Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens!

• “Hen Walk” on Saturday, September 17, starting at the NAA at 4 p.m.
• Online auction through Friday, September 23, at 7 p.m. at bluhens.org
• Final opportunity to bid: Taste of Newark, Sunday, September 25

 

A flock of unusual critters has been spotted roosting in downtown Newark. There are 20 of them, each one is 30 inches tall, and they’re anything but birds of a feather! And one (or more) of them can be yours.

Among the cackling collection are “Trashy Chicken,” made of recycled detergent bottles, and “Heavy Metal Chick,” featuring rows of nuts, bolts, and bobbins, with a couple of forks tossed in. “Dancing Hen” moves her head, feet, wings, and tail with a turn of the crank.

The chickens are all part of the Newark Arts Alliance’s “Blu Hens for the Arts” project and auction. Each was created by a local artist who was willing to “wing it” – and take a fresh look at Delaware’s state bird to support the NAA.

The artists are Celeste Kelly, Dragonfly Leathrum, Nancy Breslin, Karin Lang, Thea Amato, Deborah Arnold, Karen O'Lone Hahn, Drew Rash, Karen Schueler, Jennifer Davies-Reazor, Maggie Creshkoff, Pat Field, Brenda Hornor, Felise Luchansky, clients of the ARGO Institute of Aquila of Delaware Inc., Linnea L. Tober, Marihelen Barrett and Herb Eggert, Yolanda Chetwynd, Terry Foreman, and Caryn Hetherston.

Now decorating downtown businesses, each of the birds will find egg-zactly the right home with a winning bidder—and all proceeds benefit the NAA. These chicks make perfect indoor pets and will hang quietly on a wall, perch on a mantle, or dangle from the ceiling.

The fascinating fowl are currently up for auction online at their own Web site (bluhens.org). The site was created by NAA Board member Niki Rose Chester, who also hatched the idea for the project. The online auction runs through Friday, September 23, at 7 p.m. The final opportunity to bid will be at the Taste of Newark event on Sunday, September 25.

To take a beak … er, peek at where the birds are nesting, a “Hen Walk” is set for Saturday, September 17. Starting at the Newark Arts Alliance at 4 p.m., the bird watchers will travel Main Street from east to west, stopping at Newark Natural Foods, Captain Blue Hen, Minster’s Jewelers, Hardcastle’s Newark, Cameras, Etc., Village Imports, Mainstream Nutrition, Flip Flop Shops, Gecko Fashions, Home Grown Café, Caffé Gelato, The Learning Station, Grassroots, Switch, Kildare’s Irish Pub, and the Downtown Newark Parking Office.