They may be more commonly found in tropical areas, but a flock of flamingos is on its way back to Parma—albeit plastic ones.
Last year, Parma hosted Flamingo Fever!, an exhibit of public art, and it was so successful that the city is doing it again this year. The exhibition is sponsored by Old World Parma, which is a Polish Village Community Development Corporation. CDCs promote economic development in various neighborhoods, such as the Polish Village, which has a number of ethnic shops and eateries to serve the community with roots in the Eastern European country.
Flamingo Fever! invites craftspeople and artists to decorate plastic flamingo lawn ornaments. Once they’re completed, the flamingos will go on display for the summer at businesses throughout town, and in the fall, there will be a banquet and auction to raffle off the birds. Money raised will go to benefit Polish Village.
Artists and crafters who want to participate need to send a completed application, a drawing of their design, and an artist’s statement to the CDC by May 1. Flamingo Fever! is a juried event, and those selected will have until June 15 to submit their finished flamingos.
Contest organizers could work with brochure printers to create mailers for Parma residents, listing the guidelines and encouraging people to enter and look for the sculptures around town.
