THE OBJECT
I found this elephant lamp at a consignment shop in Vero Beach a few months ago. We recognized one another immediately. We've been waiting our whole lives to meet.
He had a terrible lampshade, too small, wobbly. I became obsessed with finding the perfect shade for him, and lost myself in the shade project, instead of the elephant project.
I found the perfect oversized scalloped shade, and embellished the living hell out of it. Jewelry grade crystals, filigree, stones, fringe, all the sparkle and theatrics of the most beautiful circus costume on the planet.
AND IT FAILED MISERABLY.
I STARED AT IT
AND STARED
AND WISHED IT WOULD WORK
WISHED WITH ALL MY HEART IT WOULD WORK
BUT IT DIDN'T
THE LAMPSHADE WAS NOT A LAMPSHADEIT WAS THE PERFECT CIRCUS PEDESTALFOR THE MOST SINCERE YOUNG ELEPHANTTHIS CIRCUS HAS EVER KNOWN
THE MATERIALS
- Found object elephant lamp
- Oversized scalloped lampshade
- Gold filigree
- Various clear crystal embellishments
- 5" gold fringe
- 1/4" plywood for lampshade-turned-pedestal top
- 2x4 cut wood to reinforce inner lampshade/pedestal
- peel and stick mustard yellow fabric to cover pedestal top
- Cluster of red/crimson/burgundy feathers
- 18" white streetlamp globe
- Color changing LED lightbulb
THE PROCESS
You already know we took a bit of a wrong turn with the whole lampshade scenario. The burst of energy I got when I realized it was not all for nothing was quite something. What does the elephant WANT for a shade, though?
More staring. More thinking. Who is this elephant?
This elephant is happy, a born entertainer. He is PROUD. He knows a trick - he can balance this ball on his trunk while standing on this pedestal, LOOK AT HIM!
APPLAUSE PLEASE
I needed to find something that looked like a ball, that ideally could glow different colors, and with some research found this one that is white, but with a color changing LED bulb (controlled via iphone app) the ball can be any color.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING
