Mystery of inflatable pink elephant on a boat in Morecambe is solved

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 08:25

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

'Fragile Elephant' on display on Anthony Padgett's 'Art Boat' in Morecambe

An inflatable pink elephant perched on top of a boat moored on the sands in Morecambe has been getting lots of attention and we can reveal why it's there!

Passers-by on the Prom have had to do a 'double take' when spying the elephant and there has been plenty of speculation on social media about it.

As it turns out, the pink pachyderm is the brainchild of local artist Anthony Padgett.

It's actually an art installation called 'Fragile Elephant' and it has been sitting on the boat to promote the upcoming Morecambe Bay Art Fair.

In recent months, Anthony has been using his Art Boat moored opposite the Strathmore Hotel on Morecambe prom to display different pieces of artwork.

Some of them have been 'floating exhibitions' on the Bay, and people have been invited to swim across to view artwork on the boat 'gallery'.

Earlier this year, Anthony strapped a beach ball to the top of the Art Boat for an art installation he called 'Beach Ball Boat'.

Anthony, who is also known locally as a vintage dance teacher, (pictured below at the 2022 Vintage by the sea festival with fellow dance teacher Stephanie Sturges), is no stranger to creating art in Morecambe that gets people talking.

In 2021, his drain pipe sculpture of the boxer Tyson Fury (below) gained national media coverage.

He also created the Praying Shell sculpture which overlooks the Bay at Bolton-le-Sands.

Anthony is the organiser of the Morecambe Bay Art Fair and this year's event will be held on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2 at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe.

Modern, traditional and contemporary art will be on display and admission is free. It runs from noon to 4pm both days.

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