Thursday Thirteen #69: CowParade Revisited

During the summer of 2006, Madison hosted CowParade Wisconsin. 100 decorated fiberglass cows were displayed around the area--five in nearby Sun Prairie and six in Fitchburg, but the majority were in downtown Madison. I managed to see all but those in Sun Prairie (having no way to get there) and posted many to this blog between June and October of that year. Here are thirteen I never got around to sharing.

(If you want to see previous CowParade postings, click on the CowParade tags at end of today's post.)

Mosaic Cow (Artist: Amy Clements)


Famous Feet (Artist: Michael Roberts
Sponsored by Famous Footwear)


Cowflies (Artist: Rebecca Belligan)


Bounty of Dane COWnty (Artist: Mary Wright)


The Cows Are Out (Artist: Larry Schultz)


Africow (Artist: K. Birgit Bach)


Wisconsin Violet (Artist: Gail Bach)


Prairie Fumoo' (Artist: Rebecca Holstein,
sponsored by Wollersheim Winery)


Where the Cows Are (Artist: Steven Kozar)


Bobbin' Yount of the Moo-waukee Brewers
(Artist: e & company)


Say Cheese, Wisconsin (Artist: Bruce Bodden)


Mooooon Shine (Artist: Stephanie Ward)


Madison COW-llage (Artist: Mary Wright)


Links to other Thursday Thirteens:

Stephanie Sullivan * Adelle Laudan * Kaige * Mel
Jenna Bayley-Burke * Nadia Lee * Tempest Knight
Alice Audrey * Janice Seagraves Shelley Munro * Lanie Fuller * Jennifer McKenzie
Bethanne Strasser * Nina Pierce
Paige Tyler * Phoebe Jordan * Eaton Bennett

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

CowParade: Pasture Bedtime

In honor of the recent change to Day Light Savings, I'm dipping into the photo vault and dusting off some cow pics not previously posted. What better way to get you in the mood for spring than by delving into the memories of seasons past?

For five months last year (June-Oct), 100 decorated fiberglass cows were on display in and around Madison. This particular bovine, located just outside the Capitol building, was so popular it was difficult to get any pictures of it, unless you happened to be up and about at an obscene hour of the morning. Which I wasn't, so I had to exercise patience and fast to get a few clear shots in between spectators. Created by Michael Roberts, the cow is called "Pasture Bedtime," and was covered with an assortment of clocks and watches.

In November 2006, the cows went to auction. 44 were sold at a live auction event that raised $363,500, and another 37 were auctioned off online, earning another $188,450 -- the highest online total since the Houston event in 2001. Monies raised went to various local charities, most notably the new American Family Children's Hospital here in Madison. Pasture Bedtime fetched the handsome price of $11,500. This was one of the highest bids, though two cows (Cowpiary and If You Want to be a Moosaic) sold for $13,000 each.

Kids and adults alike enjoyed the hands-on exploration of Pasture Bedtime...

Children loved the hands-on experience this cow provided -- not just the textures of the mosaic, but moveable clock hands as well.

The cow's name and "Timex" are spelled out across the back...

Note how even the eyes were created using clocks...

CowParade: Georgia O'Cowffe

Georgia O’Cowffe
Location: Upper State Street
Artist: Donna McKay
Sponsor: Wisconsin State Journal

From today’s Wisconsin Almanac (Wis. State Journal):
Artist Georgia O’Keefe was born in Sun Prairie on Nov. 15, 1887. She was known for her intense, brilliant close-ups of flowers and desert scenes. After her husband’s death in 1946, O’Keefe spent the last four decades of her life in New Mexico’s Chama River Valley. She died in 1986.

Growing up I was never a huge fan of her work, perhaps owing to the fact that the Burger King near our high school was decorated throughout with large -- and in my opinion gaudy -- O’Keefe prints. There are just some walls fine art shouldn’t be hung on, ya know? There’s no denying, though, that this cow is a beautiful tribute to one of Wisconsin’s greatest artists.

CowParade: Half and Half

Half and Half
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Artist: Michael Roberts
Sponsor: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

CowParade may officially be over, but the cows aren’t. There are still about 40 cows I’ve yet to share, so I’ll try to do one or two a week through the end of the year. This one was on some discs I’d yet to upload to the computer, so thought he’d make a good pick for the day. The middle halves are made to look like the seal tops from those little creamers you get in restaurants. Clever, no?

CowParade: Marbelized

Marbelized
Location: Bassett and West Washington Ave.
Artist: Thomas Skupniewitz
Sponsor: Keller Real Estate Group

Though many braved the elements this weekend—wind, rain and snow—to attend the Wisconsin Book Festival, downtown Madison felt a bit empty, all the cows having been herded last Friday. A little sad that they were rounded up before Book Fest, but probably a good thing considering last night’s snow and Halloween rapidly approaching. Believe it or not, there are still about 30 cows I’ve yet to post. Will have to sprinkle them in here and there! I know this one doesn't look like much, but when viewed up close, it does have the look of marble. You can see some of the "veins" of the marble in the head shot.

Despite the chilly weekend on the isthmus, I did manage to get to four events both Saturday and Sunday, and will be back to post on some of them when I’m not quite so exhausted. And warmer. The one thing I dislike about the Book Festival is how spread out everything is, with some events taking place a mile apart and little to no time to get from the top of State Street to the Library Mall a mile away. Just scurrying from the State Historical Museum down to the Overture Center chilled one to the marrow.

And then there were all the overlapping events today at the State Historical Museum. My cat could have done a better scheduling job, but as I said, more on that later.




(Edited to add: Note that thedailypage.com linked to yet another cow pic, but NOT to last week's article on Romance vs Plato -- effectively demonstrating the snobbishness of the literati.)

CowParade: Cow Boom

Cow Boom
Location: Best Western InnTowner, corner of University and Highland
Artist: Kate Alt
Sponsor: Best Western InnTowner and the Highland Club

Yes! I finally got the last of my cows today. There were supposed to be 101 cows on display in the Madison area, but one was apparently never completed, and five of them are in Sun Prairie, which I have no way of getting to. Which left 95 cows in Madison and Fitchburg, and “Cow Boom” was the last one I needed. It is miles out University Avenue, away from all the other herds and stands alone at the Best Western. Between the hotel parking lot and high traffic volumn of this corner it was a bit difficult to get an uncluttered photo, but I tried my best. I love the reflection of the Capitol in the water below, and check out the fireworks inside one of the cow's ears.

This weekend was the annual “Talking Spirits” tour at historic Forest Hill Cemetery, and — being the intelligent woman I am (no comments from the gallery!) — I happened to think that Speedway Road was only a few blocks south of University and this final bovine might be within walking distance. Sure enough, upon consulting a map I found it was a mere three blocks north of the cemetery. I didn’t even have to travel east or west once I reached University, as the hotel is right on the corner of University and Highland — Highland being a part of the odd junction of Speedway, Regent, Highland and the entrance to Resurrection Cemetery. Resurrection is across the street from Forest Hill Cemetery. Weird, I know, having two large cemeteries adjacent to one another. Resurrection is the “Catholic” cemetery in Madison, whereas many different faiths are represented at Forest Hill.

Any way, we had a beautiful October day, and the tour was one of the most interesting to date. This year’s focus was on Madisonians who served during the Civil War — a couple of generals, a surgeon, a Union POW and a woman who tended Confeserate Rest for 30 years. Yes, I took notes and pictures, and even had the pics developed right after. The photos are now uploaded to the computer and I hope to start a write-up on the event starting Tuesday, so be sure to check back then!

CowParade: The Road Home

The Road Home
Location: In front of the Wisconsin Historical Society, UW Campus
Artist: Kirill Negoda
Sponsor: Capital Newspapers

I love the blue and green rosemaling effect on this one. If that doesn’t impress you, how about the fact that this particular cow was created by an 18-year old? Yes, you read correct -- Kirill Negoda is a student from Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Not bad for a kid, eh? I found a page online of the cow in progress – click here to see it.

CowParade: Animal Magnetism

Animal Magnetism
Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Artist: Jenny Steinman Heyden
Sponsor: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

I hope this one makes you laugh as much as it does all those who walk past it. *grin* One side shows a pastoral scene, while the other shows the Capitol and Monona Terrace Convention Center.

Sadly, this one has seen extensive damage since I took this photo. The dog was ripped off the back, and other animals were also damaged — which means a lot of work for the artist to get this one ready for the auction in November. I did take pics of the damaged cow while downtown for The Taste of Madison earlier this month, but have yet to upload them to the computer.

CowParade: Holstein Parade

Holstein Parade
Location: Mifflin Street on the Capitol Square
Artist: Mary Heinze
Sponsor: Roundy’s / Kemps

Holstein Parade is one of the many cows ringing the outer edges of the Capitol Square and is located near the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The Wisconsin Historical Museum can be seen in the background, as the two buildings are kitty corner to each other, with State Street angling off towards the UW campus between them.

CowParade: Chloe

Chloe
Location: Upper State Street
Artist: Elaine Meszaros
Sponsor: Sponsor: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

A pretty one located near the new Overture Center on upper State Street. Don’t ask me why the cow with all the ice cream cones is called “Poppy” and this one with all the poppies on it is called Chloe. What can I say, I’m not one of the artists. According to the artist’s blog, it took about 200 hours to paint Chloe. That’s one heck of a time commitment! To put that into perspective, there are 168 hours in one week. If you want to see some cool pics of Chloe in progress, check out Elaine Meszaros’ blog!

CowParade: Poppy

Poppy
Location: Upper State Street
Artist: Kelly Parks-Snider
Sponsor: Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co, Inc.

I think the Chocolate Shoppe’s website says it best….

Nutritional information: Don’t even ask. This is the best ice cream made in Wisconsin, and it tastes so good because it has gobs of rich Wisconsin cream, tons of real ingredients for boatloads of luscious flavors. That means it’s not low-fat, low-calorie or low-anything, and that’s why everyone loves it. You want nutrition, eat carrots.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So...what's YOUR favorite flavor of ice cream? My basic stand-by is mint chip, but almost anything chocolate without nuts (or coffee flavoring) will do. Like chocolate raspberry truffle or peanut butter cup. Mmm.... I see on their website that they also have a flavor called cake batter fudge. How come they never have that one when I'm there?!

CowParade: Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine
Location: Mifflin Street on the Capitol Square
Artist: Jennifer Martens
Sponsor: Land O’Lakes

This is another one of those cows that remind me of works by Van Gogh. Love the swirling brushstrokes, especially those of the red and gold sun shining on her back. Not to mention those big blue eyes...

Miss Turquoise Tillie

Miss Turquoise Tillie
Location: North Pinckney Street (Capitol Square)
Artist: Bonnie Mohr
Sponsor: Agri-View

Isn’t she perty? This was taken back in mid-July, during Art Fair on the Square – hence all the tents and people in the background.