Some of you may remember the announcement I made here in the Mercuriosity Shop last July concerning the 3rd Annual Wildlife Mask Competition and Benefit Auction. John, who visits the Shop often, has created quite a mask, as you can see above. Meet Elvis, the South American Fruit Bat. John designed the wings to open and close over the face of the wearer. (If for some reason you didn’t see Elvis flapping, click here to see Elvis with wings unfolded, or try refreshing the screen.) Also, the eyes are very reflective, using some ingenius alchemy that John won’t disclose. And with a face like this, Elvis is every bit the charmer. The mask is made from papier mâchè using recycled grocery bags, dark purple colored art paper, a veil-like fabric for the wings, and two amber marbles.

I have verified that the mask did arrive at its intended destination in time for the competition, having been signed for by one S. Ates at 10:48 am. In other words, Elvis has left the building.

Please join me in wishing that Elvis not only raises a lot of money for the WWF and the victims of 9/11 during the auction on the 26th of September, but also that the judges award John with the top prize: the ergonomic Freedom Chair from Humanscale. Then he won’t have to sit on that awful kichen chair all night while he paints.