If you live in North Texas then there is little doubt you have laid eyes on at least a half dozen colorful longhorn steer at some point in the past year. If you live in Southlake you have almost certainly seen every one of the 26 longhorns and 14 calves weekly since the Southlake Stampede first planted its hooves in Town Square in the fall of 2006! This Stampede has created a local stir that has been echoed by just about every local media outlet including Channel 8 News. So it goes without saying, “we’ve all seen the ceremonial longhorns”…
…but Southlake Style has to ask - “Have you herd the latest…?”
…on Darth Moo-der, Sold on Southlake or Georgia O’Calf? What about Youth Education, Sweet T or Singing the Blues? Here is an update on this local public art showcase.
Initially weighing in at 125 pounds these colorful and sturdy steer have had a heavy impact on the landscape of our city. With steel re-inforced horns they have held up under the scrutiny of not just “hangers on” but the unrelenting elements of the rainiest year in recent memory.
There aren’t many museums pieces that could handle three inches of rain followed by near 100 degree heat. A clear coat finish helps each mini exhibit steer clear of the elements yet there is no “velvet rope” to ward off physical interactions between Southlake’s sacred cows and their adoring fans.
According to Southlake Stampede Director Mary Moe Georgia, “The Stampede is a public art exhibit, so we expected people would want to get close to them.” The anticipated interaction with the community was exactly why we chose to use steel reinforcement for each and every set of horns.
That’s 52 horns total, two on each of the 26 longhorns. Even though most of the “creative cattle” could be found within Town Square there are enough to place one per mile for each of the 25 square miles within Southlake’s borders. In addition, another 14 calves bring the total to 40 three dimensional canvases throughout the city.
Forethought and synergy best sum up the small but capable volunteer committee of local do-gooders and artists. A total of eight volunteer committee members, under the direction of Georgia, took on the tasks of working alongside the city’s Parks and Recreation department to ensure that the Stampede would meet its goals. The committee included; Ken Goodman, Milan Georgia, Jenny Tilbury, Debbie Reid, Christina Keith, Matt Tilbury, Tommy Pennington and Parks and Recreation city liaisons Chris Tribble and Kristin White.
The committee did everything from physically affixing each longhorn to their grazing place to bringing together sponsors, students and artists for the benefit and beauty of the entire city. Several on the committee including Mary Moe Georgia contributed not just their time but their skills as artists. Most of the longhorns were rendered over a six week period from personal garage, kitchen and living room “studios” often doubling as coat racks along the way.
Milan & Mary Georgia with "Cowdachrome"
So far, so good – according to Chris Tribble, Parks and Recreation Deputy Director and Stampede liaison, “the program has already earned $124,686 which has completely offset the expenditures thus far. The remaining balance at the end of the Stampede will be used to fund public art within the city.”
Generous citizens and community businesses have helped defray the costs which included the initial purchase of each “naked longhorn”, artist stipends, clear-coating, transportation, signage, and advertising. Also vital to the project has been the occasional touch up and ear re-attachment (no steel there)…all totaled the costs associated with one longhorn are well in excess of $2,800.
As for the calves, they were slightly less expensive as there were no stipends for the students artists from each CISD campus. Nevertheless, the Stampede committee did donate craft supplies and paints for each team of child artisans.
According to Parks and Recreation co-director Chris Tribble the herd has already begun to migrate to locations close to their loved ones and sponsors. By late summer all of the cattle will be set in their permanent place amongst their sponsors or in local parks. Capital One, Fidelity Investments, Chik Fil-A and the LibertyGarden are now home for several of those who were adopted for a handsome donation prior to the auctioning process ($2,000 per longhorn and $1,000 per calf).
For those who still need new homes locals will have the opportunity to purchase a “bovine beauty” at upcoming local charity auctions throughout the year. Recently the local chapter of ALTRUSA auctioned off Amanda Fox’s Youth Education at their “Black Tie and Boots Gala”. Youth was one of many auction items available at the annual gala event. After a formidable bidding war, he fetched $3,200. Per the obligations of the Stampede, half of the auction proceeds of each longhorn are added to the program’s public art coffers. The remaining 50% helps fund the valuable activities of the partnering charitable organization, in this case ALTRUSA.
Due to the adoption and auction programs, Georgia is proud to explain, “The Stampede has paid for itself and is still bringing in money.” Organizations are urged to contact Chris Tribbleat the SouthlakePark’s and Recreation department for more information about partnering in the longhorn auctioning process.
The final sum collected from this program will not be known for certain for quite a while but the success of the Stampede is already in the books. Prior to the Stampede the city had less than $5,000 specifically designated for public arts and art education. With the support of the entire community the Stampede could return ten to twenty times that number.
Regardless of the financial return, Mary Moe Georgia knows the cultural return has been priceless. She says, “When you tally up the people touched, we had over 400 artists, sponsors, art teachers, students and stampede volunteers in Southlake that made this event. I can't say enough about the people that made this happen. I’m amazed over the thought on how many people have looked at, touched or had their pictures taken with our Southlake longhorns!”
All we can say to those involved is “thank you.”
Southlake Stampede – by the numbers:
Longhorns: 26
Calves: 14
Committee members: 10
Money raised to date: $124,686
Expenses per longhorn: $2,800+
The End
