Penelope Gilbert-Ng
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Penelope Gilbert-Ng Artist
Diploma of Painting, Fellow RQAS1, Master Pastellist Pastel Society of Australia
Penelope Gilbert-Ng ‘s journey as an artist started aged 3,Studied at East SydneyTechnical College late teens (Diploma of Painting, 1971) and furthering her development with her painting in isolation in Papua New Guinea (13 years). On returning to Australia 1986 studied with noted artists in Australia, New York (Pastel Society of America Scholarship), and New Mexico
(International Association of Societies Convention). Penelope believes that continual learning is essential for self-development as an artist. She is Past President of Pastel Society of Australia and Master Pastellist with the Pastel Society of Australia, Past President and Fellow of the Royal Qld Art Society and sought after tutor with Art Societies and Groups Nationally in all mediums. Penelope has been a finalist in the Archibald and Portia Geach Portrait Prizes and has had numerous solo and joint exhibitions. Her commissioned paintings are represented in corporate/ private collections worldwide. Winner of many competitions combining knowledge and dedication to her art has enabled her to judge shows since 2002. Penelope has written 7 articles for The Australian Artist Magazine (Dec 2000, March 2006). Australian Artist July 2009/ April 2011“How did you do that”. Portrait painting July 2012. May 2013 Acrylic portraiture. October 2013 Acrylic What comes next? Demonstrated (by invitation) at the International Association of Pastel Societies (Portraiture) May 2009 Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Tutored for Artemis Art Tours Greek Islands October 2012. Tutored again for Artemis Art Tours Greek Islands May 2014.
Email: p_gilbertng@optusnet.com.au
ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING
The reason I am wanting to help this project is I love all animals and have wanted to paint these beautiful animals for some time. I have heard of their plight of environment dangers and stories of human conflict and feel artists can contribute with strong paintings for visual impact to make others aware of the threat to their environment. Some of my friends have visited these sanctuaries and I have been aware of the help being given. This will be my small gift to their survival. I thank Thomas Burns for his beautiful images that I may use.
Rahayu
Rahayu was desperately ill when she was rescued by International Animal Rescue. She was blind, caused by her cerebral malaria, and suffering from a raging fever. Our team gave her round the clock care, and she is now a lively, energetic orangutan, with full sight restored to her!
She was brought in April 2011 by members of the forestry department who told IAR's team that local people from Desa Matan Jaja, a village in Dusun Pihik, had just given the orangutan to Pt Cipta Usana Sejati, a palm oil company.
The official version the villagers gave was that the baby had fallen from a tree they were cutting down. They also said the mother had abandoned the baby and run away when the tree fell. However the little orangutan looked as though she had been away from the forest for quite a while: her skin was soft - very different from the hard dark skin orangutans usually have when they come from the forest. Even after some weeks this skin starts to peel and fall off, leaving soft skin underneath. Moreover, it is well known that the mothers don't abandon their infants, even if they have to die to protect them. Therefore, it is most likely that the real story was quite different.
The orangutan has been named Rahayu, which means "safe" in Javanese , the local language from Java. She already has all the teeth that an orangutan of more than one year old would usually have. However her weight is just 4.3 kilograms and she is very small. Rahayu was in very poor condition when she arrived. She was dehydrated, with a high fever and seemed to be blind as she had no blink reflex and did not follow food with her eyes. Unfortunately the blood test has shown positive for Plasmodium falciparum or knowlesi, both very severe malaria species which can be fatal. The vets Anita and Jenny, who are caring for her round the clock, have also noted that she presents nistagmus (rapid and uncontrollable movement of the eyes) and has neurological fits. These symptoms correspond to cerebral malaria which, as the name says, is a form of malaria that affects the brain and so causes neurological symptoms. This is a serious disease and the life of this poor baby really hangs in the balance.
After the new medicine was given to Rahayu, she improved noticeably. She seemed more hydrated once she was getting intravenous fluids and became more active. She started to eat well and showed that she has a good appetite.
Rahayu is now doing well in forest school with the other juvenile orangutans.
