HOLDREN'S CRANE
MIGRATES TO KEARNEY

FRIEND, NE - The first flock of fine fowls fated to festoon Kearney were welcomed with a flourish recently. Organizers, artists and sponsors of the "Cranes on Parade" project announced the first 15 designs to have sponsorships during a reception at Kearney's Country Inn and Suites. At the "crane mating", Kearney Dawn Rotary member Karl Borden introduced the artists to the business people who are paying for the artwork to be reproduced on 6-foot fiberglass cranes.

The project "Cranes on Parade", by the Kearney Dawn Rotary Club, has chosen cranes to be displayed throughout the city to be in place during the spring migration of the real sandhill cranes. The project follows the many animals displayed throughout the world...the cows in Chicago and New York City, donkeys and elephants of Washington, D.C., and bicycles in Lincoln, NE, just to name a few.

The six foot, sculptures are of fiberglass, originally designed by Martha Pettigrew, nationally renowned artist who lives in Kearney.  The fiberglass statues are man-

ufactured by Prewitt Fiberglass Animals at Gibbon, NE. They have gained nationwide exposure as these fiberglass creations are displayed countrywide. 

Local artist, Greg Holdren, responded to the call for artists throughout the state and submitted three sketches -- "Serengeti-Crane" a crane with markings of a giraffe, etc., "Ichabod-Crane" the crane had it's head chopped off and held under it's wing, (just for fun) and "U- Crane" based on the art and patterns of Ukrainian Easter eggs. The judges found it difficult to choose only one of Holdren's works.

More than 30 artists applied, with over 50 designs entered. Holdren was chosen to complete the sculpture "U-Crane" which has turned out absolutely beautiful. The use of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues made the crane a sight to behold! The final piece took Holdren three to four weeks to complete - much of which was over his Christmas break from teaching school at Friend Public Schools.

Each crane has a corporate or personal sponsor.  Sponsorships cost in the range of $1850 - $3300, and cover the cost of production of the fiberglass crane, artist materials and project operating costs.

The proceeds of the project include Rotary scholarships and programs, local community services, the arts, and conservation efforts along the

Platte river, including Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary, and The Nature Conservancy. In October 2003, the crane sculptures will be auctioned at a gala event at The Museum of Nebraska Art. Statewide target audience for the auction is private art collectors, and community benefactors who might like to donate some of the cranes back for permanent public viewing in the community. Holdren's sponsor is Good Samaritan Health Systems, and his crane is planned to be on exhibit in the lobby of the hospital for the summer.

Cranes will be on public display from March to October 2003.

Coffee table books, featuring all of the sculptures, artists and sponsors and other "Cranes on Parade" merchandise will be available. This project is nothing new to the Holdren family. Greg, wife Maureen, and son, Russell all have selected bicycles for the project in Lincoln but are awaiting sponsors for their artwork.