Exclusive
Exclusive: BitTrunks Co-Head Dwain Schenck on World’s First Elephant Art NFTs to Support the Herd
Suda with her sunset art | Photo credit: Dwain SchenckIt, presumably, won’t be wrong to summon that the world that predominately runs on…
Suda with her sunset art | Photo credit: Dwain Schenck
It, presumably, won’t be wrong to summon that the world that predominately runs on representative money is currently shifting towards digital currency. In that race, NFTs seem to be one of the most preferred choices.
Also termed non-fungible token, NFT is a means of uniquely representing an object or an idea — whether physical or virtual — which prevents replication or alteration and provides proof of ownership, like it is the ultimate authenticity card.
In recent times, we saw singers buying NFTs from the likes of Eminem, and also producers selling film NFTs.
Interestingly, Dwain Schenck, the co-head of BitTrunks, tells GLAMOUR BUFF that he and his team at BitTrunks launched the world’s first NFT art made by an elephant earlier in October this year. Surreal, isn’t it?
“The idea that an elephant could paint was utter amazement,” Schenck says, sharing his first impression of the elephant art. “When I saw with my own eyes Tunwa and Suda making this incredible art it was still too incredible to comprehend.”
But the proceed from the sale of Elephant Art NFTs are going nowhere but to support the herd of elephants at the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic.
In the exclusive interview, Schenck, who is also the founder of strategic communications and consulting firm Schenck Strategies, talks about the world’s first NFT art made by elephant and everything around it.
GB: A NFT art, that, too, made by a seven-year-old elephant is something exclusive. Tell us more about your first impression of Elephant Art NFTs?
DS: Suda, already famous in her own right for her artistic abilities, was not just painting landscapes. She can paint self-portraits. And these aren’t just splashes of color splattered on canvass – but art with trees, animals, and blue skies blended together to make something truly beautiful. This was hands down the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Let’s face it, there are many things to love about elephants. People are naturally drawn to them because they are caring, intelligent, and are able to form bonds and show empathy. But who knew some have the ability to make art with their trunks? It’s natural to be skeptical, especially when it looks as if the painting could have been made by a human artist.
What seals the deal is we provide each collector of every BitTrunks NFT purchased a video documenting the entire artistic process, start to finish, along with photos and a certificate of authenticity. That’s when it sinks in that not only are you watching something truly magical take place, you have also purchased something incredibly unique, verging on priceless. What’s more, the buyer also receives the actual painting on canvass that can be hung on the wall. This is also historically special because a portion of the proceeds of the sale of every NFT goes to help support the elephant park and lifesaving medical clinic where Tunwa and Suda live along with more than 80 other elephants. You can purchase Elephant Art by visiting the official Elephant Art Online website.
GB: So, when did this thing initially start? Tell us about the process and people involved in this fascinating work.
DS: BitTrunks is the NFT-branch of Elephant Art Online (EAO). EAO announced the debut of its NFT (non-fungible token) initial release featuring the world’s first NFT created by an elephant on October 18, 2021. The first 1 of 1 NFT artwork to be made available to the world was called the Tree of Life and was created by Tunwa, a 7-year-old male elephant who was born and raised at the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The NFT is available on our OpenSea page, the first and largest peer-to-peer marketplace for NFTs. Additional value-added content that comes with this particular NFT includes outtakes of Tunwa painting, a day-in-the-life of him interacting with other elephants in his habitat, and a digitally verifiable certificate of authenticity of the painting (QR Code).
Tunwa with Tree of Life art
Maetaeng Elephant Park was formed in 1996 to aid elephants now free but with nowhere to go after the 1989 ban on logging in Thailand. Seeing increased numbers of elephants forced to roam city streets and take up work in the illegal logging trade, the park decided to create a safe and friendly work environment where visitors to the Kingdom of Thailand would be able to see these majestic animals up close and help support the park’s efforts.
In 2000, elephant handlers started to humanely teach a few select elephants how to paint. The idea was to raise enough money so that the park could build an elephant hospital. This dream came true in 2006 when the park became the first government-licensed facility to operate an elephant hospital in Northern Thailand.
GB: Since you are the co-head of BitTrunks, can you tell us if the main idea behind creating the platform was to promote elephant-made arts?
DS: Elephant Art Online, which is the original seller of authentic elephant paintings, decided to start BitTrunks as a way to continue to surprise the NFT community with regular exclusive releases that are aimed towards investor collectors who are looking for long and short-term gains in the lucrative NFT market. Our goal is to create a unique offering that will act as a profitable investment vehicle while at the same time generating needed funds for our elephant park and elephant medical clinic to survive and thrive.
Prior to the pandemic, Suda and Tunwa were the star attraction at the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic in Chiang Mai, Thailand, painting for scores of visiting tourists as a way to raise money to care for and feed more than 80 elephants living at the park. Times were good. Then COVID-19 hit, grinding tourism to a halt – the very lifeblood and funding source to care for the elephants. Our goal is to be able to use NFTs as a funding source instead of relying on tourism. If we can make this a working model, we plan to expand this concept and help other struggling animal parks in Thailand and elsewhere.
GB: That is awesome!
DS: Yes! We also have several new mind-blowing NFTs in the works. We will soon launch a lower-priced collection starting at 0.3 ETH that will be based on Suda’s paintings. This will allow the general NFT community the ability to collect and trade our NFTs. We also plan to release a new collection that is an art collaboration between our elephant Tunwa and his mahout (caretaker). This means that the paintings will be made both by Tunwa and his mahout.
GB: You previously mentioned something very touching – about the proceeds from the sales of the Elephant Art NFTs being used to support the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic. Can you elaborate more about this noble cause?
DS: In 2000, we started to teach our elephants how to paint. Suda is known for her unique artistic talents. Suda is a 15-year-old girl who has been painting for 10 years. She is responsible for raising thousands of dollars for our elephant hospital. She has been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Joe Rogan’s podcast for her lasting ability to create beautiful mountainscapes, flowering trees, and waterfalls.
The idea was to sell the paintings to raise enough money so that we could build an elephant clinic at the park. In 2006, we became the first elephant park with a government-licensed hospital on its premises in Northern Thailand that now treats an estimated 800 elephants in the area, free of charge.
Fruit feast for elephants
To keep this kind of service going we depend on the generosity of those who visit the park, general donations, and the purchase of elephant paintings on our website. Due to COVID-19, and the fact that tourism and the funds that come with it have dried up, it seemed natural to turn one of our most beautiful paintings into a 1 of 1 NFT. There’s nothing like it in the world. It’s called the Tree of Life and can be purchased by visiting our OpenSea page.
It’s a one-of-kind investment opportunity that we feel will create inexplicable value for anyone who is lucky enough to purchase it. The owner of this NFT will also know they are giving back in ways few can imagine by supporting 100’s of elephants for years to come.
GB: Do you also believe that such an exemplary campaign will bring awareness about the conservation of elephants, as well as animal conversation as a whole?
DS: We believe BitTrunks NFTs will be a great investment and bring more awareness to the importance of animal welfare and the preservation and protection of elephants. Sadly, elephant populations have experienced significant declines over the last century. While some populations of African elephants are expanding, primarily in southern Africa, numbers are continuing to fall in other areas, particularly in central Africa and parts of East Africa. Asian elephant numbers have dropped by at least 50% over the last three generations, and they are still in decline today. With only 40,000 – 50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered.
We opened the Maetaeng Elephant Park & Clinic in 1996 to provide a safe environment for the many elephants and their mahouts, the elephant’s caretaker, who lost their job because of the Thai Government ban on all logging practices in protected forests.
With the modernization and commercialization of Thailand in the 20th century, the elephant habitat was destroyed at an unprecedented rate as domesticated elephants were used by non-Thai owners in the teak logging industry until the ban in 1989. As a result, Thai elephants were forced to survive either in the illegal logging industry, walking the city streets begging, or from tourism. An argument can be made that a well-run elephant camp like ours provides a nurturing environment for the elephants and supports the mahout and their families.
GB: Any special mentions who you feel are doing their best to promote animal conservation.
DS: We are not affiliated in any way with Joe Rogan, but he visited our park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a few years ago, and he has raised awareness about our elephant paintings on several occasions. There are also numerous celebrities that are raising awareness about elephant protection and conservation, for which we are grateful.
GB: Now, the initiative has been taken and we expect the Elephant Art NFTs led by BitTrunks to go miles. But where do you personally see this idea in the coming few years?
DS: The idea to create the world’s first-ever NFT art made by an elephant became a natural extension for us to leverage what has been taking place for more than a decade at our elephant park. Up to now, almost all investors in NFTs are in it for profit. We do see an opportunity here to offer more. Our business model accommodates philanthropic-minded investors the ability to enter the scene and do good for themselves and in our case, the elephants. Money will always be the driver of any new technology. How we all use this tool remains to be seen. We believe it will evolve in the same direction as a traditional art gallery, but with much more potential and opportunity.
Painting made by Suda
Some experts claim it is the next new fundraising frontier. NFTs have allowed charities, celebrities, and individuals to auction off their digital creations, with all or most of the proceeds going to a charity of their choice. In the coming months and years, we will roll out varied natural and vectorized collections of elephant art NFTs. We will also vary the themes of the paintings. Suda and Tunwa don’t just paint mountains and fields. They are equally talented at painting space and futuristic vistas and pop art images. More to come on that exciting front.
GB: Let us focus slightly more on NFTs and the digital market. How can a common man benefit from such NFTs?
DS: It is not easy to explain NFTs in a few sentences. One thing is sure, it will go mainstream in the very near future. A common term for NFT, Cryptocurrency, and Metaverse is Internet 3.0. This is the future, and what it means is that trade and possessions will be virtual in the future, and NFTs will undoubtedly play a big role in this. Instead of trading with fiat money or even cryptocurrency, NFTs will be used as a token of trade. Especially in the gaming space where players will be able to purchase game characters, skills, and items. I think it is too early to say exactly how NFTs will be beneficial for the common man, outside of the above-mentioned applications. It is a fairly new technology and is still evolving.
GB: Also, where should we head to purchase these special Elephant Art NFTs?
DS: You can purchase a BitTrunks NFT by visiting our OpenSea page. Buying an Elephant Art NFT is an investment into what is easily some of the most unique paintings on the planet. There is so much more behind the art as well. The lucky collector will usher in a brighter future for the herd – for the older elephants and the ones yet to be born. It’s a win-win for all.
Tree of Life by Tunwa
GB: Do you have a message for Tunwa? Jokes apart, what would you tell those who want to buy the Elephant Art NFTs?
DS: It’s important for people to know that all of our elephants are treated humanely and ethically. Every morning the elephants at the park are led down to the MaeTaeng river to take a morning bath followed by a short 30-minute walk with their mahouts followed by breakfast that consists of fresh grass, melons, bananas, mangos, coconuts, corn stalks, and other seasonal non-citrus fruits.
Each elephant consumes up to 650 pounds of food per day or around 10 percent of its body weight. This routine takes place throughout the day. A team of veterinarians also attends to every elephant and checks the skin, legs, feet, and eyes, and looks for any signs of stress or fatigue.
Another interesting fact is each painting created by Tunwa takes a little over four hours to produce, including snack breaks and time off to walk around the park and eat bananas, one of his favorite treats. Tunwa and the other painting elephants are never forced to make art and when they lose interest they come back later to begin again or just take the day off.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. If you have any inquiries, email us at [email protected].
Jeff Garlin — the veteran comedian and actor best known for playing Jeff Greene on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Murray Goldberg on ABC’s The Goldbergs — has never been the type to flaunt his personal life. But when it comes to Sari Tracht, he makes an exception.
Since going Instagram-official in 2021, Garlin has made it increasingly clear — through red carpet appearances, heartfelt captions, and continued public posts — that this relationship is the real thing. As of 2026, the two remain a couple, and Garlin shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to letting the world know it.
Here is everything to know about Jeff Garlin and Sari Tracht’s relationship, how it began, who Sari is, and what the couple have been up to most recently.
How Jeff Garlin and Sari Tracht Went Public
The first glimpse fans got of Sari Tracht came on May 26, 2021, when Garlin posted a selfie of the two of them on Instagram with the caption: “I dig this woman. More surprising is that she digs me.” The post was warm and characteristically self-deprecating — classic Garlin — and it immediately set social media alight with speculation about whether the two were more than friends.
Garlin did not confirm the relationship directly at that point, but he did not have to. The caption spoke for itself, and fans poured into the comments with their well-wishes.
Their first official public appearance as a couple came on October 19, 2021, at the HBO premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11 at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles. Garlin arrived with Tracht by his side and wrapped his arm across her shoulders for photos — a moment that removed any remaining ambiguity.
Then, on December 8, 2023, Garlin made it unambiguously official with a new Instagram post featuring a photo of the two of them together. The caption read: “This is my partner. Her name is Sari. I don’t know how this happened. Life is wonderful.”
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. One fan wrote, “You got yourself a partner!” Another admitted, “I’m naturally jealous… is that weird.” The post confirmed what followers had long suspected: this was not a passing romance.
Jeff Garlin and Sari Tracht’s Relationship Timeline: 2024–2026
Since that December 2023 declaration, the couple have continued to appear together publicly at major events — and Garlin has kept sharing moments of their relationship on Instagram.
January 30, 2024 — Garlin and Tracht attended the Los Angeles premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 — the final season of the beloved HBO comedy — at the DGA Theater Complex. It was a significant milestone: Garlin’s last major red carpet walk for the show that defined much of his career, and Tracht was right there beside him.
September 15, 2024 — The couple stepped out together for the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Garlin wearing a classic suit and Tracht drawing attention in her own right. Photos from the red carpet, captured by Getty Images and the Associated Press, showed the two posing together and looking every bit the comfortable, happy couple.
2025–2026 — Garlin has continued to post photos with Tracht on Instagram, including two recent posts that confirm their relationship is going as strong as ever. His captions have remained consistent in tone — affectionate, a little surprised by his own luck, and genuinely joyful. For a man who has spoken openly about some of the darkest periods of his life, that contentment is meaningful.
Who Is Sari Tracht?
While Garlin is the familiar face, Sari Tracht is far from a background figure. She is a well-established professional in the entertainment industry in her own right, with a career spanning two decades in film and television editing.
Early Life and Education
Sari Rochelle Tracht was born on March 17, 1981, in Detroit, Michigan. She is one of three children born to Arnold and Janice Tracht. Her father, Arnold, is a local dentist; her mother, Janice, is a clinical social worker. Her brother, Ryan Tracht, is based in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
Tracht attended Western Michigan University from 1999 to 2001 before transferring to Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in film editing in 2004. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2005 to begin her professional career.
Career as an Editor
Tracht’s entry into Hollywood came through a junior editor role on a DVD featurette for acclaimed filmmaker Sam Raimi’s production The Messengers — a formative mentorship that gave her the foundation for everything that followed.
Over the next two decades, she built an impressive and varied portfolio across reality television, documentaries, commercials, trailers, promos, digital content, music videos, and scripted television. Her career is defined by both technical precision and a strong creative instinct, particularly when it comes to sound design and music integration.
Her former employer Kai Hasson, founder of Portal A Interactive, has spoken highly of her work ethic: “She pushes the envelope. As her boss, I love that trait about Sari.”
Her credit list includes well-known projects such as:
- Black-ish (ABC)
- Liza on Demand (YouTube Premium)
- Drunk History (Comedy Central) — where she worked for nearly two years until February 2020
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
- Patriot (Amazon Studios)
- The Strain (FX)
She has collaborated with major companies, including E!, Hulu, VICE Media, NBC, FX Networks, Comedy Central, Amazon Studios, and CollegeHumor Media. More recently, she has worked as a freelance editor, including a stint with Above Average.
Tracht is not merely Jeff Garlin’s girlfriend — she is a creative professional who has spent her career working on some of the most recognizable projects in American comedy television.
Jeff Garlin’s Previous Marriage
Before Tracht, Garlin was married for over two decades to Marla Beth Cahan, a casting director. The two wed in 1994 — Garlin proposed to her during a Neil Diamond concert, in a moment as quintessentially him as anything from his stand-up. Together they had two sons: James Garlin (born 1996) and Duke Garlin (born 2000).
The marriage ended in 2018 after Garlin filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The split was finalized in September 2018. Despite the end of the marriage, Garlin has spoken warmly about Cahan in interviews, including on the All’s Fair with Laura Wasser podcast, where he described his love and care for her even after their separation.
Marla Cahan has had a distinguished career of her own. As a casting director and actress, she has worked on notable projects including the 2019 biopic Bombshell, the 1999 action-drama Arlington Road, the 2005 comedy The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and the 2023 comedy film You People.
Jeff Garlin in 2026
Now 63, Garlin is in a new and quietly fulfilling chapter of his life. Both of his long-running television shows — The Goldbergs and Curb Your Enthusiasm — have come to an end. The Goldbergs concluded its run after Season 11, while Curb Your Enthusiasm wrapped its historic 24-year run with Season 12 in April 2024.
Rather than retreating from the public eye, Garlin has returned to his roots. He continues to perform stand-up comedy, the craft that first brought him to national attention when he was performing with The Second City in Chicago in the 1980s. He has spoken in interviews about how returning to live performance helped him through some of his most difficult personal periods, including his bipolar disorder diagnosis and a stroke that required a lengthy recovery.
He has also embraced photography as a serious creative pursuit. His photo exhibition Big Bowl of Wonderful has shown in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Boston — and in September 2026, publishing house Rizzoli will release his photobook, Best Seat in the House: Photography by Jeff Garlin, marking a significant milestone in that side of his creative life.
Through all of it, Tracht has remained a constant presence.
A Relationship Built on Genuine Joy
What makes the Garlin–Tracht relationship stand out — at least in how Garlin presents it publicly — is its lack of performance. There are no staged paparazzi moments, no carefully orchestrated press narratives. There are just Instagram captions from a 63-year-old comedian who still seems a little amazed that someone this good ended up in his corner.
“I don’t know how this happened,” he wrote in 2023. “Life is wonderful.”
For a man who has been remarkably open about the valleys of the last several years — the professional turbulence, the health struggles, the bipolar diagnosis — that kind of straightforward happiness is its own kind of statement.
As of 2026, Jeff Garlin and Sari Tracht are still together, still appearing publicly side by side, and still, by all appearances, very much in love.
Exclusive
Rob Rausch Confirms New Romance After Historic ‘The Traitors’ Win: ‘I’ve Been Dating for Two Months’
The reality star shuts down Maura Higgins romance rumors and reveals he is currently building a private woodworking project for his new love.
Rob Rausch has a lot to celebrate this February. Just one day after pulling off the ultimate deception to win Season 4 of Peacock’s The Traitors, the 27-year-old reality star has confirmed that his heart is officially taken. During the highly anticipated The Traitors reunion, which aired Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, the professional snake wrangler revealed that he has been in a committed relationship for two months.
The news comes as a blow to “shippers” who were hoping for a real-life romance between Rob and his Love Island alum and The Traitors co-star, Maura Higgins. Throughout the season, the pair’s “flirty faithfulness” was a central storyline, culminating in a shocking finale where Rob betrayed Maura’s blind trust to claim the entire $220,800 prize pot for himself. When host Andy Cohen asked during the reunion if there was any chance for a romantic spark between the two now that the game is over, Rob was quick to shut it down, confirming his status with a new, private partner.
While Rob is keeping his girlfriend’s identity under wraps for now, eagle-eyed fans have already begun the investigation. DeuxMoi recently shared a grainy photo of the reality star out and about in Kansas City with a mystery woman, sparking rumors that his new flame may be a non-celebrity from the Midwest.
In a new profile for The Cut published alongside his win, Rob gave a rare glimpse into how he’s spending his time away from the cameras. The feature noted that the Alabama native is “currently working on a woodworking project for his girlfriend,” though he declined to share her name or how they met. This “private but not secret” approach is a departure from his highly publicized flings on Love Island USA Seasons 5 and 6, where his “villain era” and breakup with Leah Kateb became viral sensations.
Maura Higgins, who was left “gobsmacked” and jokingly called Rob a “snake” after his Traitor reveal, seems to be taking the relationship news in stride. During the reunion, she teased Rob about his “good lying skills,” telling him, “You’re never going to have a girlfriend after this.” Rob countered with a laugh, noting that his current partner actually finds his strategic mind “impressive” rather than terrifying.
As for that $220,800 prize? Rob says he plans to be responsible with his winnings—but not before making things right with Maura. He confirmed during the reunion that he is officially buying her a Hermès Birkin bag as a “betrayal apology.” With a record-breaking reality TV win under his belt and a new mystery woman by his side, Rob Rausch is proving that 2026 is his most successful year yet.
Exclusive
Martin Short’s Daughter Katherine Short Dead at 42: New Details Emerge on Her Final Hours
The entertainment world is in mourning as comedy icon Martin Short faces an unimaginable personal tragedy. After Katherine went MIA for 24 hours, new details regarding a recovered “note” and her final moments have emerged.
On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, the entertainment community was struck by the devastating news of the passing of Katherine Elizabeth Short, the eldest daughter of comedy legend Martin Short. Katherine was discovered in her Hollywood Hills home following a welfare check initiated by a concerned friend who reported that the 42-year-old had not been heard from in over 24 hours. Upon arriving at the residence shortly after 6:00 p.m., Los Angeles law enforcement officers were forced to make entry into the home, where they found Katherine behind a locked bedroom door.
Law enforcement sources have since confirmed that Katherine died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Homicide detectives who responded to the scene recovered a firearm along with a note left by the clinical social worker. After a thorough investigation of the scene and the 911 audio obtained from the initial call, authorities have officially ruled out foul play. The loss marks a heartbreaking chapter for the Short family, who have navigated significant private trials despite Martin’s long-standing status as one of Hollywood’s most beloved and energetic performers.
In a statement released to the media, a representative for the family expressed their profound grief, describing Katherine as a “beloved soul” who was remembered for the “light and joy she brought into the world.” Katherine was the eldest of three children adopted by Martin and his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2010. Unlike her father, Katherine chose a life away from the cameras, earning a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California and dedicating her professional life to mental health advocacy and dual-diagnosis treatment at various prestigious Los Angeles clinics.
Her professional peers have been vocal about the “cruel irony” of her passing, noting that Katherine spent her career as a staunch advocate for Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness. Colleagues remember her as a deeply compassionate woman who used her father’s signature wit to put her patients at ease while maintaining a fierce commitment to the vulnerable populations she served. As of late February 2026, Martin Short has postponed several of his upcoming tour dates with longtime collaborator Steve Martin to remain in Los Angeles and grieve privately with his sons, Oliver and Henry.
The tragedy has reignited a national conversation about the silent struggles often faced by those in the “helping professions.” While the contents of the note found at the scene remain private, the family continues to ask for space as they process the “unimaginable heartbreak” of losing a daughter who spent her life fighting for the mental well-being of others. This latest loss for the 75-year-old actor, who has often spoken about the “resilience muscle” he built after the early deaths of his parents and brother, has led to an outpouring of support from his Only Murders in the Building co-stars and the broader Broadway and film communities.
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