Santa Clones

Last updated
Santa Clones
Portland, December 8, 2024 - 6.jpg
Part of the display in 2024
ArtistChris Willis
Location Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Santa Clones is an annual Christmas display by Chris Willis in Portland, Oregon, United States. [1] The display featured hundreds of Santa Claus statues and the location is different each year. Willis started the project in the early 2010s and the size of his collection of statues has grown over time.

Contents

Description

The installation includes approximately 400 illuminating statues of Santa Claus made by Empire Plastics Corporation. [2] Clues for the display's location are shared by the artist on social media. [3] [4] The display has been installed throughout Portland over the years, from downtown to the north, northwest, and southeast parts of the city. [2]

History

The display in 2024 Portland, December 8, 2024 - 4.jpg
The display in 2024

Artist and designer [5] Chris Willis installed the display for the first time in an empty storefront on East Burnside Street in 2010 or 2011, [2] with approximately 150–200 statues. [6] [7] According to KOIN, Willis "was inspired to create an installation that resembled the Terracotta Warriors or Andy Warhol pop art – something with a lot of repetition". [6] The display was not installed during 20122014, as Willis was unable to secure a space. [8] Another year the display was installed in a friend's yard; for privacy purposes, Willis shared clues to find the statues instead of giving a specific address. [2] The 2017 display was installed in downtown Portland and had 350 statues. [3]

In 2020, the display in Westmoreland [9] had expanded to approximately 400 statues. Willis added face masks to the statues during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] [10] The 2021 display was installed in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. [9] A real estate company invited Willis to use an available space in southeast Portland in 2022. [6] [11] [12] In 2023, Willis added two large paintings by Terence Healy and multiple graphic prints to the display, which was installed in southeast Portland. [7] [13] [14] In 2024, Willis displayed approximately one third of the statues at Gigantic Brewing ahead of the main installation. The display was to commemorate the brewery's collaboration with Weird Portland United on the Santa Clones Winter Warmer beer. Willis's collection has grown to approximately 450 statues. [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Every Christmas, Chris Willis Hides an Army of Glowing Santa Claus Figurines Somewhere in Town. This Year Is No Different…Well, Except for One Thing". Willamette Week. 2020-12-14. Archived from the original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The hunt for the Santa Clones is on". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  3. 1 2 "Have you seen the display of 350 light-up Santas in Portland?". KATU. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  4. ↑ Nakamura, Beth. "Portland Santa Clones are back! To find them, follow the clues". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  5. ↑ Nakamura, Beth (2020-12-19). "To find Chris Willis' enchanting 'Santa Clones' in Portland, follow the clues". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  6. 1 2 3 "They're back! Santa Clones will soon pop up in Portland". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  7. 1 2 Fernandez, Ryan (2023-12-11). "Portland's Santa Clones are back with a few new additions". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  8. ↑ Pettigrew, Jashayla (December 13, 2023). "Portland's favorite festive tradition of hunting for Santa Clones is on". KOIN. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Fernandez, Ryan (2022-12-07). "Portland's Santa Clones have arrived in even greater numbers". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  10. ↑ KATU Staff (2022-12-09). "The Santa Clones return to Portland - and this time, there's more". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  11. ↑ "Hundreds of Santa statues light up at room at a secret location in SE Portland in Chris Willis' Santa Clones art installation". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  12. ↑ "Portland's Santa Clones return this holiday season". KGW. 2022-12-10. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  13. ↑ "Ho-ho-hope you can find them! Santa Clones hide in Portland for the holidays". KATU. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2024-11-11– via KPIC.
  14. ↑ "Santa Clones holiday display installed in Southeast Portland". KGW. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  15. ↑ Elhelw, Amal (2024-11-09). "Portland's 'Santa Clones' come to life in a new brew". KPTV. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
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