Local artist lands a Valentine’s date with Jane Goodall

Sian Zeederberg never dreamt her art would make such a profound contribution to conservation, and now she has been rewarded with a meet-and-greet.

Marinette Potgieter

February 17, 2015

Sian Zeederberg and Dr Jane Goodall with the signed painting of Thabo which was auctioned off to help raise funds for the new enclosure.

MBOMBELA – All she did was paint pictures of two chimps of the Jane Goodall Institution’s ((JGI) Chimp Eden. Next thing, she’s rubbing shoulders with the conservation idol in whose honour the sanctuary was erected.

Sian Zeederberg is the exhibiting artist of Zeederbergz Gallery adjacent to Stoep. A few years ago, she visited Chimp Eden, took photos of the apes and painted three beautifully detailed portraits, two of Kozy and another of Thabo.

Sian Zeederberg shows off her signed painting.

One day a man walked into her shop and asked if she wouldn’t be interested in a deal. If she could donate one painting to the institute she could get the opportunity to meet the legend, Dr Jane Goodall. She didn’t hesitate and offered to donate 30 per cent of the amount she would make on the other two paintings. On Saturday, after the British conservationist delivered a powerful lecture at Chimp Eden, she signed the paintings and Thabo’s portrait was auctioned off on the sanctuary’s Facebook page. Proceeds would go toward building a new enclosure for two chimps with behavioural problems. Goodall layed the first brick of the new enclosure on Monday.

“I would much rather donate paintings towards animals than to humans,” says Zeederberg, about her decision to donate Thabo’s portrait. “They need it much more than we do. Conservation is something so close to my heart and I feel proud to be able to contribute by doing what I love – art.

Dr Jane Goodall signs one of Sian Zeederberg’s pictures. A total of 30 per cent of two of her paintings will be donated to the institute. Photos: Marinette Potgieter

“On top of that, I get to meet such an influential figure, who I have admired my whole life.”

The artist has started an initiative with Chimp Eden. She will donate four paintings every year in order to raise funds for the institute. Her love of animals and the awareness of the importance of their conservation has led her to commit to another project similar to the chimps, the Fight for Rhinos. Zeederberg and a number of her students will create rhino artworks and donate them to be auctioned off on the Fight for Rhinos Facebook page.

Sian Zeederberg radiated joy when she met one of her life-long idols, Dr Jane Goodall.

When this artist isn’t meeting famous wildlife conservationists, she can be found at the gallery, teaching art classes throughout the week. She hopes to expand the small gallery. “I want a whole artist’s retreat in Mbombela, a massive empire consisting of different forms of art and classes. I just need to sell a few more paintings for that dream to realise.”