Atlanta Business Chronicle (December 13-19, 2002)
Mooove over, Chick-fil-A spokescows. Some competitionis coming to town. The famous life-size painted fiberglass cows that made their American debut in Chicago three years ago are coming to Atlanta, thanks to the folks at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.
Two hundred full-size cows will be painted by local artists and residents and will be displayed in Atlanta next summer. Area businesses, community groups or individuals can sponsor the cows for fees ranging from $7,500 to $100,000.
Atlanta's first life-size cow was painted by Marietta artist Laurel Gross and carries the appropriate moniker "The Night Beef-ore Christmas." The cow is on display near the stage area in Centennial Olympic Park where the Festival of Trees is held.
"Her nose is all dirty because kids keep coming up and touching her. What can you say? People love cows," said CowParade Atlanta organizer Evelyn Ashley, who collects street art and became inspired to bring CowParade to Atlanta when her husband, Alan McKeon, won an online bid for a cow that was featured in Houston's CowParade.
When the Atlanta CowParade display is over, the cows will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the Southeast division of the American Cancer Society and TechBridge . Another fund-raiser for the CowParade will be held in September through the American Cancer Society's annual Cattle Baron's Ball charity event, which just happens to be chaired this year by Lynn and Howard Halpern, the owners of Buckhead Beef.
Individuals or groups interested in painting a cow must submit ideas - a form is available at www.cowparade.com - and Ashley stresses the importance of a Southern flair.
"What other themes would be appropriate to Atlanta> Maybe a Peach Cowbler or a Southern Belle [as in the phone company]," Ashley mused.
CowParade organizers also are working out an agreement with a cell phone company to designate special numbers for each of the Atlanta cows so visitors could call a number and hear a biography on the artist or an explanation of the cow's design.
