Mystic Aquarium

As the ultimate tribute to Valentine’s Day, Mystic Aquarium African penguins have created 50 original paintings to benefit the aquarium’s penguin conservation efforts. These paintings ($169.99) are available for purchase in the Aquarium Store and online.

African penguins mate for life, and creating these one-of-a-kind works with their feet is a form of enrichment. First, the penguin sticks out its feet (they have been trained to do this as part of the aquarium’s animal care program), and a trainer dabs non-toxic paint on them. A canvas is laid on the floor, and the penguin is set down on it, free to waddle wherever it wants. Once the paint begins to fade, a new color is applied to the second penguin’s feet. That penguin walks across the canvas to create a layer of hues.

Click here to watch a video of the African paintings creating their art.

The 16-inch-by-20-inch paintings are double-matted in white with black inner trim and encased in a black wood frame. They are available in two three-color combinations: dark red, blue and green and purple, blue and green.

A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward the aquarium’s many penguin conservation efforts here and across the world. Over the last nine years, the world’s African penguin population has decreased by 60 percent and the species became endangered in 2010.

The Aquarium Store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (gates close at 4 p.m.). Visit mysticaquarium.org to learn more about the African penguins at Mystic Aquarium and to watch a video of them creating their art.

Published February 1, 2012