CowParade

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cow "Drinking Milk" CowParade Rio de Janeiro 2007.

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 became international 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). 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 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.^[2]

[edit] Gallery

A parody of The Three Graces called "The Three Grazers"; designed by Nial Smith for the Edinburgh CowParade, 2006.	Wisconsin Winter, From the Madison WI cow parade.	Cowrioca, at Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro.	"Pasture Bedtime" was decorated with wrist watches.
Post exhibition bronze casting in Chicago outside the Chicago Cultural Center	Alternate sides of University of Chicago Law School holding	Alternate sides of University of Chicago Law School holding	"Vaca Fileteada" from Buenos Aires`s cow parade, 2006
A folkloric cow from Costa Rica`s cow parade, 2008	A cow at popular Revolucion Avenue, from Tijuana CowParade 2008.	El chico de la banca (the guy in the bench) cow, at CECUT, from Tijuana CowParade 2008.	Vacalero cow, in Paseo de los Heroes, from Tijuana CowParade 2008.
Got Art? cow in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from Harrisburg CowParade 2004.

[edit] CowParade cities

The Americas

Europe

Africa/Asia/Australia

Miniature figurines of the CowParade cows have become a collectible. [1]

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Americas

• Austin, Texas, "GuitarTown" (2007) [2]
• Baltimore, Maryland, "Crabtown Project" (2005) [3]
• Bennington, Vermont, "Moosefest" (2005) [4]
• Boyertown, Pennsylvania, "Bear Fever" [5]
• Bradenton, Florida, "GECKOFest" (2006)
• Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Scranton), "Miles of Mules" [6]
• Calgary, Alberta, with lifesize cow statues, as a nod to the cattle industry in Alberta
• Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "AbZOOlutely Chestnut Hill" (2006) [7]
• Cincinnati, Ohio, "Big Pig Gig"
• Crystal City, Virginia, "Crystal Flight" (2008) [8]
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, "Bison" (2005)
• Erie, Pennsylvania, "GoFish!" (2000), "LeapFrog" (2004)
• Eugene, Oregon, "Ducks on Parade" [9]
• Glendale, Ohio, Black Squirrels
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, "Lobsters" (2005)
• Iowa City, Iowa, "Herky on Parade" (2004) [10]
• Lexington, North Carolina, "Pigs in the City"
• Louisville, Kentucky, "Gallopalooza" [11]
• Miami, Florida, "Rooster Walk" (2003)
• Naperville, Illinois, United Way hosts an annual exhibit (2001-2007) [12]
• New York, New York, "MLB Statues On Parade" [13] (June-July 2008)
• New Orleans, Louisiana, "Festival of Fins" [14]
• Oxford, Maryland, "Take a Tour of Oxford's Picket Fences" [15] (2009)
• Park Ridge, Illinois, "Promise of Park Ridge" (2008) [16]
• Pensacola, Florida, "Pelicans in Paradise" [17]
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "DINO-mite Days" (2000) [18]
• Providence, Rhode Island, Mr Potato Head (2000)
• Rochester, New York, "Horses on Parade" (2001) [19]
• Salem, Oregon, "Salmon in the City" (2005) [20]
• San Francisco, California, "Hearts in San Francisco" [21]
• San Jose, California, "SharkByte" (2001)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico, "Trail of the Painted Ponies" [22].
• Santa Rosa, California, "Peanuts on Parade" (2005, 2006, 2007) [23]
• Saratoga Springs, New York, "Horses, Saratoga Style" (2002, 2007) [24]
• Seattle, Washington, "Pigs on Parade" (2001) [25]; Ponies on Parade (2005); "Nutcracker Parade" (2006)
• Saint Paul, Minnesota "Snoopies" (2005)
• Toronto, Ontario, "Moose in the City" (2000)
• Tucson, Arizona, "Ponies del Pueblo" [26]
• 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)
• Washington, D.C., "Party Animals" [27]; "PandaMania" [28]
• Willimantic, Connecticut, "FrogFest" [29]

[edit] Europe

Two of the 104 decorated pigs on display in the English city of Bath. This was a public art event, called "King Bladud's Pigs in Bath". Pig sculptures were on display around the city through the summer of 2008.

• Bath, "King Bladud's Pigs" (104 pigs), 2008 [30]
• Berlin, "Buddy Bears in the city", 2001 and 2002, "United Buddy Bears", 2003 and since 2004 worldwide
• Dortmund, "Dortmunder Nashorn" (120 rhinos), 2005, expanded for 2006 FIFA World Cup
• Hamburg, "Hans Hummel", (100 Hans Hummel), 2003
• Hannover, "Elefanten-Parade" (45 elephants), 2004
• Kaiserslautern, "Fishing for Phantasy" (250 fish), 2001
• Liverpool, "Super Lamb Bananas" (125 Super Lamb Bananas), 2008
• Norwich, "Go Elephants" (54 baby elephants), 2008 [31]
• Munich, "Löwenparade" (500 lions), 2004
• Wuppertal, "Pinguinale" (200 penguins), 2006
• Zürich, "Teddy-Summer" (630 teddy-bears), 2005
• Versmold, "Bunte Borstenviecher" (120 pigs), 2007 [32]
• Istanbul, "Shoe Art" (500 shoes), September 2008
• Neustadt an der Aisch, "Aischgruender Karpfen" (120 carp), September 2008 [33]

[edit] Middle East

• Bat Yam "Masks", 2006-2007
• Jerusalem, "Lions of Jerusalem"
• Tel Aviv, "Shvarim VeShe'arim" (Bulls and Exchange Rates)
• Tel Aviv, "A Gateway to the World", 2007
• Dubai, "Camel Caravan", 2003

[edit] Criticism

CowParade has been criticized by contributing artists for their selectivity standards. ^[4]

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. ^[5]

[edit] See also

• United Buddy Bears
• Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet
• Gladys the Swiss Dairy Cow
• Concrete Cows

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: CowParade

• The official (US) Cowparade website
• CowParade Rio de Janeiro 2007 - pictures
• Cow Parade Europe
• Edinburgh Cow Parade 2006
• Paris Cow Parade 2006
• Milan Cow Parade 2007
• Manchester 2004 Cow Parade
• Pascal Knapp
• Cowparade Belgium
• Cow Parade Admirors (Spanish)
• Pigs in Versmold (Germany)
• Carps in Neustadt an der Aisch (Germany)