Art initiative to turn heads

April 4, 2006

DAWN DE BUSK

Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Usually, the gardener plants a seedling or a starter in the earth. A little water, some sunshine, and Mother Nature grows a cabbage.

This summer in Palmer, giant cabbages could be cropping up in a form different than cool, glossy leaves. Fiberglass, for example.

The Friday Flings committee has launched the beginning stages of the giant cabbages on parade, interactive pieces of artwork displayed at downtown Palmer businesses, according to committee member Stacie Stigar.

&#8220Cabbages seem to be on our minds,” Stigar said.

Rather than a parade where people sit on the sidewalk and watch decorated floats and marching horses pass by, visitors and residents can pick up a map and travel around town to view the cabbages, Stigar explained. Salmon on parade reel in tourists in Anchorage, Chicago visitors hoof it to see cows on parade, and residents of Braunschwieg, Germany, pride themselves in their liverwurst on parade.

People can submit their ideas for turning 3-foot-big fiberglass cabbages into an artistic creation, and the deadline is April 14.

A jury will select 10 artists, who will be presented with their giant cabbage molds and a $250 stipend on May 19 at the first Friday Flings of the season, Stigar said.

Already, Linda Beach, a fiber artist, has turned in her proposal. Sara Jansen, who sits on the Friday Fling committee, said she was very excited because, as a quilter, she's a big fan of fiber arts. In addition, Jansen has warmed up to the idea of cabbages invading the city.

&#8220After 21 years with the Alaska State Fair, I thought I never wanted to see another giant cabbage, but this summer I am going to embrace cabbages,” Jansen said.

She can, literally.

Stigar encourages people to indulge their tactile senses.

&#8220We don't want the public to be afraid of touching them. Just use a gentle touch,” she said.

The displays will be interactive and portable, so some cabbages can travel to the Friday Flings' outdoor market or sit on a shop-owner's sidewalk during the day and come inside at night, Stigar said. The application, which can be obtained by calling 761-3604, suggests artist use materials capable of withstanding weather and wear-and-tear.

The artist's creations will be unveiled July 15, and the participating entrepreneurs will pick up the cabbage art to take to display at their businesses.

&#8220The folks who staff the visitors center and the convention center say people are always asking ‘Where are the giant cabbages?'” Jansen said.

From July 15 through Aug. 25, people will be able to pick up maps pointing out the vegetables' locations at the Palmer Visitors Center, Palmer Chamber of Commerce and the Mat-Su Visitor and Convention Center.

The cabbages on parade idea was created to promote Friday Flings as well as businesses that are participating in the summer-time event by having the cabbage art at their businesses, Stigar said.

&#8220On the 25th of August, the cabbages will be auctioned off. We are hoping the money from the auction will perpetuate this,” she said, adding that it cost about $1,500 to make the fiberglass molds.

&#8220We don't want to be in a position of fund raising. We want this to become a community project that is self-sustaining,” Stigar said.

Rachel Kenley, 15, an area farmer who operates a vegetable and flower delivery business, said she can envision cabbages as art.

&#8220Because they're layered, I could see it as crepe paper or the insulation that you have in your house, but painted green,” Kenley said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at

352-2252 or dawn.debusk@

frontiersman.com.