Discover a secret elephant mural in downtown bathroom

Large-scale drawings by artist Andrew Dailey, "Counting Sheep" and " Bloated Elevation" are on display in the Fountain Gallery, a secluded area at the back the The Contemporary Dayton. The art work will be on display until Dec. 21. LISA POWELL / STAFF

Large-scale drawings by artist Andrew Dailey, "Counting Sheep" and " Bloated Elevation" are on display in the Fountain Gallery, a secluded area at the back the The Contemporary Dayton. The art work will be on display until Dec. 21. LISA POWELL / STAFF

Have you seen the elephant in the bathroom?

Frightened by a tiny mouse, it is precariously balancing on the top of a water fountain.

How about the animals standing on top of each other?

>> The Contemporary Dayton has the holiday season wrapped up with handcrafted gifts

Large-scale drawings by artist Andrew Dailey, "Counting Sheep" and " Bloated Elevation" are on display in the Fountain Gallery, a secluded area at the back the The Contemporary Dayton. The art work will be on display until Dec. 21. LISA POWELL / STAFF

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You can find this wacky zoo, created by artist Andrew Dailey, in a covert space housing restrooms and storage at the back of The Contemporary Dayton.

The name for the secluded area, The Fountain Gallery, was inspired by two water fountains mounted on the wall, said Eva Buttacavoli, The Contemporary’s executive director and chief curator.

Each year the gallery, 118 N. Jefferson St. in Dayton, commissions an artist working on their skills to create an artwork in the Fountain Gallery, Buttacavoli said. The space offers an opportunity to practice scaling art around architectural features like doors, duct work and door knobs.

Large-scale drawings by artist Andrew Dailey, "Counting Sheep" and " Bloated Elevation" are on display in the Fountain Gallery, a secluded area at the back the The Contemporary Dayton. The art work will be on display until Dec. 21. LISA POWELL / STAFF

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Dailey’s detailed graphite drawing of the large-scale elephant, “Bloated Elevation,” spans the area between the restroom doors. Above the signage for men and women are two tiny mice.

The companion piece, “Counting Sheep,” depicts sheep stacked on top of each other, a wolf at the very top.

“They are quite whimsical,” Buttacavoli said. “The hand drawing will blow you away because he did not project them or do them on a grid.”

Large-scale drawings by artist Andrew Dailey, "Counting Sheep" and " Bloated Elevation" are on display in the Fountain Gallery, a secluded area at the back the The Contemporary Dayton. The art work will be on display until Dec. 21. LISA POWELL / STAFF

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The animal artwork can be seen in the Fountain Gallery through Dec. 21. During the holiday break, a new piece, a poem written by Sierre Leone, will be hand lettered in the gallery.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: "Bloated Elevation" and "Counting Sheep" can be viewed in the Fountain Gallery through Dec. 21. The annual Holiday Gift Gallery is also open at this time.

WHERE: The Contemporary Dayton, 118 N. Jefferson St. in Dayton

HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays and December First Friday, open until 8 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

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