What About That Elephant Gas Mask?

We made a gas mask for an elephant... What can we make for YOU?

Sculptor Charles Jones was looking for a craftsman to build something that had never been done before: a leather gas mask to fit an African elephant. Eventually he found Blue Dog Leather, and Charles commissioned Keith to build his project. The two collaborated over several months, spending hours in discussion of Charles' concept, and the methods and materials that would make Charles' vision become reality.

The resulting mask, named Kyoto, debuted at the Boston Sculptors Gallery on November 15, 2008.   Since then, Kyoto has been displayed in several other venues, always attracting great interest and admiration. 

What did it take to build this beautiful piece of art?
- one fiberglass taxidermy form of an elephant head, provided by Charles
- 8 sides of leather, approximately 140 square feet
- 28 latigo straps, approximately 60 linear feet
- 14 buckles
- 50 feet of hand stitching, 6 stitches to the inch
- 20 feet of machine stitching
- many hours of work, and much creative thinking