"Pelicans on Parade" POP! Bidding has Begun

Looking for a novel art piece? The POP! painted pelicans are anxious to fly!

This unique fundraiser features an astonishing flock of 15 art-deco pelicans, showcasing the City of Klamath Falls mascot - the American White Pelican. Seen nowhere else in the world, these POP! pelicans pose with outstretched wings that span 7 feet, and bedazzle onlookers with unprecedented artwork.

These fanciful pelicans have challenged the creativity of 17 Klamath Basin artists who have amazed everyone by the ingeniousness of their designs. One is spangled with dragonflies and flowers in a breathtaking mosaic of colored glass. Another depicts Crater Lake's Wizard Island, Llao Bluff, and the Phantom Ship. Others surprise with eye-catching artwork - from mountains to waterfalls, birds in flight to wildlife portraits, and magical landscape scenes. Yet another is an F-15 fighter jet, complete with rocket pods and rudders.

"These decorated pelican sculptures exhibit a sense of joy that can only come from the minds and hands of artists whose creativity is boundless," says POP! sculptor Stefan Savides of Avian Design Studio in Klamath Falls. The 3-D POP! form led Stefan to create a larger pelican in bronze newly installed near the bird-studded waters of Lake Ewauna.

POP! is endorsed by the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a novel fundraiser by Klamath Wingwatchers to promote bird and wildlife appreciation, conservation, and education. The POP! project was started in 2005 for the City's Centennial Celebrations, and continues to unite the community with magnificent artwork and a sense of pride.

Fifteen painted pelicans are currently showcased throughout Klamath Falls - at downtown banks (Rogue Federal Credit Union, South Valley Bank and Trust, Sterling Savings Bank), Favell and Klamath County Museums, Ross Ragland Theater, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Discover Klamath, Frames-N-Things, 9610 Landscaping, Running Y Lodge, and the Klamath Falls Airport.

Free POP! Tour Guides to the "Pelicans on Parade" are available at Discover Klamath and the Chamber of Commerce for self-guided tours.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the POP! pelicans will go back to the artists. Funds will also pay for initial casting costs, and support a host of community activities to include those of Klamath Wingwatchers, Klamath Basin Birding Trail, Klamath Outdoor Science School, Migratory Bird Day bird festivals, Winter Wings Festival, and collaborative projects with art groups and other nonprofits.

How to bid? Informal bids are being accepted now and into 2009, and will last until there are a number of bids for each pelican. Bidders will be kept informed on this progress. An unpainted POP! pelican sells for over $2000. With original artwork on top of that, the value increases! Just leave your name, affiliated business, contact info., specify your pelican, and submit your POP! bid (minimum $2000 and higher) by email: , or call (541) 851-0981.

POP! purchases may be tax deductible, and matching contributions to the Oregon Cultural Trust may allow for further tax credits. See the Oregon Cultural Trust website (culturaltrust.org) for direct tax credits on your Oregon income tax ($500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples filing jointly and $2,500 for Oregon corporations). For more information about the pelicans and artists, see pelicansonparade.com.