Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. — Google eyes have appeared on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and creating a viral sensation that was widely reported in the news media and featured on a popular late-night talk show.
On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that are part of the so-called ‘Roundabout Art Route’. One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while in another photo they are attached to a sphere. It is not yet known who placed them on the sculptures.
“While the googly eyes on the various works of art around the city may make you chuckle, it costs money to remove them carefully so as not to damage the art,” the city said in its messages.
The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went by the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laughs,” said one user, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. “We love the googly eyes. It’s getting so stuffy in this city. Let’s have fun!”
Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer in particular look great, and they should stay that way.”
Others said the city should focus on tackling more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money removing the googly eyes.
Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been decorated with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths and leis. The city is not removing it and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Rene Mitchell, Bend’s communications director, told The Associated Press.
“We really encourage our community to engage with the arts and have fun. We just have to make sure we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said.
The post and comments were covered by news media and even made it into a segment on CBS’s ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The city regrets that its post was misunderstood, Mitchell said.
“The intention was not to be heavy-handed, and we certainly understand how that was perceived,” she said. “We have this great collection of public art and really want to make the community aware that applying glue harms the art. So as custodians of the collection, we wanted to share that on social media.”
The city has so far spent $1,500 removing googly eyes from seven of the eight affected sculptures, Mitchell said, and has begun treating some works of art, which are made of different types of metal, such as bronze and steel. The “Phoenix Rising” sculpture may need to be completely repainted, she said.
For some, the googly eyes – like the other holiday objects – provide a welcome boost of seasonal cheer.
“I look forward to seeing the creativity of whoever it is who decorates the roundabouts this holiday season,” said one commenter on social media. “Brings a smile to everyone to see silliness.”