Denver Moo Means The World To Us Statue
Public Art: 'Denver, Moo Means the World To Us' Sculptor/Artist: © Sean Griffin (from a Pascal Knapp designed cow) Date: 2006 Description: Fibreglass cow, weighing approximately 60kg. Location: Right next to the tourist information box at 16th Street Mall, Denver, Colorado. History: Okay I think I have got it. This cow is not
alone, there are literally hundreds of them, but they are all the same (well, you have a choice of about 3).
They are part of a "world's largest public art event" run by CowParade. Cities around America and even the world
are invited to participate as part of a charity fundraiser. The event goes something like this, local artists in
each city are invited to paint the cow/s, they must bear in mind cultural influences of the city, people etc and
use their own interpretation of the cow as an art object. The new and improved cows are then put on display before
being auctioned off. The charities receive a substantial portion of the proceeds. The idea was conceived in Zurich,
Switzerland, by Swiss window dresser Walter Knapp, in 1998. Originally called "Land in Sicht" the event really
didn't take off until businessman Peter Hanig and Lois Weisberg (the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs) bought the
concept to Chicago the following year. Inscription:
Thought of the Day: So collectively do we call this a herd of public art? Controversy: When cows are involved there is always controversy. A Swiss company called CowHolding Parade AG sued the American Company CowHolding Parade over the concept. A Swedish Organization, calling themselves The Militant Graffiti Artists of Stockholm, kidnapped and decapitated one of the Swedish cowparade cows in protest over the fact it had advertisements on it. They sent their demands in a video (which included the kidnapped cow) to local newspaper. Their demands were simple, declare the cows of the CowParade "non art, otherwise hostages will be sacrificed." Needless to say the hostage lost its head. David "Twin Peaks" Lynch's cow was rejected in the New York cow parade, deemed too gruesome. It had knives and forks in its back and no head. This parade also rejected a cow created by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, prior to event even being held. Trivia: Swiss born sculptor Pascal Knapp, owns the copyrights to the standing, lying and grazing cows used in CowParade. There is a big bronze casting cow on display in Chicago. Keep an eye out for miniature figurines of the CowParade cows, they are now popular collectibles. Tim Wonnacott, a British television presenter of shows including Antique Roadshow and Bargain Hunt, has successfully raised money for charities in the London 'Cow Parade' auction held in Autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline. Wonnacott conducted another auction for Cow Parade in the Isle of Man which made over £110,000. Where the herds are : 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
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Public Art Around the World>Public Art in the USA>Public Art in Denver>Denver Moo Means the World To Us statue
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