May 18, 2001--
If you ever happen to see a farm animal standing in front of some business in the city, you have to assume it's wandered in from a field somewhere.
Well, later this year, it won't be an accident. You'll see dozens of buffalo in towns all through Utah.
Keith McCord explains what's going on!
A funny-looking herd of buffalo is grazing on the lawn at the Davis County Fairgrounds right now.
Identical fiberglass mouldings.
In a few weeks, these will take on a whole new look-- as part of a unique public arts/fund-raising project.
This project is called the "Utah Buffalo Round-up." And artists from around the state will be recruited to have some fun!
Rick Mayfield/Project Mgr.: "WE'RE ASKING THEM TO GIVE US RENDERINGS AS TO HOW THEY'LL TREAT A BUFFALO. WE THEN TRY TO MATCH THAT PORTFOLIO OF ARTISTS' RENDERINGS WITH SPONSORS."
KEITH MCCORD: "THIS UTAH BUFFALO ROUNDUP WILL CONSIST OF 150 BUFFALO-- 5 FEET HIGH, 7 FEET LONG AND 2 FEET WIDE. THEY'RE ALL GREY RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE ALL READY TO BE PAINTED UP."
This unusual approach has been tried in other cities across the U.S. Buffalo, New York has placed oddly-painted buffaloes throughout the city;
Chicago raised a lot of money by painting cows!
Utah will go with the buffalo, since there are a lot of real ones here. All that's needed now are artists to start working on them!
Dan McConkie/Davis County: "ONE OF THE FUN AND EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THIS IS WE'VE GOT GREAT ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA, HERE IN DAVIS COUNTY AS WELL AS ALL ALONG THE WASATCH FRONT. AND THEY'LL BE BE ABLE TO SHARE JUST HOW GREAT THEY REALLY ARE."
After they're all painted up, the buffaloes will be placed in cities and towns all over.
MAYFIELD: "WE HOPE TO HAVE THESE HITTING THE STREETS SOMETIME IN MID-JUNE. AND THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING PROCESS ALL SUMMER LONG."
Just as other cities have done, the painted buffalo will be auctioned off, and the money donated to various local charities.
Look for these guys to be grazing until after the Olympics!
Artists interested in participating need to have their designs submitted by July 15th.
For more information, go to www.utahbuffaloroundup.com.
