Sean Rooney’s Balloon Rhino Project is finished in the Old Quebec Street Shoppes, and it is turning heads and providing numerous photo-ops.
It’s not everyday you find a roughly life-sized rhinoceros constructed entirely of inflated, twisted and tied balloons standing in a downtown mall. It's getting a lot of attention.
Rooney started the project last week, spending about four days and roughly 30 hours working on it. There are literally thousands of balloons tied up in the creature.
The project is a visitor attractor and a curiosity, but for the balloon artist it is a statement. It was done to raise awareness about the slaughter of rhinoceros in Africa by poachers, who kill the animals mostly for their tusks.
Rooney’s work is part of a global movement supported by professional balloon decorators that is raising funds and awareness in support of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in Africa, which protects rhinos and has an anti-poaching team.
Rooney is one of hundreds of balloon decorators around the world supporting the cause.
“It took quite a bit of talent to do that,” said downtown business owner Kevin Polach, as he scooted past the rhino on his way to work.
Melitta Hartwig and her granddaughter Abbey Lorito walked all the way around the balloon art and were impressed.
“It’s awesome,” said the girl.
“I love it,” said Harwig. “Just to think about all the work that went into it, and how he put it all together. It’s amazing."
If you are interested in protecting rhinos, donations can be made at www.theballoonrhinoproject.co.za.
