PINK ELEPHANT
Pink Elephant 12” x 12”
The Pink Elephant Car Wash sign has been a beacon in Seattle since 1956 as it sat on the corner of Battery Street and Denny Way. This 5,000 pound sign was removed on November 24th, 2020 and will end up living at the Museum of History and Industry—or MOHAI—in South Lake Union just down the hill from where it used to spin.
That whole part of town is nearly unrecognizable these days. Between Mercer Street being rerouted, the viaduct and Battery Street tunnel being removed—and now the big pink elephant who used to sit right there—this area has lost all its landmarks from the not-so-old days.
In 2019 I had this painting at my solo show at SAM Gallery. One day I got a call from a girl at Tube Art Group. She wanted to meet with me at the gallery and talk to her about my show—and specifically about this sign. The company she worked for had the original sketches for it, so she brought me copies of the company’s history as well as copies of the original plans. I have no idea what all the markings mean, but I love the notes written all over them. This was a great gift to me, but I also enjoyed how such a coincidence dug up so much history.
The sign’s designer Beatrice Haverfield not only created the Pink Elephant, but also the famous Ivar’s sign as well as Dick’s Drive-In. Super cool.
It’s hard to lose these signs. It happens all over the country. Many end up in scrap piles. Some are stolen and some end up in private collection. This sign will be restored by the talented people at Western Neon before it goes to MOHAI so I know it will end up beautiful. We are lucky that the Pink Elephant is being saved and will live in a museum. Still, there’s a part of me that wishes it could remain in its natural habitat.