• Home
  • US News
  • ‘Googly Eye Bandit’ in Oregon gets ahead

‘Googly Eye Bandit’ in Oregon gets ahead

‘Googly Eye Bandit’ in Oregon gets ahead

0:00

Last month, Googly Eyes appeared on public art throughout Bend, Oregon. The drivers would be rubber, dazed and amused by deer statues and other sculptures that had been given an irreverent, cross-eyed look.

The eyes became a sensation, except among frustrated city officials, who paid for their removal.

The identity of the person behind the pranks, who became known as The Googly Eye Bandit, was unknown. That is until Jeff Keith came forward to claim responsibility.

Mr. Keith, 53, who runs The Guardian Group, a nonprofit focused on disrupting sex trafficking in the United States, said that in mid-December he snuck into the middle of a roundabout and rolled his eyes googly on some public art.

Joe Halko’s “Big Ears,” a sculpture depicting a family of deer, turned googly eyes, including the little fawn between its mother’s legs.

“I love making people smile,” Keith said in an interview Saturday. “Other people started joining in. I’m not getting credit for all of them. That’s the cool part.”

Putting eyes around the city there was a “liberating” nature of his work, he said, adding that he didn’t know who else was joining the effort.

Still the gravest eyes appeared on the statues around Bend. Among other art installations, a six-foot sphere was brought to life and given a touch of fantasy and a red phoenix took on an air of bewilderment.

While the pranks received widespread attention, it was left to the city to take their eyes off it.

“While googly eyes placed on the city’s various art pieces might put a smile on your face,” the city said on Instagram in December, “they cost money to remove with care taken not to damage the art.”

The city paid $1,500 to remove the eyes while carefully avoiding damage to the art, according to its spokesperson.

Some online commenters were frustrated with the city, saying officials couldn’t take a joke and suggest better uses for the city budget.

“These googly eyes give me hope to move forward each day,” one commenter wrote.

Jeff Keith says he is responsible for some of the googly eyes that have appeared on public art installations in Bend, Ore.Credit…Jeff Keith

Mr. Keith, who has lived in Bend for more than two decades, said he went to city offices and offered to pay for the cleanup, but had heard nothing.

Bend’s communications department did not respond to a request for comment Saturday about Mr. Keith’s offer and whether the city had identified him as the prankster.

“Honestly, they just want to get it over with,” Keith said of the city. He added that he came forward only after learning of the potential damage the googly eyes had caused.

ktvza local station, and oregonlive.com previously reported that Mr. Keith was behind the prank.

Mr. Keith said he has been behind other public pranks. He said he placed white balloons around Bend after Americans were captivated by a Chinese balloon hovering over continental U.S. airspace in 2023.

“I spend $50 a month on my pranks,” Keith said. “It’s about 10 cents per smile because I know how many people reach our roundabout. It’s worth it “.

Some cities have adopted googly eyes.

After a campaign and a cheerful but sincere rally by supporters, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority put Googly eye decals on some of its trains last year. For a short time, the trains, with their start-eyed appearance, bewildered and amused Boston riders.

Source link

Releated Posts

Pregnant woman died trying to cross the border with the United States after the smuggler told him to pass through Frigid River, prosecutors say

0:00 The illegal crosses on the border between the United States and Canada continue to shoot The illegal…

ByByAmlanFeb 7, 2025

Blood transfusions in the scene save lives. But ambulances are rarely equipped to do them.

0:00 An August afternoon in 2023, Angela Martin’s cousin called with alarming news. Martin’s 74 -year -old aunt…

ByByAmlanFeb 7, 2025

The main leaders of Iowa are strongly supporting musk and dux. Iowans are looking closely

0:00 UrBandale, Iowa – Sen. From Iowa Joni Ernst He has praised Elon Musk and the Efficiency Department…

ByByAmlanFeb 7, 2025

Iran’s supreme leader says that conversations with us are not “are not intelligent, wise or honorable” after Trump floats nuclear conversations

0:00 Iran’s supreme leader says that conversations with us are not “are not intelligent, wise or honorable” after…

ByByAmlanFeb 7, 2025
Scroll to Top