Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Scores with Unique Tim Tebow Portrait – Made of BB’s

ORLANDO, Fla. – (Dec. 17, 2009) – He may have lost out on the Heisman Trophy, but Florida QB Tim Tebow can claim a new honor that few others can – an image of him in action will grace the walls of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Orlando.

Gainesville artist creates Gator QB mosaic from more than 46,000 Airsoft BB’s

This is Ripley’s, so that means this is no ordinary portrait. Ripley’s has acquired a Tim Tebow mosaic made from more than 46,000 Airsoft BB’s – the plastic balls used in a popular type of BB gun.

The artwork was created by Gainesville artist John O’Hearn. O’Hearn is primarily a sculptor, but has spent the last few years experimenting with Airsoft BB’s as a medium. The BB’s act as pixels in the mosaics he creates.

O’Hearn says he can recreate any picture or portrait from just 5 colors of BB’s – red, green, blue, black and white – a challenge when your subject is wearing Gator orange. Red BB’s are used in the helmet, but O’Hearn mixes them with  green and white BB’s to make the Florida orange.

The Tebow mosaic measures approximately 4 feet by 6 feet.  It contains 227 tubes, and each tube contains 204 BB’s – for a grand total of 46,308 tiny plastic balls.

O’Hearn is a grad student in the arts program at the University of Florida – a proud member of the Gator Nation and a big Tebow fan.  “It’s a nice way to honor him for all he’s done for Gator fans,” said O’Hearn.

According to Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives, O’Hearn and other artists are putting a modern-day spin on the style of pointillism.

“What they are doing is related to French Impressionism from the 19^th century,” said Meyer. “But they are utilizing computer technology and different media to create some amazing works of art. This example is remarkable because of the enormous number of balls used.”

Tebow joins an exclusive list of unique celebrity portraits now hanging in Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museums worldwide, including President Obama, Michael Jackson and Dean Cain all made from gumballs; Eminem made from M&M’s; Princess Diana made from dryer lint; and Madonna made from junk mail.

The Tebow portrait is available for public viewing in the lobby of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Orlando, and will be on display through January 8 – and may become a permanent exhibit in the museum. The portrait can be seen for free, but normal admission is required to tour the museum.

Ripley’s Orlando Museum  is located at 8201 International Drive. The hours are 9:30 a.m. to midnight daily.

 Media contact:

Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Obrien@ripleys.com
Office – 615-646-7465
Cell – 615-496-5949

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 70-plus attractions in 13 countries.  In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! museums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.