The cow story began in Zurich in 1998. The Zurich Retail Association used their local Brown Swiss cow (a traditional milking cow in Switzerland) as a model for a life-size fiberglass cow. The plain white, life-size, fiberglass cow had 3 poses: grazing, standing and sitting. Initially, local Zurich artists painted 300 of these fiberglass cows. But, before the event ended Zurich artists had decorated 812 cows!!! They were displayed along streets, in buildings, in parks, in the airline terminal and train station. The cows lured an additional 1.5 million tourists to Zurich. A Chicago businessman who was in Zurich, saw the cows, and brought the idea to Chicago.
Cows on Parade was in Chicago for Summer 1999. Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs solicited local artists to paint a cow. A sponsor paid for each plain fiberglass cow. Nothing could be removed from a cow, but an artist could add to it. There were 313 cows that grazed throughout Chicago from June 15 to October 31, 1999. An auction held in November 1999 netted $4 million for the Department of Cultural Affairs with the cow named “HANDsome” getting the highest bid of $110,000. HANDsome was a tear jerker of a cow since each hand print was that of a kid dying from cancer. My favorite was the Marilyn Monroe cow whose lipstick had to be frequently renewed when it grazed outside the Ferragomo store. Name of cow was “Diamond’s are Forever.”
Cow Parade began in New York City on June 15, 2000. It featured more than 500 cows, which were displayed throughout NYC, Stamford, CT and W. Orange, NJ. This was the first public art exhibit encompassing all 5 boroughs. NYC Department of Parks & Recreation organized it. When the cows were sold at auction later that year, they raised several million dollars for charity. That’s one of the nice features of the Cow Parade – they always raise money for charity. I think my favorite NYC cow was Dancing Diva ala Ginger Rogers. However, “Cowgirls get the blues” had quite a story. The artist submitted the sketch for approval and was told there was no NYC connection. So, she created tear drops and inside each tear drop she painted the Twin Towers. This was done in March 2000, remember the Cows grazed the streets in 2000, not 2001. Westland used to make fairly large cows and the Twin Towers are visible on this size.
Westland Giftware thought the Cow Parade was a great idea and created a 6 inch long reproduction of these cows – depending on the pose. Westland’s first shipment was made September 2000 with 12 Chicago cows. In October Westland shipped 6 NYC reproductions. CowsCowsCows first saw the Westland cow reproductions at the LA Gift Show in July 2000. We loved them, ordered them and had our web site up and running by October 2000. We were the first and only Internet business selling Cow Parade in 2000.
Other vendors also produced Cow Parade items. Character Collectibles offered 85 miniatures, 85 ornaments and a wide assortment of other Cow Parade items.
The most popular miniature cow made was the Twin Cowers set. It had just been introduced when 9-11 happened. At first Character Collectibles ceased sales on all of the Twin Cowers. I called and said I’d buy all of their inventory. They agreed and I bought 1,000. Sold out in 2 days. A couple of weeks later I got a phone call, another 1,000 had arrived (they’d been in transit) did I want those. I said yes and we sold all of them in the next 2 days. These Twin Cowers break very easily – I have to lean mine in a corner. I would guess there have been a lot broken over the years.
In December 2003 Character Collectibles discontinued all of their Cow Parade items.
Since 1999 the Cow Parade has grazed in many towns. Some cows move from town to town, but most cows are created by local artists.
2001:
Kansas City Cow Parade
The 5 Oz cows were the highlight from KC.
Houston Cow Parade
Australia Cow Parade (from one coast to the other)
2002:
Las Vegas Cow Parade
London Cow Parade
Portland, Oregon Cow Parade
San Antonio Cow Parade
Ventspils, Latvia Cow Parade
2003:
Atlanta Cow Parade
Auckland, New Zealand Cow Parade
Brussels, Belgium Cow Parade
Dublin, Ireland Cow Parade
The Waterford Crystal cow sold at auction for the highest price of any cow. I was lucky to see that cow in person – it was gorgeous – and never been reproduced.
Isle of Man, UK Cow Parade
Tokyo Cow Parade
W Hartford, CT Cow Parade
This is where the offices of Cow Parade are and they have had cows grazing more than this.
2004:
Harrisburg, PA Cow Parade
Manchester, England Cow Parade
Prague Cow Parade
Stockholm, Sweden Cow Parade
2005:
Barcelona, Spain Cow Parade
Bratislavia, Slovakia Cow Parade
Bucharest, Romania Cow Parade
Geneva, Switzerland Cow Parade
Johannesburg, South Africa Cow Parade
Mexico City Cow Parade
Monaco Cow Parade
Moscow, Russia Cow Parade
Sao Paulo, Brazil Cow Parade
Warsaw Cow Parade
2006:
Athens, Greece Cow Parade
Belo Horizonte, Brazil Cow Parade
Boston Cow Parade
Budapest, Hungary Cow Parade
Buenos Aires, Argentina Cow Parade
Curitiba, Brazil Cow Parade
Denver Cow Parade
Edinburgh, Scotland Cow Parade
Florence, Italy Cow Parade
Guadalajara, Mexico Cow Parade
Lisbon, Portugal Cow Parade
Madison Wisconsin Cow Parade
and other parts of Wisconsin
Paris, France Cow Parade
2007:
Copenhagen, Denmark Cow Parade
Istanbul Turkey Cow Parade
Marseille France Cow Parade
Miami Cow Parade
Milano, Italy Cow Parade
Rio de Janeiro Cow Parade
Vigo, Spain Cow Parade
West Hartford (again)
2008:
Costa Rica Cow Parade
Madrid Cow Parade
2009:
Flushing, NY Cow Parade
Hong Kong Cow Parade
La Jolla (San Diego) Cow Parade
Lima, Peru Cow Parade
Sao Paulo Cow Parade
Taipei Cow Parade
2010:
Rome, Italy Cow Parade
Bordeaux Cow Parade
In each city the artists have an opportunity to design a cow and have their talent seen, the public has an opportunity to view and enjoy the art, the sponsors have an opportunity to lure the public to their business, and charities make a profit when the cows are sold at auction. Due to this win-win situation the Cow Parade has benefited many cities and charities. Dublin was excited when at their auction, Waga-Moo-Moo (made with 125,000 pieces of Waterford crystal) sold for the highest price ever – $148,000 U.S. dollars. I saw it in person and it was truly magnificent!
Over the years we have learned much. The Cow Parade organization and Westland Giftware have learned to limit the number of new cows to be released each year. They have also learned to have limited quantities of a cow that is retired. For example, both Moon Dreams and Gladiator were available for several years after they were retired. When cows are now retired, Westland Giftware has either sold out or is close to selling out. This works better for the collectors.
The story of the individual cows can be quite interesting. Some artists have done many cows. Other artists do just one. Art classes in school have combined to do a cow. The cow makes a wonderful peaceful pallet.
Thanks for buying from
www.cowscowscows.com
