Kin Hui (center left) is flanked by Congresswoman Judy Chu to his right and Arcadia City Council Member Sho Tay to his left.
After winning the Extraordinaire Trophy with their dazzling first-ever float in the Tournament of Roses parade last year, Arcadia Chamber of Commerce member and a sponsor of the Taste of Arcadia and Government Affairs Forum, Singpoli today unveiled the design for its 2015 entry, a 55-foot long firebird with flapping wings and real fire.
Singpoli CEO Kin Hui, a resident of Arcadia, introduced artwork and a scale model of the ambitious project Friday morning (Sept. 12) at Singpoli’s recently-opened DusitD2 Constance hotel on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena just east of Lake Avenue. Congresswoman Judy Chu presented a Congressional certificate of recognition to Hui for the project that was designed by Charles Meier and will be built by Paradiso Parade Floats. Speaking to primarily Chinese media, Arcadia City Councilman Sho Tay spoke in Chinese in also commending Hui on his support of the Rose Parade in this way. Tay is also an Ambassador for the Arcadia Chamber. Parade officials said Hui’s support of the parade and renovating the historic hotel fit with the parade’s theme of Inspirational Stories.
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Called “A Bright Future,” the design portrays one of the world’s most ancient stories of hope, optimism and rebirth: the legend of the firebird rising from the ashes to soar again. Hui said the float embodies the elegance, creativity and quality for which Singpoli is known. The story of the firebird with its multicultural roots reflects Singpoli’s commitment to bringing cultures together. Set to the music of Igor Stravinsky’s immortal “Firebird” ballet, the design also emphasizes Singpoli’s dedication to inspiring the community through the arts. Singpoli serves as the presenting sponsor of the Pasadena Symphony and members of the symphony will ride on the float.
The float design is unusual in being a one-piece object, and will have a hinge on the neck to allow the head at 26-feet tall to be lowered by hydraulics when passing under overpasses on the parade route, as well as turn from side-to-side. The bird’s wings will move up and down, projecting out to 30-feet when fully extended. A golden burst of pyrotechnics will bring the creature to life in a shower of light.
Top floral designers from all over the country are contributing, and they describe the float this way: The lines of the float are inspired by a blend of European fairytale illustrations and Chinese decorative arts, rendered in a color palette of cerise, vermillion and gold. An array of exotic blooms overflows from surrounding gardens. Tens of thousands of roses command center stage, accented by cascades of phalaenopsis and vanda orchids, lush stands of anthurium, and a blaze of heliconia.
