Balloon artist returns to Merillat Centre

HUNTINGTON, IN DECEMBER 19, 1996 --- Children's entertainer Allyn Gooen takes balloon artistry to an entirely new level in his show, Goowin's Balloowins. On Saturday, January 18, he will return to Huntington, bringing his brand of bang, twist and pop art once again to the Merillat Centre for the Arts. The show will begin at 1 p.m. on the Merillat mainstage.

Gooen, a New-York based balloon artist, redefines the art of balloon twisting. To the amazement of is audiences, both young and old alike, Gooen creates his own fantastic versions of space ships, child-sized houses and twenty-foot dragons, anything his audience can dream up.

He also includes children from the audience in the stories he tells. He will outfit them in balloon costumes, give them balloon props and make them the stars. Many balloon artists will create creatures for kids. Not Gooen. He turns kids into creatures.

Gooen has appeared on Nickelodeon, PBS's "Shining Time Station," and "Fred Penner's Place." He performed at Huntington College in 1995. His January 18 return to the Merillat Centre is made possible in part by funding from Insights (a division of Lime City Manufacturing), Drs. Shah, Hougendobler & Savariar, and Schenkel's All-Star Dairy.

Tickets are $3.00. For more information, call the Merillat Centre box office at 260-356-6000, extension 2061.