CowParade
CowParade is an international public art exhibit that has been featured in major world cities. Fiberglass sculptures of cows are decorated by local artists, and distributed over the city centre, in public places such as train stations, important avenues, and parks. They often feature artwork and designs specific to local culture, as well as city life and other relevant themes. After the exhibition in the city, which lasts many months, the cows are auctioned off and the proceeds donated to charity.
There are a few variations of shape, but the three most common shapes of cow were created by Pascal Knapp, a Swiss-born sculptor who was commissioned to create the cows specifically for the CowParade series of events. Pascal Knapp owns the copyrights to the standing, lying and grazing cow shapes used in the CowParade events.
The concept of "cow parade" has its origins in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1998[1] by artistic director Walter Knapp, it is based on an idea which was realised in the same city for the first time in 1986: Lions as the symbol of Zurich were painted and then on display throughout the city.
The Zürich exhibit 1998 was not called "cow parade" - it was called "Land in Sicht" (roughly "Countryside in view"). The concept was brought to the United States when Chicago businessman Peter Hanig, along with Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Lois Weisberg, organized an event in Chicago in 1999. A Swiss company started to explore the idea, CowHolding Parade AG. The American company that explored this idea, CowHolding Parade, was founded in 1999; the Swiss company promptly sued. A bronze casting is on permanent display in Chicago.
The success of this venture inspired many other cities to host similar fundraising projects. The idea has been taken up by other cities which have chosen animals for public art projects with painted fiberglass sculptures (see Similar projects).
Gallery
CowParade cities
Africa
Asia
Europe
- Arnhem, Netherlands (2000)
- Athens, Greece (2006)
- Barcelona, Spain (2005)
- Bilbao, Spain (2001)[2]
- Bratislava, Slovakia (2005)
- Brussels, Belgium (2003)
- Bordeaux, France (2010)
- Bucharest, Romania (2005)
- Budapest, Hungary (2006)
- Copenhagen, Denmark (2007)
- Dublin, Ireland (2003)
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (2006)
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- Florence, Italy (2005)
- Geneva, Switzerland (2005)
- Isle of Man (2003)
- Istanbul, Turkey (2007)
- Lisbon, Portugal (2006)
- London, England, UK (2002)
- Marseille, France (2007)
- Luxembourg (2001)
- Madrid, Spain (2008)
- Manchester, England, UK (2004)
- Milan, Italy (2007)
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- Monaco (2005)
- Moscow, Russia (2006)
- Paris, France (2006)
- Prague, Czech Republic (2004)
- Rome, Italy (2010)
- Stockholm, Sweden (2004)
- Telemark, Norway (2006)
- Ventspils, Latvia (2002)
- Vigo, Spain (2007)
- Warsaw, Poland (2005)
- Zürich, Switzerland (1998)
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North America
- Chicago, Illinois, USA (1999)
- New York, New York, USA (2000)
- Stamford, Connecticut, USA (2000)
- West Orange, New Jersey, USA (2000)
- Houston, Texas, USA (2001)
- Kansas City, Missouri, USA (2001)
- Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (2002)
- San Antonio, Texas, USA (2002)
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- West Hartford, Connecticut, USA (2003)(2007)
- Atlanta, Georgia, USA (2003)
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA (2004)
- Portland, Oregon, USA (2005)
- Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (2006)
- Mexico City, Mexico (2006)
- Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico (2006)
- Madison, Wisconsin, USA (2006)
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- Boston, Massachusetts, USA (2006)
- Denver, Colorado, USA (2006)
- Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA (2006)
- Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (2007)
- San José, Costa Rica (2008)
- Tijuana, México (2008)
- León, México (2008)
- La Jolla, California, USA (2009)
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Oceania
South America
Similar projects
The phenomenon of CowParade has spawned copy-cat statue decorating projects in a number of cities worldwide.[3] The success of these ventures inspired many other cities to host similar fundraising projects. The theme was adapted in Berlin to the town mascot; however the entailing United Buddy Bears exhibitions are very different from all other urban events. The bears were created by the German artists Klaus and Eva Herlitz. The idea and the philosophy behind the United Buddy Bears exhibitions are unique: with its international approach and its symbolism, this synthesis of the arts globally promotes tolerance, international understanding and a peaceful coexistence.
Zürich itself has adapted the bear theme in the "Teddy-Summer" in 2005.[4]
Asia
Europe
North America
- Anaheim, California, baseball player Mickey Mouse, for the 2010 MLB All-Star Week[10]
- Anchorage, Alaska, "Wild Salmon on Parade" (2005) [11]
- Atlanta, Georgia, "Dolphins on Parade" (2011) [12]
- Austin, Texas, "GuitarTown" (2007) [13]
- Baltimore, Maryland, "Crabtown Project" (2005) [14]
- Bennington, Vermont, "Moosefest" (2005 & 2009) [15], "PaletteFest" (2006)
- Blacksburg, Virginia, "Gobble de Art" (2006) [16]
- Boyertown, Pennsylvania, "Bear Fever" [17]
- Bradenton, Florida, "GECKOFest" (2006)
- Brevard County, Florida "Shuttles Orbiting the Space Coast" (2009) [18]
- Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Scranton), "Miles of Mules" [19]
- Buffalo, New York, "Herd About Buffalo"
- Cadiz, Kentucky, "Meet the Pigs of Cadiz, Kentucky" [20]
- Cairo, New York, "Bears and Butterflies" (2009–2011) [21]
- Calgary, Alberta, with lifesize cow statues, as a nod to the cattle industry in Alberta
- Catskill, New York, "Cat-N-Around Catskill" (2007–2011) [22]
- Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "AbZOOlutely Chestnut Hill" (2006) [23]
- Cincinnati, Ohio, "Big Pig Gig"
- Crystal City, Virginia, "Crystal Flight" (2008) [24]
- Dothan, Alabama, "Peanuts Around Town" (2001) [25]
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, "Bison" (2005)
- Elkhart County, Indiana, "ElkArt on Parade" (2011) [26]
- Erie, Pennsylvania, "GoFish!" (2000), "LeapFrog" (2004)
- Eugene, Oregon, "Ducks on Parade" [27]
- Flagstaff, Arizona "PAWS" (2009) [28]
- Glendale, Ohio, Black Squirrels
- Glens Falls, New York, "Have a Seat" (Painted Chairs) (2011) [29]
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, "Lobsters" (2005)
- Hudson, New York, Dogs (2008 & 2009) (Since they're across the river from Catskill's Cats)
- Iowa City, Iowa, "Herky on Parade" (2004) [30]
- Jacksonville, Florida, "The Manatees of Jacksonville" (2005) [31]
- Jasper, Alabama, "20-Mule Team Public Art Project" (2011) [32]
- Langley, British Columbia "Horsing around Langley" [33]
- Lexington, North Carolina, "Pigs in the City"
- Louisville, Kentucky, "Gallopalooza" [34]
- Miami, Florida, "Rooster Walk" (2003)
- Mountain Towns of New York (Windham, Hunter, and surrounding areas), "Rip Lives" (Small concrete replicas of Rip Van Winkle) (2010 and 2011) [35]
- Naperville, Illinois, United Way hosts an annual exhibit (2001–2007) [36]
- New Braunfels, Texas,"Stein Parade" (2006)[37]
- New York, New York, "MLB Statues On Parade" [38] (June–July 2008)
- New Orleans, Louisiana, "Festival of Fins" [39]
- Norfolk, Virginia, "Mermaids on Parade," http://www.mermaidsonparade.com/
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, "Spirit of the Buffalo" [40]
- Ottawa, Ontario, tulips, at the Ottawa Tulip Festival 2005 in Major's Hill Park and at the Canadian National Exhibition Direct Energy Centre
- Oxford, Maryland, "Take a Tour of Oxford's Picket Fences" [41] (2009)
- Park Ridge, Illinois, "Promise of Park Ridge" (2008) [42]
- Pensacola, Florida, "Pelicans in Paradise" [43]
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "Phanatic Around Town Project" (2010) [44]
- Pinecrest, Florida "SmARTy Dogs for Smart Schools" (2011) [45]
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "DINO-mite Days" (2000) [46]
- Providence, Rhode Island, Mr Potato Head (2000)
- Richmond, Virginia, "Go Fish!" (2001)
- Rochester, New York, "Horses on Parade" (2001) [47]
- Salem, Oregon, "Salmon in the City" (2005) [48]
- St. Joseph, Michigan "Barnyard at the Beach" (2011), "Hot Diggity Dogs" (2010), "Surf 'n Safari" (2009), "Boats-n-Beaches" (2008), "Hot Cars Cool Beaches" (2007), "Beach Bears" (2006), "Horses on the Beach" (2004, 2005) [49]
- Saint Paul, Minnesota "Snoopies" (2005)
- San Francisco, California, "Hearts in San Francisco" [50]
- San Jose, California, "SharkByte" (2001)
- Santa Fe, New Mexico, "Trail of the Painted Ponies" [51].
- Santa Rosa, California, "Peanuts on Parade" (2005, 2006, 2007) [52]
- Saratoga Springs, New York, "Horses, Saratoga Style" (2002, 2007) [53]
- Saugerties, New York, "Hors'n Around Saugerties" (2009 & 2010) [54] ; "Shine On Saugerties (Lighthouses) (2011) [55]
- Seattle, Washington, "Pigs on Parade" (2001, 2007) [56]; Ponies on Parade (2005); "Nutcracker Parade" (2006)
- Sedona, Arizona, "Javalinas on Parade" (2006) [57] [58]
- Toronto, Ontario, "Moose in the City" (2000)
- Tucson, Arizona, "Ponies del Pueblo" [59]
- Vancouver, British Columbia, "Orcas in the City" (2003–2004); "Spirit Bears in the City" (2005–2006)
- Victoria, British Columbia, "Spirit Bears in the City" (multiple cities) (2005–2006); "Whales"
- Virginia Beach, Virginia, "A Dolphin's Promise" (2005) [60]
- Washington, D.C., "Party Animals" [61]; "PandaMania" [62]
- Willimantic, Connecticut, "FrogFest" [63]
- Wilmington, Vermont, Bears in the Valley (2007), VerMonsters (Recycled Object Art) (2008), Painted Adirondack Chairs (2010)
Criticism
CowParade has been criticized by contributing artists for their selectivity standards; David Lynch's cow with its flesh partially ripped off, and organs showing was rejected.[9]
A Swedish Organization called The Militant Graffiti Artists of Stockholm has kidnapped and decapitated one of the cows of the Stockholm event in protest of the publicly provisioned cows carrying advertisements.[10]
See also
References
External links