Tuesday, June 30, 2020

ELEPHANT SCULPTURE AT NORFOLK ZOO, VIRGINIA

This was taken on a visit to the Norfolk Zoo in Virginia, in September 2012.  Another favorite animal of mine, I was delighted with the life-size sculpture of the elephant at the entrance.  The person who created this masterpiece is Matthew Gray Palmer, who received its commission after competing with 70 other artists in 2008.  He called it "All Things Within All Things".
A butterfly on the end of the elephant's trunk can be made out quite clearly, and its wings are shaped like elephants.  If you look closely at the sculpture, there are 10,000 butterflies that make the shape of the elephant.  It stands 10 feet tall, 16 feet long and 7 feet wide and weighs 800 pounds, and took more than 2,000 hours and six months to complete.  It really is amazing to look at.

A fun website, Roadside America, can be found at this link where you will see another picture of the elephant.

I will leave you with two whimsical quotes.


"I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful one hundred percent."
~Dr. Seuss~

and my personal favorite

"I have a memory like an elephant, in fact elephants often consult me."
~Noel Coward~

Thanks for looking and enjoy your week.






19 comments:

  1. How amazing! I love elephants, and they have played a significant role in my life. I also love Roadside America, and made an icon link to it on my computer desktop!

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    1. Hi Ginny, that is something we have in common. I haven't been to Roadside America for over a year, but I found lots of things to do in Virginia, so when we can at last start road tripping again, I have an ever growing list :) Great idea to make its link on your desktop.

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  2. What a beautiful thing.
    One of my favourite Salvador Dali paintings (which I had a poster of for many years) was Swans Reflecting Elephants. You can see the painting HERE.

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    1. Thank you EC, I looked at the painting. I can see why it is a favorite, it's beautiful and love how the elephants are reflected. Thanks so much for the link :)

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  3. Amazing artwork by Mr. Palmer, how sweet is that butterfly.
    Rather like elephants.

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  4. Absolutely amazing! I would love to see it in person tomorrow is National Zoo day. This is very appropriate for that

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    1. Happy you enjoyed it Sandra and thank you for letting me know it is National Zoo Day tomorrow :)

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  5. That is an amazing butterfly elephant.

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  6. Hello, I love the elephant/butterfly sculpture and the quotes. Take care, Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you Eileen. You take care and enjoy your day also :)

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  7. I love this....if you like elephants, you might enjoy The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild by Lawrence Anthony. I thought it quite wonderful. It had a real sad part in it, but still it is one I will read again. Elephants are really amazing.

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    1. The book sounds wonderful Rose, thank you for sharing that. I agree, they really are amazing animals :)

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  8. What an amazing sculpture! Wow! I blew the photo up to see the butterflies. It’s such a fabulous, artistic idea.

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    1. I thought so too Kay. So creative and coming up with that idea along is the sign of a truly creative artist. Thank you :)

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