Balloon artists gather to create massive balloon tribute to local artist Deborah Fellman

Deborah Fellman aka RVA Balloons has been a fixture in Richmond Community for years. It was rare to attend a festival, especially one in Hills and Heights without seeing a line of children around Deborah waiting for a balloon creation. She was always willing to give her time and skills to the community.

Now facing a terminal illness, Deborah is giving back to the community again.

Artists from around the country are gathering at Regency to create an Enchanted Balloon Garden at Regency Square Mall. They’ll be working on the creation Saturday and Sunday. You’ll be able to see the finished the final product on Monday.

Press Release:

When Fellman’s friends learned of her diagnosis, they immediately offered to send her on the trip of a lifetime. But Fellman had another idea. Instead of leaving town, she wanted to invite her friends to Richmond to build an art installation that paid tribute to her love of her hometown and her love of balloons – a final gift to the city’s residents who have supported her business over the past decade. Group builds of this magnitude, incorporating over 30,000 balloons, while common in other countries, are rarely seen in the United States.

The centerpiece of the walk-through garden will be a splashing fountain, surrounded by blooming trees, floral beds and lush green spaces. As a special surprise for visitors, a variety of small woodland and wetland balloon creatures will be hidden within the garden habitat. The garden will remain on display for an extra week following completion.

Fellman states: “We have a world-class crew coming to this event, with a depth of experience in large-scale installations. Multiple team members have traveled internationally to work on massive installations in Europe as well as in the Middle and Far East. There’s a large contingent that has years of experience building five-story tall installations in the Sibley Building in Rochester, NY. Additionally, we have multiple team members who have won in categories such as “Top Twister” and “Best Balloon Dress” design at the Twist & Shout, the premier international convention for balloon twisters.”

Flower by Carolynn Hayman

“I’ve been obsessed with the idea of bringing a large scale balloon art installation to Richmond ever since I traveled to Rochester, NY, in 2014 to join a crew of 70 balloon artists to make a massive Jack and the Beanstalk that was over five stories tall and incorporated over 50,000 balloons! The first year we had 10K visitors, with attendance on subsequent installations at the Sibley growing to over 30K! If we can do that in Rochester, than why not Richmond? Imagine the positive impact of all those visitors on the local economy. And what a great chance to show our municipality that balloons can truly be art!”

Flower by Carolynn Hayman

Says crew member, Ryan Lavallee, “Deborah Fellman was one of my first balloon friends. We met over ten years ago when she hosted a Master Class for local industry professionals. She has been in my corner countless times over the years with encouraging words and a willingness to help me out whenever I needed it. When she told me about the balloon installation, all I wanted to know was when it was so I could help out.”

The Enchanted Balloon Garden will be located between the two main escalators in the Regency Square Mall atrium, a short distance from the food court. The public is invited to come watch the garden take form on Saturday, 02/24/18 and Sunday, 02/25/18, and to participate in a limited number of instructional workshops, creating easy designs that will be incorporated into the completed garden. Workshops will be held between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Flower by Carolynn Hayman

About Deborah Fellman

RVA Balloons Artist/Owner Deborah Fellman has been making extraordinary balloon creations for over fifteen years and brings an unusual background to her business. She is certified in Business French by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her professional experience includes teaching English as a Second Language in France. After twelve years of working for a Fortune 500 corporation, she focused her talents on balloon design and entertainment, where she has won numerous awards and appeared in local, regional and national publications. She has also been a convention instructor and presenter.