Our local hot air balloon festival, The Hudson Hot Air Affair (Hudson, WI) will not allow this masterpiece to be inflated.  They tell us that this is a "family event" and that the "bare breasts  are offensive".  Historically, they used to be proud to have Charlie's balloons attend, but three years ago something switched. 

So this weekend, 6-8 February, 2026, two weeks after Charles Markert passed away, one would expect his home town ballooning community to celebrate is contribution to the world of hot air ballooning.  Markert's hand-painted balloon envelopes are, without a doubt, the inspiration behind special shaped balloons, therefore, he deserves to be honored, not villainized.