For the past 10 years, the Christmas season has brought a bit of mystery and whimsy to Portland, as hundreds of lighted Santa figures appear in a surprise location for passersby to find or simply stumble upon.
Amid the glow of these plastic “Santa Clones,” what no one ever notices is the presence of their architect, Portland designer Chris Willis.
Willis, who leaves clues to the installation’s whereabouts on his Instagram account, can often be found lingering outside in the shadows of the display. He intends the scene to evoke department store displays of old. He likes to listen to the various responses people have to the installation as they stand before it. He often takes notes.
In years past, Willis says he frequently heard the word “creepy” peppered in the conversations. As in, “this is really creepy,” he said.
“I haven’t heard that hardly at all this year,” Willis said. “I noticed that right away.”
Willis, who hatched the idea in 2010, said the momentary wonder evoked by the Santas’ incandescent glow is something that perhaps Portland needs in 2020, he said.
“To be able to put this together and give people even just this one gift of normalcy” has been particularly rewarding for Willis. “Especially with what this city has been through.”
Returning to the project was also a source of comfort for him.
“I needed the project,” Willis said. “Putting them out there, being a part of people’s traditions, whether it’s following the clues and finding it or just coming across it alone.”
“It certainly doesn’t make us forget what’s going on. But if it can give us a little break from it, even just for a few minutes,” he said.
This year, the Santas are wearing masks. All 350 of them.
The decision wasn’t exactly a mandate. “It’s not any sort of political statement,” he said. “It’s our reality. Everyone has a mask on.”
“You can still celebrate the holiday and still be safe and smart about it,” Willis said.
“This isn’t ‘one more thing we can’t do’ because of COVID.”
To find the Santa Clones for yourself, follow Willis’ clues at instagram.com/chriswillis.
-- Beth Nakamura
Twitter: @bethnakamura
Instagram: @bethnakamura
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