McDaniel’s PEEPshow entry celebrates 150th anniversary

It didn’t fit in the elevator. Not the van either. So the tenacious team from the College's Grounds staff rolled the Peep-cloaked replica of McDaniel’s famous arch — designed and decorated by Art professor Chloe Irla ’07 in honor of the College’s 150th anniversary — down Main Street and right in the front door of the Carroll Arts Center.

Irla hot-glued 1,950 Peeps to the 4-foot high arch with the help of first-year student Justin Frock. A close look reveals Peeps from a variety of holidays — brown reindeer and gingerbread folks, white ghosts and snowmen and, of course, the white and yellow bunnies and pastel peeps of Easter.

In all, 40 hours worth of Peeps — and two hours of maneuvering and snow shoveling by Grounds Crew members Sam Levee, Jason Haines, Josh Davis, Charles Kokoski and Alex Fitzgerald.

“I love the PEEPshow,” says Irla, an interdisciplinary studio artist based in Baltimore who teaches digital media at McDaniel. “This filled a food sculpture void I’ve had since I worked at Charm City Cakes and planned delivery logistics but never actually created a cake!”

Visitors to the PEEPshow at Carroll Arts Center opening March 29 and running through April 10 can not only vote on their favorites — hint: "McDaniel Peeps Celebrate 150 Years!" — but take a photo in front of the arch holding a picture of the Green Terror mascot or the new tartan heart or even a green and gold birthday hat.

Flanking the arch are two Peep bouquets, a tribute, Irla says, to the Hill’s spectacular landscape architecture.

Visit PEEPshow at Carroll Arts Center for information and hours of operation.  

Read more about McDaniel’s Peep Arch in the Carroll County Times.