Giant Elon Musk head sculpted by B.C. artist part of crypto stunt making international headlines
When a B.C. metal artist was asked to create a giant sculpture with Elon Musk's head on the body of a goat riding a rocket he had no idea who would want to create such a thing or why.
Kevin Stone, who is from Chilliwack, says he was first approached by a designer from California about the massive project last year.
"I thought it was a pretty strange request," he tells CTV News.
"At the time, I didn't know who I was doing the project for. And initially, I actually thought it was Elon."
Stone and his wife estimated sculpting the 50-foot-long chimera would take more than a year. That timeline didn't work for the mystery client, so after some negotiations, Stone committed to making the billionaire's head.
The finished product is about six feet tall by four feet wide, made out of eight-inch thick aluminum and weighing in at over 200 pounds. It took six months to complete.
"I thought it was such a crazy project. I mean, who builds a giant Elon goat riding a rocket. But it was actually a really good learning experience. And a fun project to build. We had a great time building it," Stone says.
And the client? Stone says when it came time to sign the contract he learned it was destined to be part of a marketing stunt for a cryptocurrency company called Elon GOAT.
"They asked me initially if I was interested in crypto, and to be honest with you, I didn't even know what crypto was," Stone recalls.
"And I said, 'No, I only accept cash.'"
The finished head was shipped to the U.S. and the finished sculpture – which was mounted to a trailer hooked up to hydraulics, and equipped with a fuel system that allows the rocket to shoot fire – was dropped off at Tesla’s Giga factory in Austin last weekend. The company says the total cost was $600,000.
Since then, it has made international headlines.
The initial plan was for the stunt to take place over the summer, but there were delays. Ultimately, Stone says the timing, which corresponds with Musk's controversial moves since taking over Twitter, has led to even more publicity.
"I'm thrilled. I mean for me, it was a good commission. It was a great challenge to try to create. And then on top of that, I've had nothing but positive publicity for it," Stone says.
"It's been thrilling for me. It brings more awareness to my artwork, so it's been fantastic."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Spencer Harwood
Photo submitted by Kevin Stone.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.