Fiberglass jaguar, aspect of 2006 fundraiser for charity, will get makeover

Even significant cats have to have a minor like now and then.

Diamonds and Purrls, a person of the large adorned fiberglass jaguar statues produced for a 2006 Otis Smith Kids Foundation fundraising generate, was searching a little tattered just before artist Amy Stump refurbished it. 

The statue was protected with hundreds of pearl-like beads, then coated with a apparent coat of sealant to secure it when it was at first designed. It’s been sitting poolside at an Oakleaf residence for much more than a 10 years and was demonstrating its a long time, Stump said. 

“About the years the conclude parts of some of the beads have fallen off, some of the jewels have gotten unfastened, just basic put on and tear,” she stated.

Ferns were developing from the cat’s feet and mold had gotten less than the sealant, so Stump invested a pair of weekends scrubbing down the statue, taking away the obvious coat and replacing damaged beads.

“It was shocking just how considerably do the job experienced to get accomplished,” Stump said. “I spent a few hrs of media blasting to acquire off the apparent coat, which was discoloring it. Immediately after that it was really very simple.”

Oddly more than enough, Stump’s sister, Lindsay Powell, was the unique designer of Diamonds and Purrls. It is owned by Vanice Serrano. Stump reported her sister experienced no problem with the repairs.

Diamonds and Purrls was one particular of 53 Huge Cats for Kids created in 2006-07. Sponsors prepared to put up $5,000 were lined up for every single of the cats, which were being then embellished by artists and put on public exhibit prior to staying auctioned off to elevate income for the Otis Smith Little ones Basis, which helped at-hazard elementary university youngsters in Jacksonville. The foundation shut in 2007.

It was the 2nd such fundraiser for the basis. In 2004-05, the Sea Cows for Youngsters venture produced 43 manatee statues. A afterwards drive in 2007-08 saw 25 fiberglass sea turtles developed to elevate cash for the Child Steering Middle. Jointly, the three drives elevated about $500,000.

Bonnie Upright, who now runs the Upright PR agency in Jacksonville, was at the rear of all 3 fundraisers. She reported she’d love to come across out what occurred to all of the figures. Some are still publicly exhibited, although other individuals are in backyards or enterprises. She said she’ll nonetheless locate one particular unexpectedly from time to time, like a several that have been redone above the decades, but she won’t know wherever all of them have gotten to.