Moogie, The Moogic Cow (CowParade West Hartford 2003)*

*Click photo thumbnails on your left to see Moogie from all the sides or go to the CowParade West Hartford 2003 webpage

Moogie, "the Moogic Cow," was the very first cow that I painted for the CowParade. Moogie was very popular among the residents of West Hartford because it featured an actual street in West Hartford on both of her sides. I also painted the actual stores on that street; although, I changed their names a bit just for kicks. I painted Moogie herself on one of her sides, as well as other imaginary CowParade cows.

In CowParade catalog, Moogie was described as 'a brilliantly detailed folkloric design,' which of course was very flattering to me. However, that wasn't nearly as flattering as the attention that I got from people who came back on almost daily basis to watch me paint and see my progress. I even ended up painting some of them on Moogie. Seeing people so interested in art gave more meaning to my work, as well as made me try harder to make my cow as entertaining to look at as I possibly could.

Painting Moogie made me think about how wonderful it is for towns to have outside public exhibitions of art, because it gives their residents an opportunity to experience art up close. Not everybody can find time to go to a museum, but most of us can find time to take a walk on a local street.

P.S. I'm extremely happy that since 2004 Moogie, the Moogic Cow has been grazing by the Children's Wing of the Hartford Hospital.