Be a party pooper

Billed as the "wildest party of the season," this year's Rock 'n Roar fundraising event at The Virginia Zoo Saturday has something for the organic party animal - "dung doodes," by "outsider artist" Eric Easton.

Using elephant dung as his medium, Easton's creature sculptures are made from pieces of elephant dung that have been dried and then enhanced with appendages and acrylic paint. The process of preparing and completing each dung doode takes more than a year. Easton's creations have been collected by art and animal lovers throughout the Midwest.

The Virginia Zoo is the first zoo along the East Coast to offer these one-of-a-kind creations.

Saturday's Rock 'n Roar also will feature live music, food, a costume contest and a silent auction. Other unique items to be auctioned are paintings created by the zoo's resident elephants.

For more information about Rock 'n Roar, call 441-2374, Ext. 253 or visit www.virginiazoo.org.