By Bob Sandrick, Sun News
Kathryn Mabin of Parma is not embarrassed by the pink flamingo, long associated with her city.
So when Mabin was dreaming up ideas for a fundraiser that would benefit Polish Village in Parma, the flamingo flew to the top of her brain.
“We’re already branded with the flamingo,” said Mabin, who lives in Polish Village. “Why not embrace it and expand upon it?”
Mabin and her friend Terri Snider, also a Parma resident, are organizing an art exhibit with the flamingo as its centerpiece.
Local artists and artistically minded citizens of all ages, working with the same model of plastic pink flamingo, are creating pieces of folk art. They are painting, decorating and sculpting the flamingos.
In August and September, Mabin and Snider plan to display the flamingos in Parma businesses. The idea is to draw potential customers to those stores.
The displays will also give exposure to the artists. Mabin and Snider will print maps showing where each flamingo is located and which artist created the work.
“Parma has never done anything like this before,” Mabin said. “There has never been a public art exhibit in Parma.”
In October, the flamingos will be auctioned off during a banquet. Polish Village-Old World Parma will use the funds to make village improvements.
Polish Village Parma 