Cow Parade official ‘Cow Hospital’ opens in SLO
Cowtrina is featured in The Cow Parade, an international public art installation.
Cow Hospital set up at Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo
— What happens when a cow isn’t looking or feeling her best? She goes to the moo doctor, of course. The Cow Parade SLO County Cow Hospital for painted cows through San Luis Obispo County is now open for cows needing a little extra care.
Sponsored by French Hospital Medical Center in cooperation with the City of San Luis Obispo and ARTS Obispo, The Cow Hospital is set up at the Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo for cow triage due to injuries sustained from overly enthusiastic cow admirers. A dedicated team of volunteer artists or “moo doctors” will reapply paint, ears, and horns to cows that are damaged during the public art event. Moo doctors are on call, and the hospital’s hours will vary depending on injuries.
(Note: Ludwick Community Center and Senior Center facilities will be closed for annual maintenance from Dec. 19, 2016 through Jan. 2, 2017.)
Halfway Heifer, one of many CowParade art installations.
“Sometimes cows receive damage from being in public, but most often the cows have received a little too much love,” said Tom Halen, event organizer.
French Hospital Medical Center, a member of Dignity Health, was named one of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics and is rated among the top hospitals in the nation for cardiac, orthopedic and GI services.
“We are very excited to be a part of this unique public art project,” said Alan Iftiniuk, French Hospital President and CEO. “We are thrilled to sponsor the CowParade SLO County Cow Hospital.”
Cow Parade SLO County is presented by Visit San Luis Obispo County as the Official Tourism Partner and the Town of Harmony, population 18. More than 80 local businesses, organizations, and individuals sponsored cows, with more than 75 artists creating the bovine art. The cows debuted to a crowd of more than 10,000 people in September at the Madonna Inn Meadows. You can find where the cows are “grazing” through April 2017 at cowparadeslo.com.
Cow Parade is an international public art exhibition that first appeared in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998 and since has been hosted by 80 cities around the world. Cow Parade has raised more than $30 million for charitable organizations globally.
“Cow Parade has brought smiles to millions of people around the world,” said Alan Vander Horst, who along with his wife Rebecca Vander Horst, brought CowParade to SLO County.
The cows will be auctioned in May 2017 with proceeds benefitting ARTS Obispo, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County and the CMSF Heritage Foundation, as well as more than 35 other local nonprofits, including the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation.
Comments
