From Northwestern University Medill News Service, 11 May 2000
Cows on the mooove again
by Allison Pries
The cows are moo-ving south for a three-month vacation.
Beaufort, South Carolina will exhibit 27 of the decorated cows from Chicago's Public Art exhibition, "Cows on Parade," last summer.
Beaufort's exhibit, "Cows on Vacation," will kick off Saturday and run until the beginning of July, when most of the cows will be returned to Chicago.
The cows have been primped and were loaded onto two moving trucks Tuesday morning, ready for their trip south--one even dressed in a bathing suit, swim cap and goggles and ready to hit the beach.
"We're thrilled to share a bit of Chicago with Beaufort," said Lois Weisberg, commissioner of Cultural Affairs. "The cows charmed and delighted millions of residents and visitors last summer and now the work of the Chicago artists will be enjoyed on the East Coast, as well."
"Beaufort doesn't have a lot of public art," said Eric Vaughn Holowacz, executive director of the Arts Council of Beaufort County. "But, we have wonderful natural beauty."
The rural seaside town, located between Charleston and Savannah, is rich with history--the downtown area, where most of the cows will be displayed, is part of a National Historic District--and Holowacz said there is a growing number of resorts and retirement communities.
The first Spanish settlers arrived near Beaufort in 1562. Shortly thereafter French and English settlers came and established cattle farms, which are still a presence now. "But, the area is giving way to gated communities," Holowacz said. "The cows could stand for our agrarian past and the growth of tourism as a major industry."
The cows will arrive just in time for Beaufort's tourist season. "It's an asset to people who normally come here and it will hopefully attract more visitors," said Marcia Spivey, of Main Street Beaufort, U.S.A., an organization of downtown businesses.
Holowacz heard about "Cows on Parade" from citizens of Beaufort who visited Chicago.
One was Ginnie Meeks, who came to Chicago with three of her co-workers. "We went to Lilith Fair, a Cubs game, all the touristy things. But our favorite was the cows," she said.
"Instead of duplicating or copying the idea, we decided to tap into it by inviting the cows down here," Holowacz said.
Holowacz needed to get permission from the approximately 150 different owners of the cows to ship them down. By December Holowacz had 10 cows committed to the exhibit. "I got excited but it was a big logistical project with shipping, insurance and installation that would be needed," he said.
Weisberg stepped in and helped with the shipping plans while Holowacz petitioned Beaufort businesses to sponsor a cow for $500 to cover the $15,000 transportation and insurance expenses.
Two of the cows will be displayed in Port Royal, a city five minutes from Beaufort and home of one of three transportation ports in the state.
One cow will welcome visitors to the Lowcountry visitors' center off Interstate 95, an area known as the gateway to Beaufort County.
Another will be suspended at the Penn Center museum, an historical and cultural center for on the Sea Island of St. Helena.
And, Hunting Island, a Barrier Island that is a state park, will have a cow inside the lighthouse.
"When you put something that artists have created in a setting that didn't have anything--like these wild colorful cows--and see how people respond, it could lead to more permanent public art projects," he said.
"Beaufort is a wonderful walking town," Meeks said, so the cows will be enjoyed. But, she said, "I don't think people have any idea what it's going to be like."
by Allison Pries
The cows are moo-ving south for a three-month vacation.
Beaufort, South Carolina will exhibit 27 of the decorated cows from Chicago's Public Art exhibition, "Cows on Parade," last summer.
Beaufort's exhibit, "Cows on Vacation," will kick off Saturday and run until the beginning of July, when most of the cows will be returned to Chicago.
The cows have been primped and were loaded onto two moving trucks Tuesday morning, ready for their trip south--one even dressed in a bathing suit, swim cap and goggles and ready to hit the beach.
"We're thrilled to share a bit of Chicago with Beaufort," said Lois Weisberg, commissioner of Cultural Affairs. "The cows charmed and delighted millions of residents and visitors last summer and now the work of the Chicago artists will be enjoyed on the East Coast, as well."
"Beaufort doesn't have a lot of public art," said Eric Vaughn Holowacz, executive director of the Arts Council of Beaufort County. "But, we have wonderful natural beauty."
The rural seaside town, located between Charleston and Savannah, is rich with history--the downtown area, where most of the cows will be displayed, is part of a National Historic District--and Holowacz said there is a growing number of resorts and retirement communities.
The first Spanish settlers arrived near Beaufort in 1562. Shortly thereafter French and English settlers came and established cattle farms, which are still a presence now. "But, the area is giving way to gated communities," Holowacz said. "The cows could stand for our agrarian past and the growth of tourism as a major industry."
The cows will arrive just in time for Beaufort's tourist season. "It's an asset to people who normally come here and it will hopefully attract more visitors," said Marcia Spivey, of Main Street Beaufort, U.S.A., an organization of downtown businesses.
Holowacz heard about "Cows on Parade" from citizens of Beaufort who visited Chicago.
One was Ginnie Meeks, who came to Chicago with three of her co-workers. "We went to Lilith Fair, a Cubs game, all the touristy things. But our favorite was the cows," she said.
"Instead of duplicating or copying the idea, we decided to tap into it by inviting the cows down here," Holowacz said.
Holowacz needed to get permission from the approximately 150 different owners of the cows to ship them down. By December Holowacz had 10 cows committed to the exhibit. "I got excited but it was a big logistical project with shipping, insurance and installation that would be needed," he said.
Weisberg stepped in and helped with the shipping plans while Holowacz petitioned Beaufort businesses to sponsor a cow for $500 to cover the $15,000 transportation and insurance expenses.
Two of the cows will be displayed in Port Royal, a city five minutes from Beaufort and home of one of three transportation ports in the state.
One cow will welcome visitors to the Lowcountry visitors' center off Interstate 95, an area known as the gateway to Beaufort County.
Another will be suspended at the Penn Center museum, an historical and cultural center for on the Sea Island of St. Helena.
And, Hunting Island, a Barrier Island that is a state park, will have a cow inside the lighthouse.
"When you put something that artists have created in a setting that didn't have anything--like these wild colorful cows--and see how people respond, it could lead to more permanent public art projects," he said.
"Beaufort is a wonderful walking town," Meeks said, so the cows will be enjoyed. But, she said, "I don't think people have any idea what it's going to be like."