Cow Parade in Perth.
Perth joined other major cities such as New York, Paris and Tokyo who have previously hosted Cow Parades across the globe. The Parade started in Chicago in 1999, and has grown to become the largest and most successful temporary public art event in the world. The cows arrived as blank canvases and have been painstakingly crafted, sculpted, painted and reconstructed by some of Western Australia’s most beaut artists and hottest fashion designers.
Our first cow was named 'Alice' by Lance Chadd, a Nyoongar/ Budimia Yamatji Aboriginal artist born in the southwest town of Bunbury. His work is inspired by his Father, Norman Chadd and in honor of all Aboriginal Stockman. His dad, like the elders that taught him, were not just renowned for their multiple skills with horses, cattle, machinery and general station maintenance.
Here's the boys showing you 'Laozi's Cow' which was named after a famous Chinese philosopher Laozi, who was known to ride around on a cow.
Cow No26 was made by a lady name Penny Coss, and named 'Pop Color Cow'. The design for this work reference colors yellow, orange and red, to form an implied landscape and the undulating form of the cow as reflection on the life of the grazing cow in grass fields. Hay what do you call a cow with holes in it? HOLY COW! ha,ha... sorry.
The skeleton cow as the kids named her was actually named ‘Patterns in nature’ this work was by artist Jana Braddock. She got the idea because she leaves Medical text books, antique medical engravings, books on the biology of insects, are the things that lie around her studio that gives her inspiration.... Yeah yeah it's a skeleton cow!
Helen Smith’s work discusses a state of equilibrium, in physical terms, relative to biology and subsequently the environment.
Alister Yiap's 'Luxury Lady' has been inspired by the theme of mineral wealth, specific to Western Australia. The metallic faceted design works to showcase all the beauty our state offers, from minerals and mining, to luxury commodities such as gold, pearls, diamonds and Lexus Cars!
Now this portable milk bottle looks like a bloody ripper, it's known as 'COW-MOO-FLAGE' which celebrates the coming of spring with the wild abandonment of vibrant colour bringing a sense of joy and fun. The layering and exaggeration of brush strokes creates a sense of under-story in the bush.... let's just say my Kiddies could of painted this one. Hay what do you get from a pampered cow? ... Spoiled milk... ha,ha.
Harrison showing us Perth town
Well it was time for a bit of tucker and while we were sitting back, we had a nice gander at the The full-scale replica of the Dutch barge 'Duyfken' which was docked at Elizabeth Quay. You might remember she was built just down the river at Fremantle, but since it's commissioning has been around the world.
So with the day almost over we found our last two cows, and I reckon there were probably some of the best we've seen all day. This one was named 'Missy Moo' and was designed by Jean and June Pastore, They are passionate about making a difference with their art and constantly experimenting with new ideas.
And our last four legged piece of stake was cow No12 'Amilita' by Audrey and Arif Satar, This work is a labyrinth of storytelling – an illustration where the plot unfolds in a rhythm of drawings that loop, twist and turn like the threads of woven Kahdi.... Sorry lost me again! But we did have a ripper day out, and can't wait for another trip into the city
