May 2000
Liberty”SilverDollar,regardlessofits
date, 1999, 2000, or even 2001. Likewise
youcanstopworryingthatyou’rethe
onlyoneonyourblocknotcollecting
thosenewstate quartersintheir limited
edition map kits. For balloonists, only one
collectible can truly mark the new millen-
nium;a limitededitionartposter featur-
ing2,000balloons.
Theprojectisthedreamofartist
Mark Pacan of England. “Ever sinceI was
a kid, I have often wondered about what I
wouldbedoingin2000andhopedit
would besomethingspecial. Now it has
arrived,notmuchseemsdifferentfrom
before,but withthe passageof time, we
willlookbackatthisasasignificant
period. I wanttomarkthe year 2000 and
the newmillennium with a grand balloon-
inggesture and as I can’t fly a balloon, it
willhave to be a painting.”
Longtime readers of this publication
willrememberthatBalloon Lifeintro-
ducedPacan’sworktotheUSinit’s
January 1992issue. One year later Mark
was selected to create the official Special
Shapes Rodeo poster forthe Kodak Albu-
querqueInternationalBalloonFestival.
Whilethatannualtaskisachallenging
one,itpalesincomparisontoPacan’s
plans for his 2000balloon painting.
“I thought long and hard about how I
could come up with a painting that would
represent ballooning world-wide and that
balloonists and balloon lovers alike could
take part in, without costing a great deal of
money.” What Pacan hopes to achieve is
a truly world-wide collective ballooning
effort and possibly a world record; 2,000
balloonsinonepainting?Hissolution
provedamazingly simple...
Fora $25fee youcanregister your
balloonandreserve aspaceforitinthe
painting. This fee also serves as a deposit
towardthe total cost of $50 to insure that
you will receive one of the finishedpost-
ers, only 2000 will be printed. Remaining
notpre-sold)will retailfor
about $100. Of course Pacan hopes each
balloonincludedinthe paintingwillbe
“sponsored” thusguaranteeinga sell-out
andtheabsolutedesirabilityofthefin-
ished work as a limitededition.
“I’m hoping that a pilot will want me
toinclude all the balloonsthat theyhave
ownedandperhapsonesthatare stillon
the drawing board yet to be built. Anyone
can sponsor a balloon, a pilot, crew mem-
ber,or justafan.InfactIhavepeople
sponsoring balloons who have no interest
inballooningbut want to be a part of this
project.One non-ballooningfire-fighter
hassponsoredthetwofireextinguisher
shapes that fly in England. It’s the all inclu-
siveness that I like about this project which
I think reflects ballooning in general.”
Any balloon can be registered for the
paintinghoweverthosewithextremely
intricate artwork or commercial messages
may prove difficult to reproduce because
of size limitations.Withthe finishedart
expected to measureabout 20 x 30 inches,
Pacan says each balloon will be how big?
“Just over a half inch square. I will be able
to paint all balloons except ones with lots
ofsmalllettering.Onceyouhavethe
framed poster on your wall, you will have
hoursoffunplaying‘Where’smybal-
loon?!’”
Whataboutduplicates? Twopeople
request registering the same balloon in the
painting?Pacansaysheisdedicatedto
2,000individually differentballoonsin
the painting. Spaces will be filled on afirst
come-first served basis. If the balloon you
request toregisterisalready includedin
thepainting,Pacansayshewilladvise
that another balloon be selected.
Those familiar withPacan’sspecial
shapespostersknow thatoftentheindi-
vidualimagesmake uppartofalarger,
“hidden” image; the same will be true for
this 2,000 balloonposter. And, justas he
hasdone withthe shapesposters,Pacan
plans to allow fans to follow the progress
on hiswebsite, butdon’t
expect an overnight miracle.
“Iseetheprojectlastingabout2
years,”saysPacan,“coveringnotonly
2000but2001,whenmanypeoplebe-
lieve the real millennium begins. There is
suchalotofworkinvolved,notleast
about2000hoursofpaintingsoIwill
needthe two years.”
So how do you go about getting your
balloonregisteredforthepaintingand
reserving your poster?
“Bythetimethisispublished,you
shouldbe abletodoit all on-line. Goto
www.pacan.comandfollowthelinkto
“2000 balloons” This will give you all the
informationyouneed.Therewillbea
securecreditcardfacilityandyoucan
email me the balloon pictures. Youdon’t
evenhave toleave your house! I canalso
downloadpicturesiftheyare onaweb
site,” saysPacan.
Of course if you don’t have access to
on-linefacilitiesyoucandoittheold
fashioned way by simply mailing a check
andphotooftheballoonto“2000bal-
loons”, 2328 Punta De Vista Place, Albu-
querque,NM87112.Checksshouldbe
made payable to“Marcia Fox.”
And what will happen to the finished
original painting? “I plan to have a prize
drawing,”saysPacan“andyougetone
chance for every balloonincludedin the
painting.Forinstance,ifyouwantfour
balloons included your name will go into
a drawingfour timesgivingyoua 1/500
chance of winningthe original!”
About the only question remaining is
how will the finished art first be unveiled
to the waiting world? Pacan says that will
dependon when he finishes the painting,
andgiventhe workinvolved, he says he
still has plenty of time to think about that!
But you don’t. While there is no set dead-
lineforregisteringaballoon,wordis
spreadingfast and spaces are rapidly fill-
ing,likethe twoI’vejusttakenformy
Yellow RoseandLonesome Dove!
