Thousands of gnomes pop up on poles

OAKLAND, Calif. (CNN/KPIX) - A power company says the gnomes an artist put on its utility poles around Oakland, California can stay -- for now.

The artist, who wants to remain anonymous, says he put up more than two-thousand of them.

They're painted on pieces of wood, which are then screwed onto utility poles and other neighborhood objects.

PG&E recently learned of the art and said it would remove them. But now it says it will hold off.

They can stay until a new, suitable home is found for them.

The utility is working with the local businesses and the city to find that new home.