The CowParade is headed to Austin. Coming in spring 2011, a herd of cattle will arrive as part of the world's largest and most recognized public art event. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. October marked the official launch of CowParade Austin.
CowParade has been viewed by more than 100 million people in more than 75 cities in 30 countries on six continents, has produced more than 5,000 signature cow canvases created by local artists and has raised more than $20 million for local nonprofit organizations worldwide. "Austin is the perfect fit for CowParade," said CowParade Vice President Ron Fox. "We chose Austin because of its creative class, its sense of community and its 'keep Austin weird' spirit. Austin is a unique city filled with talented artists, and we certainly have a public event that will allow these artists to showcase their incredible works."
Now through Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, local painters, sculptors, craftsmen, architects, graphic designers, students and anyone with a creative idea are encouraged to submit their designs to transform one of three life-sized, three-dimensional fiberglass cow sculptures into bold and creative works of art that will be publicly displayed throughout Austin from mid-February through mid-May 2011. Selected artists will be notified before Christmas and will receive a $1,000 commission for their work. The artists will have approximately six weeks to turn their creations into art either at their own studios or at a centrally located shared studio.
"Everyone knows the creative talent by both professional and amateur artists is phenomenal here in Central Texas, and as a result, our community will have an opportunity to experience some incredible public works – all for free," said Sandra Gregor, an arts consultant who is organizing the artist submission, selection and support process. Austin is the 77th community to benefit from the public art exhibit, and it joins an illustrative collection of world-class cities. In 2011, CowParade will be making its way to Philadelphia, North Carolina, Brazil, Italy, Cyprus and China. Previously, CowParade has been featured in international cities, including Chicago (where it started in 1999), New York City, Paris, Tokyo, Prague, Moscow and Athens, just to name a few.
"CowParade's arrival in Austin highlights some of the elements that make Austin an ideal location and provides yet another example that Austin is a world-class city," said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. "Our community is fearlessly and outrageously creative; Austin is a center of innovation and excellence; and we're a place that cares about our fellow citizens and neighbors as reflected by the success the Dell Children's Medical Center has achieved thanks to the generosity of our corporate and individual citizens." CowParade has partnered with the foundation at Dell Children's Medical Center to raise critical funds to support the overall programs at Dell Children's. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised at a June 2011 auction of many of the displayed cows will improve the lives of children within a 46-county region. Additional funds from corporate and individual sponsorship will also go to Dell Children's.
"On behalf of Dell Children's, I'd like to welcome CowParade here to the medical center and to Austin, and we'd also like to express our sincerest thanks to CowParade for partnering with us on this creative endeavor," said Foundation Board of Trustees member Evelyn Wiedeman. "Dell Children's and the entire Seton family share an interest in celebrating Austin's unique culture and vitality through the work of CowParade." CowParade Austin's exhibit will begin in February 2011 with a preview event and will be on display throughout the area until mid-May. At the end of the three-month-long exhibit, approximately 50 select cows will be sold at a live auction gala (tentatively scheduled for June 8, 2011) to benefit Dell Children's Medical Center.
Beyond the money raised for the children's hospital, CowParade has integrated an arts education component to the exhibit. Local school children will have an opportunity to compete to create "minimoos" and "micromoos," which are smaller models of cow canvases. Selected cows are also displayed in a special area of the community and are sold at a silent auction the same night as the live auction. Additional details will be available in the coming months.
CowParade is the largest and most recognized public art event in the world. CowParade exhibits, which are held in 75 cities in 30 countries on six continents to date, have produced more than 5,000 of the signature cow canvases painted on and transformed by artists in the event venues. The exhibits have been viewed by upwards of one half billion of the global population. In the coming year, new artists will create another 1,000 or more art cows domestically for Austin, Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill and internationally in Porto Alegre (Brazil), Panama City, Nicosia (Cyprus), Verona (Italy) and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.cowparade.com.
Media Contact: Brian Dolezal
Hahn, Texas
512-344-2035 or 512-619-6742
bdolezal@hahntexas.com
Artist Contact: Sandra Gregor
Sandra Gregor Fine Art
512-477-2827
sgregor@prismnet.com
Sponsor Contact: Armando Zambrano
Dell Children's Foundation
512-324-0176
azambrano@seton.org
Partner Contact: Ron Fox
CowParade
860-967-0707
rfox@cowparade.com
CowParade has been viewed by more than 100 million people in more than 75 cities in 30 countries on six continents, has produced more than 5,000 signature cow canvases created by local artists and has raised more than $20,000 for local nonprofit organizations worldwide.
