LionTown 2012 Brings The Roar To Towns Across Metro Detroit
DETROIT (97.1 The Ticket) Lions, lions, and lions, oh my! If it seems you're seeing lions everywhere these days, it doesn't just mean your football obsession has gotten out of hand.
There actually are lions everywhere.
The Children's Charities Coalition, including CARE House (home of the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County) and Variety The Children's Charity put together a new fundraiser they're calling LionTown, and it has large fiberglass Lions displayed throughout Birmingham, Bloomfield and other metro Detroit communities from Allen Park and Dearborn to Warren.
Each lion sculpture is uniquely decorated and adorned by local artists and designers. A "Team USA" lion is decked out in colorful red, white and blue, while a tongue-in-cheek "Lion Around The House" design features a lion painted like a house.
Jewelry designer Denise Ilitch, a member of the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers-owning Ilitch family, has a colorful Honolulu blue and silver Lion in front of Ambassador Magazine in Birmingham, which she co-owns with Dennis Archer Jr. Her lion is decorated uniquely with a flowing bejeweled mane and the Detroit Tigers' old English D. Called "Lady D" the Ambassador Lion was created by artist Jo Ann Guile.
The 100 Lion figures started appearing last week, and they'll be displayed until they're auctioned off at the LionTown Gala and Auction Oct. 16, 2012, at Ford Field.
Sponsors of the figures can choose from a portfolio of the best artist designs submitted, as determined by a jury committee, or may select an artist of their choice whose design is approved. See a map of lions already on display here.
"Our mission is to contribute to the vitality of the greater Detroit metropolitan area through supporting regional public art and culture, and to raise needed funds for the outreach activities of the two member charities," a children's Charities Coalition spokeswoman said.
LionTown is sponsored by Meijer, The Taubman Group, Fox 2 and Ambassador Magazine. Corporate sponsorship and lion sponsorships are still available. For more information visit www.liontown2012.com or call 248-258-5511.
