Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Fairuz and the Elephant King at the Lake of the Moon, 1984

Cappy Thompson
(American, born 1952)

Location: South Bay Elementary, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Cappy Thompson's Fairuz and the Elephant King at the Lake of the Moon is part of a series of stained glass windows that depict three Persian myths. These moral stories are hundreds of years old and are attributed to the Fables of Bidpai.

The story of this window is that a herd of elephants on their way to a lake, passes through a rabbit colony and tramples many of the small animals. One of the rabbits claims that he is a messenger from the Moon and leads the elephant king to the lake, where the Moon is reflected in the water. When the elephant king tries to touch the moon with his trunk, the water and the reflection of the Moon is disturbed. The rabbit convinces the elephant king that now the Moon is shaking with anger. The elephant king asks for forgiveness from the Moon and promises to never again harm the rabbits. The moral is that smarts win over might!

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with North Thurston Public Schools.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Celebrated Seattle-based glass artist Cappy Thompson creates rich "mytho-poetic narratives" in her vibrant and animated stained-glass artworks. Her site-specific installations draw imagery from myths, poetry, and personal expression.
To create her vivid and detailed scenes, Thompson often uses a glass painting technique called "grisaille" where black line drawings are painted on glass, which is then fired in a kiln to make the line drawings permanent. Grisaille has existed since medieval times (approximately 450-1450) and is what you often see in stained glass windows in European churches.
Thompson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Western Washington in 1976. She has taught at art and glass programs around the world from Mexico to Australia to Germany, as well as locally at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington, and Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle.