THE ELEPHANTINE Ceramics Sculpture

In my cozy little studio I kept seeing these visions. Each time I started a new sculpture, the image of elephant ears would pop into my head. I mean, who wouldn’t be intrigued by that? This vision wouldn’t leave me alone, like that one song that gets stuck in your head for weeks. Finally, I gave in and decided to sculpt a woman’s head with, you guessed it, elephant ears. As I began shaping those ears, I started seeing an elephant’s trunk—yes, that’s right. So, naturally, I added it to the sculpture. By the time I finished and fired it in the black ceramics kiln, the sculpture had taken on a life of its own—half woman, half elephant. When people saw it, they immediately said, “Oh, it’s Ganesha!” Now, here’s the funny part: I had only a very general idea of who Ganesha was. I knew he was a Hindu god with an elephant head, but that was about it. I wasn’t into Hindu religion and never knew the full story. I certainly wasn’t thinking about Ganesha when I made the sculpture. But somehow, through this odd combination of visions, I had sculpted something that resonated with a lot of people. It was as if Ganesha himself had guided my hands. I always say, that I’m only the hands.

For those of you who aren’t up on your Hindu mythology, let me tell you a little story about Ganesha:

Ganesha, also known as Ganapati, is one of the most beloved deities in Hinduism. Recognizable by his elephant head, he is the god of beginnings, wisdom, and the remover of obstacles. His image is often seen at the entrances of homes and temples, inviting good fortune and protection. According to legend, Ganesha was created by the goddess Parvati, who fashioned him out of clay and breathed life into him. She instructed him to guard her chambers, but when her husband, Shiva, returned home, Ganesha—unaware of who he was—prevented him from entering. In a fit of rage, Shiva severed Ganesha’s head. Devastated, Parvati demanded that Shiva restore their son to life. Shiva replaced Ganesha’s head with that of an elephant, bestowing upon him a new, divine identity.

Ganesha’s elephant head symbolizes wisdom, understanding, and a discriminating intellect that one must possess to attain perfection in life. His large ears signify a capacity to listen and reflect, while his trunk, able to perform both delicate and powerful tasks, represents adaptability and efficiency. Ganesha is also known for his love of sweets, symbolizing the sweetness of the spiritual path and the rewards of devotion.

I didn’t set out to make Ganesha, but somehow, that’s what happened. It’s like the vision had a mind of its own and just used me as the medium. So, here I am, with a sculpture that looks like a cross between a serene woman and an elephant, complete with a trunk.

In the end, this piece reminds me of the mysterious ways inspiration works. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and trust the process. Who knows? You might end up creating something that touches people in unexpected ways. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get a good story out of it too.

Please note that the colors in the pictures may appear slightly different in person due to variations in lighting when the photos were taken.