Final answer:
Ethan drew the gorilla at school by leveraging details from gorilla behavior and Fairhurst's artistic interpretation, focusing on insight, tool use, and the mix of the sublime and absurd.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethan likely drew the gorilla at school by observing various examples provided that illustrate gorillas engaging in a range of behaviors, showcasing their ability to use tools and solve problems with reasoning and insight. For example, one description depicts a gorilla using a walking stick for balance while fishing in swampy waters.
This behavior indicates that gorillas can learn and adapt to their environment creatively. Similarly, artist Fairhurst's work with gorillas, as seen in the gorilla statue named 'A Couple of Differences Between Thinking and Feeling II (7.7.17),' explores the concepts of the sublime and absurd through the gorilla's expressive posture, thereby aligning with Ethan's task of drawing a gorilla with an audience.
Fairhurst's gorilla stands with one arm raised, contemplating its separate arm on the floor, promoting thinking and feeling in sculpture. Ethan might have been inspired by these attributes of gorilla behavior and Fairhurst's artistic approach to create his drawing accurately and thoughtfully, even with the presence of onlookers at school.