When I read, “I don’t see the elephant. I see the Lord.” in Christy and Stirton’s National Geographic article “Blood Ivory”, I felt helpless, angry, and frustrated.  But motivated to do what I can…which is sculpt.

My intention is to throw a pebble in the ocean, hoping a ripple reaches Asia where demand for ivory is burgeoning. I appeal to every person’s higher self, your inner Buddha, insha’Allah, to see the elephant.

This ceramic sculpture is a maquette (study model) for a large, free standing piece I plan to build where the elephant will be human-sized.

You are invited to view this maquette at Seward Park Clay Studio’s Gallery at the Seattle Design Center . 5701 Sixth Ave S.  I will be there during ART@SDC’s monthly Third Thursday artwalk from 6pm-9pm, June 20^th.  This piece is an addition to the show Authentic/Imaginary that includes 10 more of my sculptures, as well as work by Ling Chun and Julie Ives.

Directions to SDC http://www.seattledesigncenter.com/generalInfo/directions.php

My website: http://www.thorlyjames.com

I applaud and thank National Geographic for publishing the investigative article “Blood Ivory” by Bryan Christy and Brent Stirton in October 2012.  Here is a link to the article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/christy-text

You can listen to a 10 minute news story here: http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/02/19/blood-ivory/

Send this link of Li Bingbing to your friends in China: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKI5lo9AuWM&feature=youtu.be