Volunteers install the first PIGShibition pig sculpture on the Fayetteville square

Ozark Literacy Council volunteers unload a 6-foot-tall pig Thursday morning before installing the sculpture in front of Arvest Bank on the Fayetteville downtown square.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

A 6-foot-tall pig was spotted in downtown Fayetteville today.

OK, not really. Well, sort of.

Volunteers installed the first PIGShibition pig sculpture in front of Arvest Bank on the northeast corner of the square Thursday morning.

The sculpture is part of a fundraising and community art project organized by the Ozark Literacy Council, a nonprofit organization that aims draw awareness to local literacy issues.

About 25 pigs, sponsored by local business and then painted by local artists, will be displayed in various locations around Northwest Arkansas over the next few weeks. Several of the sculptures will be auctioned off in the “Piggies Go To Market” fundraiser and gala event set for March 14, 2013.

Fayetteville sculptor Mike Davis Gutierrez designed the original pig and Glynn Samuels, who owns G&D Fiberglass in Hindsville, supplied the fiberglass molds.

Local artist Priscilla White designed the Arvest-sponsored pig whose theme is “Pick Up a Book and Read.” Another local artist, Matt Miller, is set to paint a pig sculpture live from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 during the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market on the square.

For more information, visit the PIGShibition website at pigshibition.org, or check out the group’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Pigshibition.