Rebuild the Kolossos Art Bike Zoo

Thieves have vandalized and decimated the Krewe of Kolossos art bike zoo. The collection of beloved handcrafted mini-floats are a Mardi Gras parade favorite known throughout the world for their appearances in marquee Mardi Gras parades and blockbuster films like Jack Reacher. The Kolossos Zoo has performed in the best of Carnival parades like Muses, Tucks, Orpheus and Krewe of Boo for Halloween. The Kolossos Zoo also makes appearances at festivals, children’s events and schools. Known for turning miles into smiles and inspiring others to be creative and eco conscious, the Zoo promotes sustainability by upcycling trash into treasure.

In addition to the Zoo being a Carnival parade favorite, it has also provided the livelihood for dozens of artists over the years. Corporate and private events, that have rented the Zoo, enable us to hire performers for the gigs. The film industry has also provided income for Kolossos artists as they were hired to ride the trikes in many tv and films.

The thieves took the trikes that were functional and left behind trikes that were mostly non functioning and in need of repairs. With the best of our trikes gone, and the remains in need of repairs, we need financial help to rebuild.

Our goal is to return to parading this Carnival with 12 animal art bikes.

The costs to build a new art trike include the cost of the tricycle, art supplies and lights as well as the locks and trackers to prevent future theft. This will cost about $700 per trike.

The artist commitment is quite large too. Each trike takes 50-100 hours to sculpt. This will mean a Kolossos undertaking before Carnival kicks off, but we are committing to rebuild.

We hope our community of Carnival enthusiasts and art lovers will help support this resurrection.

Every donation is so very appreciated.

Please share with friends and on your social media to help us achieve our goal.

Please message us to give donations of items rather than money.

Thank you so much for supporting this fundraiser.

If you would like to read about the theft, here is a Nola.com article

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/mardi_gras/mardi-gras-krewes-mini-floats-ruined-and-stolen/article_ff2b47b8-7c31-11ee-bfb0-c306aca1570b.html#tncms-source=featured-2

If you would like to learn more about our art please visit www.KOLOSSOS.org

Check out the KOLOSSOS Bike Zoo parading in Carnival: