Portland, OR. – Official Release: Portland Metro Chamber and Downtown Portland Clean & Safe are issuing a public appeal for the safe return of a nearly six-foot-tall cat statue from Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail in downtown Portland (see photos below).
The “Keep Portland Weird” cat was stolen from its location at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near Saturday Market between the evening of Friday, September 19th and the early morning hours of Saturday, September 20th.
“Keep Portland Weird” was created and designed by local artist Celeste Potgieter and is one of 30 statues displayed along the trail in various locations around the city as part of a charitable effort supporting OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, a renowned academic pediatric hospital that has been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1926.
Thousands of locals and fans of LAIKA’s beloved film Coraline have visited the trail since it opened. These statues are all slated for public auction on October 30th with funds to benefit the hospital.
“While we understand this project has created quite a buzz around our downtown and beyond, each of these unique pieces of art are part of a much larger fundraising effort for OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital,” says Sydney Mead, Senior Director of Downtown Programs for Downtown Portland Clean & Safe. “We ask for the safe return of this cat statue so we can continue supporting this important cause. Despite this unfortunate incident, the citizens of Portland have been exceptional caretakers of this art trail. We are grateful for those who continue to support this one-of-a-kind project in our city,” Mead concludes.
If you have any information, please contact representatives of Portland Metro Chamber or Downtown Portland Clean & Safe at smead@portlandalliance.com or mwells@portlandalliance.com.
Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail will remain open until October 13th.
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