Cow
Bronze sculpture
57 inches high, 92 inches long ...
Location: The entrance to the Chicago Cultural Center [Washington and Michigan Ave].
The plaque reads ....
" In 1999 a heard of fiberglass cows united citizens, visitors, artists, businesses through a unique community based public art event. The bronze cow is a gift to all Chicagoans in gratitude for the support of the cows and other art in public places.
A gift to the city of Chicago from the Hanig family and anonymous donors.
November, 2001.
Bronze Cow cast at Wagner Foundary, Inc., Chicago, IL. "
In 1999, a herd of fiberglass cows united citizens, visitors, artists and businesses through a unique community-basesd public art project. Chicago's 1999 summer public art display was originally conceived and presented in Zurich, Switzerland in 1998. Chicago bussinessman Peter Hanig saw the cows in Zurich and brought the idea home. he convinced the City of Chicago to bring in cows from the Swiss artists who had created the Zurich cows. The city purchased unadorned cows and held a contest for local artists to produce designs to decorate them. A local business could opt to sponser an artist designed cow or to purchase a blank cow for its own design.
The commemorative bronze cow located in front of the Chicago Cultural Center, was a gift of the Hanig family and anonymous donors to the people of Chicago in gratitude for their support of the cows and other public art projects.
Depicted as reflections in the eyes of the cow are two famous Chicago landmarks, the “Chicago Picasso” sculpture and the Historic Water Tower.
