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Blessing of the Elephants – Community Exhibition Opening

May 30, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Photo by Corey Favino, Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation.

Join us on Friday, May 30 from 5 – 7 p.m. for the community exhibition opening of The Great Elephant Migration. This is a FREE community event.

This installation will feature 30 life-size elephants, sculptured from Lantana camara, on the Museum’s Sculpture Trail. Each elephant is a replica of an elephant living in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, sculpted by local Indigenous artisans known as The Real Elephant Collective. This campaign, launched in July 2024 in Newport, RI, began with 100 magnificent Indian elephants migrating across the United States to share their coexistence story with the world. The Great Elephant Migration supports conservation NGOs around the world who have found ways to live alongside lions, leopards, elephants, and some of the planet’s most vulnerable animals. As the elephants travel the world, they will tell the story of Asia’s wild elephants and the Indigenous communities living alongside them, where people and elephants coexist in the densest populations in the world. During the opening event at the Museum, welcome the herd while enjoying free vegetarian samosas from Everest Momo Shack + complimentary cocktails or nonalcoholic drinks from Bar-SIP-Bar. Weather permitting, the food and beverage will be served in the roundabout on the South end of the Sculpture Trail.

Acclaimed Blackfeet painter and ledger artist Terrance Guardipee will lead a blessing of the elephants. Attendees are encouraged to explore the Sculpture Trail to see our other outdoor exhibition, Prismatic Menagerie: Origami-Inspired Sculptures by Hacer. Participants are also welcome to explore our indoor exhibits, including the summer exhibitions Wildlife Photographer of the Year and A Conceptual Thread.

  • Vegetarian samosas from Everest Momo Shack (first 300 people)
  • Cocktails from Bar-SIP-Bar (one drink per person, first 300 people, 21+)
  • Non Alcoholic Drinks (all ages)
  • Blessing of the Elephants by Blackfeet artist Terrance Guardipee

This event is generously sponsored by the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board and Long, Reimer, Winegar. We can’t wait for you to meet the elephants!

Details

Date:
May 30, 2025
Time:
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
What People Are Saying
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"Phenomenal gallery! Exquisitely curated! Must-see highlight of our trip. P.S. Lunch was also delicious!"
— Jen R.
"Amazing collection of art. This is truly a special place!"
— David L.
"Absolutely incredible! We will be back!"
— Sebastian D.
"Love the variety of art, the historic documentation, and how attitudes changed and developed about wilderness and wildlife. Plus, wonderful interactive areas!"
— Bill S.
"Lunch was fab - the trout po' boy and lettuce wraps, wow!"
— Pamela Ann S.
"This is one of my happy places. I stop here every time I'm in Jackson."
— Monica M.
"Best food in town and 5-star service! We'll be coming back again! "
— Anna T.
"Not only was the museum interesting, the all gender bathroom was great. Thank you for thinking about LGBTQ and disabled people!"
— Bishnu A.