"Throughout the summer of 2001, downtown Seattle will host a spectacle of pigs. Hundreds of decorated fiberglass pigs will hog downtown sidewalks, each in the likeness of Rachel, Pike Place Market's bronze piggybank. Rachel has been bringing in the bacon for the Market Foundation since she took up residence on the Market's 79th birthday - August 17, 1986.

Thousands of children of all ages contribute $6,000 to $9,000 each year in pennies, quarters, and checks, as well as pesos, lira, yen and riyals - every one of which is used by the Market Foundation to help pay for the Pike Place Market's services for low-income people.

The 200 pig models will either sit or stand. They are created from reinforced fiberglass by Georgia Gerber, the sculptor of the original Rachel. Each standing pig is roughly 3 feet 6 inches tall, 5 feet 6 inches long, and 2 feet wide. Sitting pigs are roughly 4 feet 6 inches tall. The pigs will weigh approximately 50 pounds. Outrageously adorned by local artists, the life-sized fiberglass porkers promise to coax smiles."
http://www.pigsonparade.org/

On Saturday, May 26 we took the monorail from the Seattle Center to Westlake Center where many of these works of art are on display. What a treat !