The Pike Place Market held the Pigs on Parade fundraiser in 2007. As they were celebrating the Centennial of the market, the theme was significant events of the past 100 years. Artists were selected to design 100 pigs that were later auctioned off. Each artist was given a budget of $1000 for time and materials and a life size fiberglass pig.
I was lucky to be able to design two pigs for Pigs on Parade, “Wilbur’s Dream of Flight” and “Green Eggs on Ham”.
I love whimsy and “Green Eggs on Ham” was my tribute to Dr. Seuss. Sam, as I called her, was placed in downtown Seattle in front of the Seattle Public Library for the summer of 2007. As the pigs are on the street for the entire summer, they need to be able to withstand weather, vandalism and in the case of Sam, hundreds of children posing for photos on her back. I made a mold for the eggs and roto cast them with a quick dry epoxy creating a very durable and hard plastic surface that I then bolted to the surface of the pig. A quick paint job, a couple tattoos and “BAM!” she was on the street, charming library patrons.
