TMCnet News

Popular penguins: Tulsa Zoo's fundraising statues still admired after nine years [Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK)]
[July 05, 2011]

Popular penguins: Tulsa Zoo's fundraising statues still admired after nine years [Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK)]


(Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A sudden, fearful concern gripped Steve Turnbo's warm face as he contemplated the news.

"They're not selling the penguin, are they?" exclaimed the chairman emeritus of Schnake Turnbo Frank. "They can't sell the penguin. We paid for half of that. If they're going to sell it, I want it." It turned out his worries were for nothing. While all the artworks within Mid-Continent Tower are indeed included with the advertised sale of downtown Tulsa's iconic landmark, the fiberglass statue known as "Two-Faced Penguin" by artist Susan Pryor will not be among them.



But Turnbo's concern demonstrates the love many Tulsans still hold for those playful six-foot-tall birds. With the statues soon to enter their 10th fiscal year, Facebook observers count some 43 of the original 100 fiberglass penguins still on prominent display around Oklahoma's second-largest city - a remarkable number considering the relatively short life span such trendy fundraisers usually earn.

"It took off partly because of Tulsa city pride, partly because it was a lot of fun," said Mary Collins, the retired Tulsa Zoo Friends executive director who oversaw that 2002 penguin project. "Sometimes you get that right little dream that captivates the imagination of a city and it's fun to see." A great number of these penguins sit curbside along Tulsa streets, serving both as cultural marquees and tourist attractions.


"I've seen people stop by and take pictures," Barnard Dunkelberg and Co. Office Manager Joyce Benge said of their penguin, "Stella the Stewardess," which sits between two curbside trees at their 1616 E. 15th St. office. "There have probably been, in all the years, maybe two people who have walked in our building and actually asked if they could take their picture with our penguin. Most people just do it." A few weathered birds show their age, like "Winona" out in front of the Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits, and some have followed Te- Kei's once-stolen "Mimi Chow" penguin in oblivion. But many owners, like Dunkelberg, have gone to great lengths keep their penguin in repair.

"Every couple of years someone runs into it," said Sean Stevens of M&M Lumber, whose "Handy" penguin waves to passersby at 4711 S. Mingo Rd. "I think we've had to rebuild him twice." Collins said many owners have preserved their birds by maintaining ties with the original Tulsa artists who decorated them. That can help when someone accidently hits a tree that bangs up a penguin, as happened with Stella, or if vandals strike. But that also points to a prime reason why the Tulsa penguins thrived so long.

One October night in 2002, Te-Kei's penguin and three others disappeared in what became known as the "Great Penguin Caper." Collins said the search and recovery effort, with Te-Kei's statue being rescued from the Arkansas River, drew international attention while galvanizing Tulsans behind the colorful birds.

"It's just a fun project," said Becky Frank, chairman and chief executive of Schnake Turnbo Frank. As a member of the zoo board, Frank had suggested the penguin fundraiser, which raised $1 million toward completing that zoo exhibit. "I think Tulsans were just so excited about penguins coming to Tulsa and then to have these really beautiful penguins around town." Turnbo said their inventive designs also inspired admiration. Artists Jeff Brierly and Rich Lewis put a lampshade-like Shriner's cap on the Akdar Shrine penguin. Laura Findahl transformed the Bama Co. bird into an African tribal dancer. Lyman Page gave Boeing an astronaut. Nathan and Heahter Opp turned CCI's penguin into an ear of corn.

"There were some very creative penguins done in Tulsa by artists who had tremendous talent," said Turnbo, explaining one reason why the Tulsa penguins outlived efforts in other cities, the Oklahoma City horse and buffalo projects. "Ours were not decorated. They were pieces of art that were created that have stood the test of time. I think it's a big difference between a decorated piece and an artistic piece." The ever-present penguins provide further inspiration today as executives with the 84-acre Tulsa Zoo work on a 20-year master plan that could feature another such community revenue project later this year.

"We look back on it with great pride," interim executive director Holly Becker said of the penguins. "We're proud of that campaign, how everybody got involved in support of the zoo, and we'll be looking for that same support later." As for "Two-Faced Penguin," originally commissioned by Mid- Continent manager Argue Properties and Schnake Turnbo Frank, the statue has remained on display under Terry Argue's care since the public relations firm moved out of the tower. Argue said he hopes to keep the statue, a personal favorite of his daughter.

That's fine with Frank, whose daughter helped guide the general penguin design.

"There's not going to be a big custody battle," said Frank. "Terry and I joke about the whole penguin deal. I'm great with all of that. I just think he's done a nice job of taking care of it there." (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]