The Baroness and Mr Spunky Support Jumbo Initiative

Chiswick artists mosaic a mammal for London's Elephant Parade

Local artists, Carrie Reichardt aka The Baroness and her partner Mr Spunky are one of 200 specially chosen individuals who will taking part in what has been billed as London’s biggest outdoor art event on record.

They will be collaborating with the artist Nick Reynolds (son of Great Train robber Bruce Reynolds and harmonic player with the band Alabama 3) on one of the elephants. Their elephant is being sponsored by Topps Tiles.

Elephant Parade London will see a herd of 200 fibreglass elephants descend on the parks, streets and squares of the capital in May, June and July next year. The unique sculptures will then be auctioned in the summer of 2010 by Sotheby’s, with all funds raised going towards conservation projects across Asia.

In the last one hundred years, Asian elephant populations have plummeted from 200,000 to circa 30,000 with 66% of those losses occurring in the last ten years.

Elephant Parade London aims to channel £1million into buying strategic habitat, which is the only real way to save this species from extinction.

Carrie Reichardt and Mr Spunky join an eclectic collection of creative talent, including artists such as Marc Quinn, Jack Vettriano and Sacha Jafri as well as names from the fashion world such as designers Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger and Lulu Guinness.

The campaign is backed by Mayor Boris Johnson, as well as celebrities including Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Michael Palin.

Carrie explains how she feels to be involved. “Having mosaic my house, and then a truck it seems only fitting that I should now attempt to mosaic a mammal. I really believe that ours will be a real show stopper piece. Mutated and mosaic to reveal the realities of what is happening to the Indian elephant and why we must do everything in our power to help them”

You can see their elephant by visiting London when the Parade takes place next year. For more information and details on how you can help, please contact Elephant Family, the official charity and organisers of the campaign www.elephantfamily.org

January 19, 2010