of Petaluma’s most unique residents.

“It’s really nice that community comes together like this,” Blue said.

(Contact Hannah Beausang at hannah.beausang@arguscourier.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang)