Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 VIRGINIA EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
``So, it's so appropriate,'' said Virginia first lady Susan Allen, standing beneath the Capitol dome Wednesday, ``that this unveiling be held here.''
And with that, she whipped the black satin drape off the latest George Washington likeness to grace the hallowed halls. The medium: jelly beans.
Gourmet Jelly Belly jelly beans, to be exact. Ten thousand of them.
No one cried.
Allen's 3-year-old son, Forrest, did plant a tongue on the former president's blueberry lapel, though.
The jelly bean George, unveiled in honor of the first president's real birthday, was the work of San Francisco artist Peter Rocha, who prefers to create with candy.
He was ``entranced by the brilliant colors,'' the jelly bean people said. The perfect flesh-colored jelly bean apparently is not available, but otherwise Rocha's portraits are remarkable reproductions.
Rocha has made dozens of Jelly Belly portraits - Washington, Lincoln, Laurel, Hardy - many of which tour the country. They are displayed in candy stores, malls and 18th century landmarks.
Margaret Thatcher ran into her portrait at a shop in Maryland recently.
Elvis - the second Elvis, actually; the first one fell apart - recently made its debut in Memphis.
``He's made so many,'' said Patricia Collins, regional sales manager for Goelitz Confectionery Co., which makes Jelly Belly jelly beans. ``There's Ronald Reagan, the bald eagle, the Spirit of '76 ... .''
Hampton Roads residents can see old George in jelly at Williamsburg's Wythe Candy Shop for the next two weeks. His portrait stayed about an hour in the Capitol before he was packed in brown tape and cardboard and wheeled into history.
After Wednesday's unveiling, Gov. George Allen himself spotted the 40-flavored forefather from the third-floor balcony. He paused and leaned over.
``Hey, is that made out of jelly beans?'' he wanted to know.
Yup. Lots.
``Where are the jelly beans made?'' he shot back.
Ouch. California and Illinois.
``But they're distributed in Virginia!'' cried Susan Allen and all the candy people standing with her.
``Oh, good!'' the governor responded. Then he smiled. Then everyone smiled.
Collins handed Susan Allen two antique-looking gumball machines, both loaded with fistfuls of Jelly Bellies.
``This is to help the governor reduce the money problems in Virginia?'' she asked.
Then, cradling the machines, she smiled and looked back toward the candy people.
``Well,'' she said. ``This will be some great advertising for you all, huh?''
by CNB