Otterness' Humpty Dumpty's debut

NEW YORK -- Suspended in midfall and larger-than-life, Macy's Parade Humpty Dumpty by the world-renowned artist Tom Otterness will make its Broadway debut on Thursday, Nov. 24, as a novelty balloon in the 79th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Known for his whimsical sculptures (See ABN's July issue, page 16), Otterness collaboration with Macy's began after creating a unique sculpture specifically for the parade, which reinterpreted one of his classic pieces of the nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty, and was then transformed into a balloon form.

"I have long been an admirer of Tom Otterness' work," says Robin Hall, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Every time I'd con le across one of Tom's whimsical public pieces in my forays around the city, I'd think to myself, ... 'wow, that would make a great, balloon.' So this year, we reached out to him and it s been a great ride. Working in collaboration with Macy's Studio, Tom has created a balloon that literally turned our usual approach on its head, with a reimagined Humpty Dumpty that's bound to occupy a unique place in Parade history."

The flying art sculpture will mark a first for a large-scale Otterness piece to be created in color rather than a bronze palette, as well as a first time for Macy's Parade Studio to work with an artist.

"I'm thrilled to do a new balloon for this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" says Otterness. "Humpty, as big as a bus and upside down ... I can't wait."

Humpty Dumpty, approximately 33 x 27 x 20 feet and filled with thousands of cubic feet of helium, will delight more than 2.5 million live spectators along the route, as well as 50 million viewers across the country, as a Macy's Parade novelty balloon. And making a splash for his unveiling on Thanksgiving Day, Humpty will be dressed in a three-piece suit with a white shirt, red bowtie and top hat.

Based in New York and known for his metaphorical, emotional and yet, sophisticated, bronze cartoon-like figures, Otterness has exhibited in galleries, museums and several public spaces around the world. Such commissions include "Amorphophallus Titanum" at the entrance plaza of the new Nolen Greenhouses at The New York Botanical Garden; "Tornado of Ideas" for the Texas Tech University; and installations at United States' courthouses in Minneapolis and Sacramento.

For more information, call 212-494-4495; visit www.macysparade.com or www.tomostudio.com.

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