Page 68 - World of Art magazine (2000)

Cows Parading in ChiCago

By ADRIAN SILVAN IONESCu
A strawberry blonde, bejeweled,
smartly clad cow was mocking
Marilyn Monroe and one of her
During a visit to Chicago in late-August 1999 I had the opportunity to see songs. This humorous exhibit,
a strange parade: a bovines’ parade. The long and spectacular Michigan signed by Victor Skrebneski, was
Avenue was dotted with the most charming and colorful cows one ever entitled Diamonds Are A Cow’s
saw in a lifetime. Gentle, immovable fiberglass animals were lining the Best Friend.
fashionable sidewalks. The project for such an exhibition in the open Well-known works of art gave
was launched by the Public Art Program of the Chicago Department means of inspiration for various art-
of Cultural Affairs. ists. Borrowing motifs from Leon-
The idea for such an exhibit was offered by Beat Seeberger-Quin’s ardo’s paintings, Sandy Kowerko’s
1998 presentation of some 800 cows in Zurich, Switzerland. bovine was called Da Vinci Cow.
An impetus to the Chicago project was given by Peter Hanig, a Picasso’s Guernica inspired artist Karl
prominent local businessman, who was captivated by the Swiss Kochvar in his work captioned Guern-
cows while spending his holidays in Zurich. Due to his endeavors sica. The cubist master’s name was used
the private sector was attracted into the project for sponsoring by Todd Treleven, Jeff McMahon and
part of it. So, the success was assured. Scott Wallace for their exhibit entitled
Artists and artisans were invited to submit proposals of piCOWsso. A cubist-orphist cow was
decorated cows. The fiberglass cows had three standardized painted by Chris Hill and was labeled
positions: grazing, resting and walking. The artists chose Spot and Line Composition. Rob Davis’
any model in accordance with their idea of decoration. A Psychedelic used the bright colors and the
standing cow revealed grace, elegance or strength, while a elaborate composition of the short-lived
seated one revealed quietude, affability or indifference. style of the 60s associated to the hippie
Due to the shape and color, the cows became humanized. movement.
Their identity was given the artists. The exhibits became A gilded and crowned cow with two other
alter egos of their author tiny cows on its back was on top of the
Most of the cows bore an obvious, straightforward Chicago Water Tower. This was also Victor
message, sometimes serious, mostly humorous. Com- Skrebneski’s work, and it was entitled The
mercials and trademarks, religious and political hints Chicago Cow Tower. Maria Tubay’s Dairy-
were prohibited. Yet, some proprietors exhibited Go-Round was a pretty saddled cow resem-
cows in front of their shops, thus making a good bling the wooden horses of a merry-go-
advertising for their trade. For instance, a Kodak round.
shop announced that any film that contained a Such American characters (read clichés) as the
photo with the cow in front of the window was tourist, the fast-food waitress, the postman and
free of charge. What a better commercial could the cowboy were often humorously rendered
have been conceived? In the United Airlines’ under the traits of cows. Here are some examples:
window was the London Cow clad as a Ken Aiken’s Wait Cow is a proud, fat waitress;
Buckingham Palace guard, with a red coatee Tim Brower’s Bovine Messenger Service is a
a huge bearskin cap. In the same place the funny blue cow provided with bicycle wheels as
Hawaiian cow was adorned with flowers a postman’s vehicle; Tom McCaffrey’s Accidental
as a native belle of the wonderful Pacific Tourist was representative for its travelling habits
island. The cow’s moo was often used in onomatopoeic
Stan Sczepanski’s Uncle Sam is a national titles that contribute to the hilarious message
icon: white goatee, top hat and star of the artwork: Mooveena Newhaus, Moovies,
spangled tails gave this cow its Ameri- Mooooonwalk, Limoosine, On the Mooooove, Moo
can personality. Placed in the vicinity Blue Cow, Mooving Eli, Moo-chos Colores, Moo-n
of Ivan Mestrovici’s monumental Light, Virtual Cow in Reflective Moosaic, Moolenium,
Indians, Sczepanski’s cow turned etc.
into a symbol, though an ironic The noun cow was also included in ironic titles,
one. such as: Incowgnito, Chi-cow-go, Spotting Famous
Suspended on the west side of the Chicowgoans, ‘Chicowgo, My Kind of Town’, Cowch
Opera House, high above the Potato, Cowbeille De Fruits, Cow-leen Moore’s Fairy
ground, was Robert Perdziola’s Cow-stle, Winter Wondercow, Cowccinella Novemno-
cow entitled Toreador’s Song. tata, Cowffalo, etc.
This elaborately painted cow Not all the cows were painted. Some were sculpted. But
reminds us of the elegant other media were also used, such as mosaic, collage,
costume of the toreador, decoupage, patchwork, or puzzle. One of the
full of tassels and gold cows was entirely covered with mirrors;
embroideries. Like Esca- another of them was embelished
millo in Georges Bizet’s with hundreds of crys-
opera Carmen, this cow tals; another was
was also wrapped in a adorned
red cape. »

66 World of art SPECIAL ISSuE 2000