Helping Asian Elephants with Kinetic Sculpture Bike

In 2015, when living in Gainesville, Florida, I was "between jobs" and volunteered for CIFAE which was a local nonprofit dedicated to conserving Asian Elephants. We were preparing to host an elephant march in Gainesville, and I knew of a talented artist cyclist who made moving sculptures with bike underpinnings. Raymond Rawls was known in town for creating imaginative kinetic sculptures on bikes, and having them in the local parades. He is an amazing designer, so I approached him about making a kinetic elephant sculpture and he was up for it! 

So in May 2015, I created a FaceBook page to track the progress and implementation of the kinetic sculpture to benefit Asian Elephant conservation efforts. Here are some posts and media from the page which has been deleted due to lack of use by the folks of CIFAE after I was no longer volunteering there. 

I went to Raymond's studio in a garage where he had all his raw materials, and he showed his initial concept to me and Ron Chandler, the CIFAE president:

Raymond is a serious sculptor and studies his subject in detail to create a realistic portrayal.

Raymond is very community oriented. He recruited local folks to come paste paper on the skeleton after he got her formed, and provided pizza to everyone! 

"Raymond Rawls' photo from today! He is finishing up the cardboard shaping of the elephant bike for CIFAE (Conservation Initiative for the Asian Elephant). The next step is papering. They will be working on that on Saturday, August 29th, 2015 (5-8pm) at 210 NW 10th Ave. Volunteers are welcome to stop by to help. (includes refreshments and pizzas!)."

After it was finished it would be revealed at the CIFAE Gala event in downtown Gainesville!

"Save the date for Sept 12, 2015 fundraiser with amazing Indian arts, music and food at The Wooly, to raise awareness of the lives and challenges of Asian Elephants. Activities for kids! See the almost finished Elephant Sculpture Bike. See event and get your advance tickets here to raise funds for Conservation Initiative for the Asian Elephant!

https://www.facebook.com/events/437965743042117/"

Look how she walks! She is almost finished! She rides like an elephant, and has a bendy trunk, and moving legs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98A2YXIg8ok

I designed this flyer and helped organize the first gala:





Here she was, finished before the public reveal, with Jacob gleefully touring her wonder.





Here is another angle of the beautiful girl.
"She's finished. Thank you Lorraine Duerden for the great work on the eyes!"

In October, she was part of the global Elephant March being in the local event in Gainesville.

And she rolled in the November 2015 Homecoming parade!

In 2017 they had their 3rd annual march!




For more kinetic sculpture activity with Raymond, see his page https://www.facebook.com/MenagerieInMotion/

Menagerie In Motion



Nonprofit organization

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