He goes by the name Sparky the Wish Guardian, and sometimes the Devil’s Lake Creature.
No matter what you call him, though, the 13-foot sculpture erected in Lincoln City’s Regatta Grounds Park last August can add a new designation to his title: National champion.
Sparky was selected by the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) as a winner of the 2013 Excellence in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards last week, earning top prize among more than 120 projects submitted.
The reason Sparky sticks out is that Lincoln City artists Heidi Erikson and Doug Kroger built him through a unique process. Created with recycled pieces of steel, round bar and retread tires, the pieces were each galvanized separately to protect from the rusting inherent to the Oregon Coast’s rainy climate and salty air.
People can view the award-winning wish guardian hovering above the south shore of Devil’s Lake at the entrance to Regatta Grounds Park. Sparky got his nickname as the guardian of wishes because his belly — constructed from recycled car metal — is a place where people are encouraged to place wishes.
