• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Friday, February 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Bidding the Herd Farewell

by Dana Point Times
November 12, 2013 3:20PM
in EYE ON DP, News Headlines
Bidding the Herd Farewell

Elephant Parade co-founder Mike Spits (left) and U.S. parade ambassador, Dana Yarger, enjoy crowds bidding the herd farewell. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Elephant Parade exhibit on display at Lantern Bay Park through Saturday

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By Andrea Papagianis

A herd of Asian elephant statues will soon depart Dana Point for foreign and domestic soils as the Elephant Parade’s first American exhibit comes to a close.

The open-air exhibition benefitting The Asian Elephant Foundation has called Dana Point’s streets, parks, docks and hotels home since August. Now, the 38 colorful elephant statues, created by local and international artists for the parade’s American unveiling, are gathered at Lantern Bay Park, at 25111 Park Lantern, through November 16 for a final community farewell.

“Ramafly” by wildlife and nature artist Keith Alway is still up for grabs as the Elephant Parade exhibition comes to a close in Dana Point. The statues will be auctioned Sunday, November 17, with proceeds going to The Asian Elephant Foundation. Photo by Andrea Papagianis
“Ramafly” by wildlife artist Keith Alway. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

“This is the most beautiful backdrop we have ever had for Elephant Parade, and the public and people here are ecstatic,” said Mike Spits, co-founder of the foundation. “They really love the elephants.”

The foundation traces its roots to an elephant hospital in Thailand, where Spits’ father and co-founder Marc Spits met Mosha, an injured Asian elephant, while traveling the countryside.

The young elephant, whose name means star in the tribal Karen language, lost a portion of her leg after stepping on a landmine and needing surgery, along with a prosthetic leg, to survive.

Spits and his father formed The Asian Elephant Foundation in 2006, and through its marquee fundraising event, the Elephant Parade, the foundation is able to highlight the endangered Asian elephant’s plight through artwork and advocacy.

Elephant Parade exhibits—from the first in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where Mike lives—and auctions worldwide have raised more than $6 million to date for those like Mosha, who, according to Mike, is handicapped but is a thriving and happy elephant.

The exhibit’s American journey began nearly four years ago when U.S. Ambassador to the Elephant Parade, local resident Dana Alan Yarger, began booking artists to participate in international events. With the backing of the resorts of Dana Point that make up the city’s Tourism Business Improvement District—the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort; The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa and DoubleTree Suites Doheny Beach—Yarger approached Spits about leading the parade’s American introduction.

The city of Dana Point signed on, and for the last 10 weeks, dozens of 5-foot-tall baby Asian elephant statues have been displayed throughout town. On Friday, November 15, the city will host a candlelight tribute at Lantern Bay Park at 5 p.m. led by city Councilman Scott Schoeffel.

The following day, many parade artists and environmental conservationists will be onsite giving talks and leading creative activities. Yarger will also be on hand leading elephant tours, explaining how the artwork came about, the Elephant Parade’s mission and the metaphors behind what artists were trying to achieve.

“I think this will really give value to the elephants not only as it relates to financial values, but also value as it relates to the cause of saving the Asian elephant,” Yarger said.

And the Elephant Goes to …

Dustin Otterbach's creation "Jack" is made from all re-purposed materials. Photo by Andrea Swayne
Dustin Otterbach’s creation “Jack” is made from all re-purposed materials. Photo by Andrea Swayne

On Sunday, November 17, about 20 elephant statues will be auctioned off at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa. Organizers are currently taking pre-bid offers at a minimum of $3,000, which includes two tickets to the charity auction. Tickets to the event are $175 per person and $300 for couples. To reserve a seat, email auction@elephantparade.com.

Historically elephant sales average between $13,000 and $15,000, Spits said. On the high end, elephants can go for upwards of $200,000, like Scottish artist Jack Vettriano’s “The Singing Butler Rides Again” from the 2010 parade in London. Vettriano’s elephant featured a sculpture of an umbrella wielding English butler, made famous in his painting titled “The Singing Butler,” which pictures a couple dancing on a beach along the Scottish coastline.

No matter the cost, Spits said he hopes each elephant in Dana Point finds a home where they will be presented as the unique pieces they are.

“We have some elephants here that are absolute magnificent pieces of art,” Spits said. “I don’t dare to say that I have a favorite, but if you look at the elephant by Dustin Otterbach, “Jack,” the cargo elephant, it is an absolute masterpiece, and I think one of the most beautiful, most exquisite pieces that has ever been created for Elephant Parade.”

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Dana PointElephant ParadeElephant Parade: Welcome to AmericaMike SpitsSouthern CaliforniaThe Asian Elephant FoundationTourism Business Improvement District
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

February 3, 2023
Dana Hills Students Get Unique Educational Experience with Dana Wharf Trip

Dana Hills Students Get Unique Educational Experience with Dana Wharf Trip

February 3, 2023
Capo Unified Trustees Take No Action on Controversial Charter School Proposal

OC Board of Education Approves New Capo Unified Charter School

February 3, 2023
Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

February 3, 2023
Next Post
Metrolink Service Between San Clemente Pier and Oceanside to Shut Down This Weekend

Metrolink Service Between San Clemente Pier and Oceanside to Shut Down This Weekend

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.