For the Birds
One-of-a-kind birdhouses going up for auction
ABOVE: Bird houses are worked on by Gallup locals Thursday afternoon. The bird houses are being constucted and sold to benefit Rely for Life. BELOW: A bird house depicting the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz sits on a table while Dorie Rowberry works on a bird house meant to resemble a lion. [photos by Daniel Zollinger/ Independent] By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — A group of high school art and history teachers spent a portion of their Spring Break decorating birdhouses to benefit Relay for Life on June 20.

Each participant was given a standard wooden birdhouse with the task to create a one-of-a-kind piece that will be auctioned off for the charity on May 10 at Sammie C’s at 8 p.m.

Many of the houses fall in line with the event’s theme “There’s No Place like Hope,” a play on the famous phrase from “Wizard of Oz.”

Artist Dorie Rowberry created a lion’s head out of plaster and joined it to the front of her birdhouse. The cowardly lion’s mouth serves as the opening for birds to access the house. The lion’s mane will be made of raffia, she said.

“It’s a wonderful thing to do,” Rowberry said of the project.

“We’ve all been touched by cancer, so its makes it even more special.”

Relay for Life is an annual event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Participants join groups and raise money through various fund raisers prior to the event on June 20.

Organizers would like to earn $100,000 through all of the Relay For Life fund raisers this year. Last year, about $70,000 was raised for the cause.

More than 30 teams have signed up to participate in the event. This year’s goal is 40 groups.

High school art teacher Debbie Thomas plans to embellish her birdhouse with materials gathered from nature, including pine cone shingles.

“She’s going all natural,” Linda Shelton, Relay for Life event chairwoman, said.

Shelton also said the birdhouses will be displayed in downtown businesses prior to the auction, so residents can browse and decide on which houses they want to bid.

“Some of them will be functional, some of them won’t,” Shelton said of the houses.

Some 70 birdhouses will be available at the auction.

Representatives from the Gallup Fire Department, post office, library, hospital auxiliary and Kawanis also plan to submit birdhouses for auction. The auction will occur a day before Mother’s Day and could serve as a creative gift, organizers said.

Shelton said she has collected several of the birdhouses that have been completed and described them as quite impressive.

“My house is turning into a nice little bird haven,” she said.

Information: Linda Shelton, 722-2175.