Jeff Koons Spends Thanksgiving In Macy's

New York, NY (CNS) - Artist Jeff Koons has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. And he wants to show his appreciation by spending time in Macy's.

Koons has been invited by the prominent retailer to be its second guest artist in its annual "Blue Sky Gallery" series, Macy's 81st annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

It features Koon's 53-foot-tall helium balloon version of his iconic stainless steel Rabbit sculpture. It will be paraded along Broadway on Thursday with Hello Kitty, Shrek, and Dora the Explorer.

The "Rabbit" measures 53.5-feet-tall, 26.5-feet-wide, and filled with 4,650-cubic-feet of helium. It is Koon's largest inflatable sculpture so far and uses a new reflective material to replicate the mirror-like finish on the original piece.

"Works like Jeff's giant topiary puppy at Rockefeller Center and the Gugenheim in Bilbao, Spain combine monumental style and whimsy, two elements that are inherent in every Macy's Parade Balloon," the parade's executive produce, Robin Hall, said.

Macy's is known for sponsoring its annual Thanksgiving parade. It started in Newark, New Jersey and has been on the streets of New York every year since 1929.