Bend‘s Googly-Eyed art Spree: One Man’s Claim too Fame
Table of Contents
Early last year, teh city of Bend, Oregon, became an unlikely center of viral attention. Public sculptures scattered throughout roundabouts began sporting googly eyes, bringing a whimsical touch to familiar landmarks. While city officials weren’t amused by the unexpected adornments, the internet found it endlessly charming. News of the googly-eyed sculptures spread far and wide, landing in publications like The New York Times, earning a shout-out on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and even making waves on BBC News Facebook, amassing nearly 90,000 likes.
Now, the mastermind behind this quirky art infiltration has stepped forward.Jeff Keith, a 53-year-old Bend resident and the founder of a nonprofit combating sex trafficking, has confessed to being responsible for the first two googly-eyed sculptures – a festive prank orchestrated in early December. Keith, speaking to The Oregonian/OregonLive, described how he “put googly eyes on two sculptures one night in early December, stopped to snap some pictures, and then left the scene.” While he claims responsibility onyl for the initial act, several more sculptures throughout the city soon sported their own mischievous additions.
The whimsical embellishments, however, came with a price tag – the city reported that removing the adhesive used to attach the googly eyes cost taxpayers $1,500.Despite this expense, many residents deemed it a small price to pay for the joy and amusement the statues brought to the city.
In these undated photos, two roundabout art sculptures don googly eyes in Bend. Jeff Keith told The Oregonian/OregonLive he put googly eyes on two sculptures one night in early December. Within days, several other plastic eyes appeared on various statues across the city, although keith claims he was only responsible for the first two. Courtesy of morgan Ebert
Bend Braces for Googly-Eyed Mayhem: A City’s Quirky Prank War
Bend, Oregon, known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor adventures, has recently become the unlikely stage for a playful battle of wits involving hundreds of googly eyes. City facilities, from fire hydrants to traffic signs, have been mysteriously adorned with the cartoonish eyes, leaving residents chuckling and wondering: Who’s behind this whimsical takeover?
A local resident, whom we’ll call keith, has stepped forward as a potential suspect. “It’s reminding people that we need to take a moment and just laugh, especially with all the heavy stuff that’s going around the world,” Keith explains, noting that he’s reached out to the city to cover any potential cleanup costs.
While the city has acknowledged receiving reports of the playful infiltration, they’re maintaining a diplomatic stance.”The city staff is focused on city operations, wildfire preparedness, council goals and budget advancement,” spokesperson Jacob Larsen wrote in an email. “Our understanding is that a community member may be interested in recognizing the impact of the googly eyes, but we are not pursuing anything at this time nor are city staff in direct conversations with him.”
For Keith, the pranks are more than just harmless fun. He describes himself as a “huge prankster,” and his elaborate schemes serve as a coping mechanism for the stressors of his emotionally demanding job.
Past pranks have included a creatively fabricated sign near U.S. 97 announcing the arrival of a Bend In-N-Out Burger (promptly debunked by the fast-food chain) and the deployment of large white balloons that floated above roundabouts in the wake of the high-profile spy balloon incident.
He’s also known for spreading donut-themed joy by crafting a sign falsely advertising a Voodoo Doughnut location in Bend, and for bringing levity to traffic circles with life-sized cardboard cutouts of the late comedic actor Chris Farley.
“If you’re a friend of mine or a neighbor, you’re getting pranked,” Keith adds, confirming his dedication to spreading laughter wherever the urge strikes.
What do you think of Keith’s googly-eyed pranks? Do you find them harmless fun or a nuisance?
Bend Braces for Googly-Eyed Mayhem: A City’s Quirky Prank War
Bend, Oregon, known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor adventures, has recently become the unlikely stage for a playful battle of wits involving hundreds of googly eyes. City facilities, from fire hydrants to traffic signs, have been mysteriously adorned wiht the cartoonish eyes, leaving residents chuckling and wondering: Who’s behind this whimsical takeover?
A local resident, whom we’ll call Keith, has stepped forward as a potential suspect. “It’s reminding people that we need to take a moment and just laugh, especially with all the heavy stuff that’s going around the world,” Keith explains, noting that he’s reached out to the city to cover any potential cleanup costs.
While the city has acknowledged receiving reports of the playful infiltration, they’re maintaining a diplomatic stance. “The city staff is focused on city operations, wildfire preparedness, council goals and budget advancement,” spokesperson Jacob Larsen wrote in an email. “Our understanding is that a community member may be interested in recognizing the impact of the googly eyes,but we are not pursuing anything at this time nor are city staff in direct conversations with him.”
For Keith,the pranks are more than just harmless fun. He describes himself as a “huge prankster,” and his elaborate schemes serve as a coping mechanism for the stressors of his emotionally demanding job.
Past pranks have included a creatively fabricated sign near U.S. 97 announcing the arrival of a Bend In-N-Out Burger (promptly debunked by the fast-food chain) and the deployment of large white balloons that floated above roundabouts in the wake of the high-profile spy balloon incident.
He’s also known for spreading donut-themed joy by crafting a sign falsely advertising a Voodoo Doughnut location in Bend, and for bringing levity to traffic circles with life-sized cardboard cutouts of the late comedic actor Chris Farley.
“If you’re a friend of mine or a neighbor,you’re getting pranked,” Keith adds,confirming his dedication to spreading laughter wherever the urge strikes.
What do you think of Keith’s googly-eyed pranks? Do you find them harmless fun or a nuisance?
