If you didn't see the Cow Parade in New York or Chicago, you can catch it in Paris this spring. Here's some information:

After much success in major international cities, the famous “Cow Parade” heads to Paris for its French debut. This cultural exhibition of contemporary art assembles 150 life-size cow sculptures. Maison de la France will sponsor a cow to be painted in the French colors bleu, blanc, rouge.

Each sculpture is sponsored and in turn painted by artists before a panel of judges selects the ones to be revealed to the public.

Calendar of events:

February 1 – The cows arrive in Paris
February to March – The sculptures are housed in a giant studio where artists begin their work.
April 1 to 8 – Private viewing of the exhibition
April 10 to June 16 – Exhibition opened to the public on the streets of Paris
June 19 to 25 – All the cows are brought together at La Défense square.
June 29 – Auction at Artcurial.

The parade was created in 1998 in Zurich. Since then, more than 16 cities have welcomed the exhibition with over 1,500 sponsors. For the Paris Cow Parade, the most beautiful of works will be auctioned off, with 100% of profits going to the Africa Alive Foundation. Since its creation, the Cow Parade has supported numerous charitable organizations, collecting over 10 million Euros.

Official website is: www.vach-art.fr
(French only)

Are any of them wearing black? Are any of them smoking?

Oh, I saw those cows in Switzerland! Believe me, worth seeing!

Later you'll understand where the mad cow disease is coming from!

Hmm... will they start a chicken exhibit? So we'll know where the bird flu is coming from?

May be a good idea to keep Dick away from it!

I agree they are great fun to look at. And none of them are "rude" but I do wonder if any of them demanded to be placed "in the 6th."

A popular concept, done well in other cities also...

...with horses, here in the Louisville area, as "Gallopalooza"

http://web.wave3.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=11

...and (human) heads...

http://www.headsupkentucky.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=2

Likewise, crabs and fishes in Baltimore

http://wb11.trb.com/search/bal-crabs...1.photogallery

and

http://wb11.trb.com/sports/bal-artsl...allery?index=1

Who can share some more examples from other parts of the world (or even just from the US?)

Best wishes,

Rex

Une vache comme une autre! Moooooh

The cows were 'on parade' in Florence in December, randomly placed in piazzas around the city. They were quite a unique sight, like the one on it's back with lampshades on its feet located in Piazza della Signoria. We took many pictures of these cows.

Glad to hear we'll get to see them again on our trip to Paris in June.

We were in Zurich when the painted cows were standing in all their glory all over the city. I thought they were great, but couldn't imagine what it was all about. We were told it was to boost tourism. Apparently there was more to it than that. This sort of thing most recently in my neck of the woods is huge hearts painted by artists in San Francisco.

It seems to me pigs were done in some city. Does anyone remember this?

They had those dumb cows around on the streets in the city where I live, also. This has been done and done, and isn't original at all any more. It might have been amusing the first time in some city where it made sense (like Kansas City), but I didn't think it exactly added to the city landscape in my city. A lot of people didn't really understand why there were cows around on the street corners.

Sounds like fun! I hope some will still be there in September! I saw the cows in Chicago and it was great fun to stumble across one while wandering around. In St. Paul, the birthplace of Charles Schulz, we had "Peanuts on Parade" for 5 years (I think). One year it was Charlie Brown. In subsequent years - Lucy, Snoopy, Linus and Snoopy's doghouse with Woodstock. It was so fun to see them and still see them around at businesses in town.

Some people like such events, some don't. We could bicker about it until the cows come home.

tsk, tsk...

LOL, nothing more sad than an out -of -town cow in a beret 3

Who is the Grand Marshall of this parade anyway--Simon Cowell?

Rumor has it that the cows travel in steerage. Of course, I have no beef since the steaks are high. A fortune-teller told me this would happen. I just called her to say, "You're a rare medium, well-done!" I guess I have milked this for its worth.

Here in Park City, Utah it's we've got moose dressed to the nines!

"even JUST from the US" Rex? WOW!

-- Don't forget about the bison parade in Salt Lake during the olympics.

<< "even JUST from the US" Rex? >>

...that remark was because this IS the the <i><b>Europe</b></i> forum...

Moolyn: Unexpectedly met up with the cow parade (popularly called &quot;the Chicago cows&quot in Beaufort, South Carolina in 2000...quite a shock to see them placed all over that picturesque town...one on the library lawn, one in front of the house used for &quot;The Big Chill&quot; movie, one at the harbor, another at the tiny synagogue with a Hebrew letter painted on it's side! All in all, a fun diversion..great photo ops!

We're delighted that we'll be in Paris during the showings, I look forward to seeing them once again..

Stu T.