From Carolina Morning News, 9 July 2000
Cows' vacation ends with parade
Thousands say goodbye to Chicago's beautiful bovines, but public art won't end.
By Stephanie Broadbent
It was their final parade in Beaufort. Vacation is over.
After a final tour of the city Saturday, Beaufort's "Cows on Vacation" are on their way back to concrete pastures.
They're moo-ving back Chicago to rejoin "Cows on Parade," an exhibit of more than 300 art cows that has drawn millions of tourist dollars to that city and helped launch a trend that is sweeping the country.
In Orlando, Fla., artists are crafting 5-foot-tall lizards for a fall exhibit.
Cincinnati is no sty, but it has hundreds of decorated pig statues, while New Orleans has bigger fish to fry with its Festival of Fins.
Even Mr. Potato Head is basking in the spotlight in Rhode Island, where artists have planted 6-foot-tall spuds across the state.
All across the nation, cities are turning to public art to show off their culture and attract tourists.
Art cows originated in Zurich, Switzerland, but took off in the United States after a successful display in Chicago last year.
Now, many cities are running with the idea, after putting their own humorous spin on it.
In Beaufort, local artists added their surf to Chicago's turf, with colorful shrimp. And permanent public art is definitely in the city's future, organizers say.
There is no official estimate of how much money was brought in by Beaufort's two-month display from Chicago's prized herd, but there is no doubt people herded around them, said Eric Holowacz, executive director of the Arts Council of Beaufort County.
"I don't have any hard data, but I think it generated a lot of publicity in South Carolina and nationally," he said. "There was definitely an impact. The other impact is that residents here, from kindergarten to retirees, learned a little bit more about how public art can benefit the community."
Thousands of people turned out for the cow's final day, lining the streets as the bovines moved by and taking photos as they were corralled near the museum.
"It was a huge success," Holowacz said.
And hopefully it will be the first of many, he said.
The arts council plans to continue its relationship with Chicago and that city's cultural affairs department, which helped make the cows' visit to Beaufort possible.
Beaufort sponsors have also expressed an interest in permanent art in public places crafted by local artists.
Holowacz said the council plans to work with the community to identify public places, take proposals for art projects and commission work for public display.
"It started with Chicago, but it's rally exploding this summer with all these communities doing other themes and animals," he said. "I think we were lucky to share the cows that kind of started it all."
Not all of the cows will be moving to the big city.
Backdraft's future still isn't clear. The bovine formerly known as Merci Henri was torched by vandals but was resurrected as a firefighter.
Holowacz said he may be placed at a fire station in Chicago or stay in Beaufort. Details haven't been worked out.
If he does stay behind, Cowalina can keep him company in between appearances across South Carolina.
The cow was a gift from Chicago and was decorated by local artist Dale Holt. The cow will tour the Lowcountry and make appearances at events throughout the state, Holowacz said. And each time, it might look different.
The cow will be constantly changing, he said. Other artists and children will paint over the design, then pass it on to someone else for another makeover.
"The look and design will always be a work in progress," he said. "It can be anything."
Thousands say goodbye to Chicago's beautiful bovines, but public art won't end.
By Stephanie Broadbent
It was their final parade in Beaufort. Vacation is over.
After a final tour of the city Saturday, Beaufort's "Cows on Vacation" are on their way back to concrete pastures.
They're moo-ving back Chicago to rejoin "Cows on Parade," an exhibit of more than 300 art cows that has drawn millions of tourist dollars to that city and helped launch a trend that is sweeping the country.
In Orlando, Fla., artists are crafting 5-foot-tall lizards for a fall exhibit.
Cincinnati is no sty, but it has hundreds of decorated pig statues, while New Orleans has bigger fish to fry with its Festival of Fins.
Even Mr. Potato Head is basking in the spotlight in Rhode Island, where artists have planted 6-foot-tall spuds across the state.
All across the nation, cities are turning to public art to show off their culture and attract tourists.
Art cows originated in Zurich, Switzerland, but took off in the United States after a successful display in Chicago last year.
Now, many cities are running with the idea, after putting their own humorous spin on it.
In Beaufort, local artists added their surf to Chicago's turf, with colorful shrimp. And permanent public art is definitely in the city's future, organizers say.
There is no official estimate of how much money was brought in by Beaufort's two-month display from Chicago's prized herd, but there is no doubt people herded around them, said Eric Holowacz, executive director of the Arts Council of Beaufort County.
"I don't have any hard data, but I think it generated a lot of publicity in South Carolina and nationally," he said. "There was definitely an impact. The other impact is that residents here, from kindergarten to retirees, learned a little bit more about how public art can benefit the community."
Thousands of people turned out for the cow's final day, lining the streets as the bovines moved by and taking photos as they were corralled near the museum.
"It was a huge success," Holowacz said.
And hopefully it will be the first of many, he said.
The arts council plans to continue its relationship with Chicago and that city's cultural affairs department, which helped make the cows' visit to Beaufort possible.
Beaufort sponsors have also expressed an interest in permanent art in public places crafted by local artists.
Holowacz said the council plans to work with the community to identify public places, take proposals for art projects and commission work for public display.
"It started with Chicago, but it's rally exploding this summer with all these communities doing other themes and animals," he said. "I think we were lucky to share the cows that kind of started it all."
Not all of the cows will be moving to the big city.
Backdraft's future still isn't clear. The bovine formerly known as Merci Henri was torched by vandals but was resurrected as a firefighter.
Holowacz said he may be placed at a fire station in Chicago or stay in Beaufort. Details haven't been worked out.
If he does stay behind, Cowalina can keep him company in between appearances across South Carolina.
The cow was a gift from Chicago and was decorated by local artist Dale Holt. The cow will tour the Lowcountry and make appearances at events throughout the state, Holowacz said. And each time, it might look different.
The cow will be constantly changing, he said. Other artists and children will paint over the design, then pass it on to someone else for another makeover.
"The look and design will always be a work in progress," he said. "It can be anything."