Skinnamarink...

Part of the Peter Woytuk on Broadway exhibit; at Columbus Circle

I LOVE the apple on the trunk...

Part of the Peter Woytuk on Broadway exhibit; at Columbus Circle

Having spent some time traveling throughout Asia, I've been fortunate to have had many experiences that involved these amazing creatures. I rode them through jungles, watched incredulously as they shared city roads with buses, tuk tuks, and motorbikes, and I gazed at them in all their splendor in elephant sanctuaries. I lamented those that were heavily adorned in bright paint, baubles, and textiles, and those obviously being abused. And I marveled at those creating paintings as part of the Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project. Bathing and swimming with the elephants at Chitwan National Park in Nepal is one of my most treasured memories:

Me, attempting to climb up an elephant's trunk at Chitwan National Park; 2007

This bronze elephant whimsically defying the laws of physics makes me smile every time I walk by it...

Gran Elefandret, by Miquel Barceló- In Union Square

And speaking of elephants, I love this video:

 Beirut, Elephant Gun

I could watch this all day...

Elephants swimming

I enjoy believing that elephants are appalled by Republicans' use of their image as a symbol for their party. When was the last time a Republican concerned him/herself with matters ecological or environmental, let alone with animal welfare. I'm sure the elephants are plotting their revenge as I type. On their shit list also, no doubt, is The Ringling Bros. Circus, which has a long history of elephant abuse. Boycott The Most Depressing Show on Earth when it comes to your town!

The image of Ganesh was ever present throughout my travels, particularly in India and Nepal, but though I was in these two countries for a combined year, I cannot, for some ungodly reason find a single picture I took of a Ganesh to use as a visual reference at this moment. I'm sure you all know what he looks like anyway. I was told so many variations on the how-Ganesh-lost-his-head story, all of them hilariously dramatic. It's fascinating what a significant part elephants play in mythology and religion. They are fortunate to have a reputation for wisdom, strength, royalty, and luck. I'm sure hyenas are jealous. And how many hundreds of elephant characters have there been in literature, film, and television? Which one is your favorite?

"An effervescing elephant/ With tiny eyes and great big trunk/ Once whispered to the tiny ear/ The ear of one inferior/ That by next June he'd die, oh yeah!" --Syd Barret, Effervescing Elephant