Sofia Martinez
The pink plastic flamingo, a common lawn ornament in the United States, was designed by American artist Don Featherstone in 1957. Featherstone, a recent art school graduate, was hired by Union Products, a Massachusetts-based maker of plastic lawn ornaments, to sculpt three-dimensional versions of the company's popular two-dimensional products, including the flamingo. Featherstone's flamingo, mass-produced by Union Products, has become an icon of pop culture, inspiring imitations and even a spoof lawn greeting industry.
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What You'll Learn
Don Featherstone, the creator
In 1957, Don Featherstone, an artist and sculptor, created the now-iconic pink plastic flamingo while working for Union Products in Leominster, Massachusetts. Featherstone's unique creation has since become a symbol of kitsch and a popular lawn ornament, with a dedicated following and even a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Born in 1936, Featherstone grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and displayed a talent for art from an early age. He studied at the Worcester Art Museum and later at the Art Institute of Boston, where he met his future wife, Nancy. Featherstone's career began at Union Products, a plastics manufacturing company, where he was hired as a sculptor and designer. One of his earliest tasks was to create a life-size replica of a flamingo, inspired by the growing trend of exotic birds in home gardens. Featherstone's sculpture was designed to be lightweight, easy to produce, and affordable for the average American family.
The distinctive pink color was chosen to reflect the vibrant, tropical plumage of the flamingo, and the plastic material was selected for its durability and ability to withstand outdoor elements. Featherstone's design was an instant success, and the pink plastic flamingo quickly became a popular lawn ornament, with Union Products selling millions of them in the first few years. The sculpture's popularity endures to this day, with it becoming a cultural icon and a symbol of American suburbia.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the pink plastic flamingo has also come to represent a sense of individualism and a playful approach to home decor. It has been embraced by those who wish to add a touch of whimsy and color to their surroundings, and it continues to be a beloved fixture in yards and gardens across the country. Featherstone himself acknowledged the unique appeal of his creation, stating that it represented "an attitude, a form of expression, a style of life."
In recognition of the pink plastic flamingo's cultural significance, Featherstone's original design was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This honor celebrates not only the sculpture itself but also the impact it has had on popular culture and the unique place it holds in the hearts of many Americans. Featherstone's legacy extends beyond this one creation, as he designed numerous other plastic lawn ornaments during his career, though none achieved the same level of fame as the flamingo.
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Union Products, the manufacturer
Union Products, a manufacturer of plastic lawn ornaments, was based in Leominster, Massachusetts. In 1956, the company hired Don Featherstone, a recent art school graduate, to sculpt three-dimensional versions of its popular two-dimensional products. Featherstone's first creation was "Charlie the Duck", a polyethylene duck that outsold his subsequent flamingo design for decades. Featherstone's flamingo was born in 1957 and was named Diego.
Union Products tapped into the post-WWII spread of suburbanisation and the burgeoning age of petroleum byproducts, creating "plastics for the lawn". The company's flamingos were initially popular among working-class subdivisions, with middle-class suburbanites avoiding them. However, by the 1960s, there was a revolt against middle-class taste, and the pink flamingo became a symbol of rebellion, outrageousness, and bad taste.
In 1987, the governor of Massachusetts, Union Products' home state, declared the pink flamingo "an essential contribution to American folk art." This proclamation solidified the status of the plastic bird as an icon of pop culture.
Union Products continued to produce the famous flamingos until 2006, when the company closed its doors. The copyrights and plastic moulds for Featherstone's original flamingos were purchased by HMC International LLC, a subsidiary of the Faster-Form Corporation, in 2007. The production was subcontracted to Cado Manufacturing, Inc., a company specialising in blow-moulding. In 2010, Cado Manufacturing acquired the complete Union Products product line, including the beloved pink flamingo.
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Plastic, the material
The pink plastic flamingo is an iconic lawn ornament in the United States, with a history spanning over six decades. Its creation involved the use of plastic, a versatile and mouldable material that has had a significant impact on various industries, including manufacturing and design.
Plastic, also known as synthetic resin, is a human-made polymer created through a process called polymerization. This process involves combining monomers, which are small molecules, to form long chains or networks of molecules called polymers. The specific monomers and the method of polymerization determine the type of plastic produced, resulting in a wide range of plastic varieties with distinct properties.
The development of plastic began in the 19th century, with the creation of materials like Parkesine, Celluloid, and Bakelite. These early plastics were derived from natural polymers such as cellulose, which is found in plants, and were not as durable or versatile as modern plastics. The breakthrough came in the early 20th century with the invention of synthetic polymers, starting with the creation of synthetic nylon in 1935. This marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry.
Plastic has become an indispensable material in numerous industries due to its versatility, durability, and low cost. It can be moulded, extruded, or cast into a vast array of shapes and forms, making it ideal for manufacturing a wide range of products. From packaging materials and containers to toys, furniture, and automotive parts, plastic has transformed the way goods are designed and produced. Additionally, plastic's lightweight yet durable nature has made it a preferred material in industries such as aerospace and electronics, where weight reduction is crucial.
In the case of the pink plastic flamingo, the use of plastic as a material played a significant role in its popularity and accessibility. Don Featherstone, the creator of the iconic lawn ornament, worked with Union Products, a company specialising in plastic lawn ornaments. Featherstone, a trained sculptor, utilised revolutionary injection-mold technology to bring his flamingo design to life in three-dimensional form. The mouldability of plastic allowed for the creation of slender, rod-like legs that facilitated the planting of the flamingos in the ground. This combination of artistic design and the practical advantages of plastic resulted in a widely embraced lawn ornament that has since become a symbol of American culture.
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Kitsch, the association
The pink plastic flamingo is often used as a symbol of kitsch, bad taste, and cheapness. Its association with kitsch was solidified in 1972 with the release of John Waters's cult classic film *Pink Flamingos*, in which the anti-heroine lives in a trailer surrounded by pink flamingos. The film's impact on the flamingo's cultural perception was such that flocks of flamingos would be installed on a "victim's" lawn in the dark of night, spawning a spoof lawn greeting industry.
The pink flamingo's journey to becoming an icon of kitsch began in 1957 when it was first designed by American artist Don Featherstone, who was hired by Union Products, a maker of plastic lawn ornaments in Leominster, Massachusetts, the year prior. Featherstone's flamingo was initially embraced by working-class subdivisions, while middle-class suburbanites gave it a wide berth. However, in the 1960s, there was a revolt against middle-class taste, often led by the very children of the middle class. The pink flamingo became a symbol of rebellion, outrageousness, and bad taste.
By the 1980s, the pink flamingo had made the leap into the art world. In 1987, the governor of Massachusetts proclaimed the plastic bird "an essential contribution to American folk art," and new clubs like the Flamingo Fanciers of America and the International Society for the Preservation of Pink Lawn Flamingos were formed. That same year, to mark the flamingo's 30th anniversary, Featherstone inscribed his signature on the original plastic mold to distinguish between original and "knock-off" flamingos.
Today, the pink flamingo continues to be a ubiquitous presence in Americana, lending its name to bars, restaurants, casinos, and hotels, and even being included in the Smithsonian's collection. In 2009, the city of Madison, Wisconsin, designated the plastic flamingo as the city's official bird, and the soccer club Forward Madison FC uses the plastic flamingo on its logo. Despite its widespread association with kitsch, the pink flamingo has undoubtedly earned its place as an enduring emblem of American culture.
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Pink, the colour
Pink is a colour often associated with femininity, softness, and romance. It is a pale red colour that takes its name from the flower of the same name, and its variations are known to be reddish purple to pale near-white hues. The colour pink is said to have a calming effect and is often used to represent sweetness, innocence, and happiness.
In the context of the pink plastic flamingo, the colour pink takes on a slightly different connotation. The pink plastic flamingo, designed by Don Featherstone in 1957, has become an iconic symbol of kitsch, bad taste, and cheapness. The hot pink colour of the flamingo, in particular, was described as new and exciting at the time of its creation. This colour, combined with the plastic material and the exotic association with Florida, contributed to the widespread appeal of the lawn ornament.
The popularity of the pink plastic flamingo has waxed and waned over the years. In the 1960s, there was a backlash against middle-class taste, and the flamingo became associated with rebellion and outrageousness. By the 1980s, the pink flamingo had gained a new level of cultural significance, with the governor of Massachusetts proclaiming it "an essential contribution to American folk art."
Today, the pink plastic flamingo continues to be a ubiquitous presence in American lawns and has even spawned a spoof lawn greeting industry. Its pink colour, once considered garish and unnatural, has become an accepted and beloved part of the American landscape, with the flamingo itself serving as an enduring emblem of Americana.
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Frequently asked questions
The pink plastic flamingo was invented in Leominster, Massachusetts, in the United States.
The American artist Don Featherstone invented the pink plastic flamingo in 1957.
Featherstone, a serious sculptor and classical art student, took up a job with Union Products to sculpt three-dimensional versions of the company's most popular two-dimensional products. He created the pink flamingo after his first assignment, a three-dimensional duck.
The pink plastic flamingo has become an icon of pop culture in the United States. It has been featured in films, on television, and in songs. The pink flamingo has also been used as a symbol of kitsch, bad taste, and rebellion against middle-class taste in the 1960s.
Yes, Cado Manufacturing, Inc., a blow-molder located in Leominster, Massachusetts, currently manufactures the pink plastic flamingos. They purchased the copyrights and plastic molds for the flamingos in 2010.
