Moo-tanical Gardens
By David Westman
Artist StatementThe creative inspiration for Moo-tanical Gardens, comes from 3 sources:
• Colorado Rocky Mountain wildflowers
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• The expression, “You are what you eat.”This Grazing Cow is covered from head to hoof in hundreds of large silk gerbana daisies. A giant silk gerbana daisy adorns the cow’s head like nature’s own hat. The reds and yellows hint at some of the colors in our Colorado state flag. The cow nibbles on a bouquet of silk daisies sprouting up from a grouping of red Colorado granite rocks.
As the cow grazes upon the flowers, she is transformed into the very things she eats, a botanical garden of color, fun and fragrance. Yes, the silk flowers will be scented with a floral perfume. It’s a one-of-a-kind scratch-n-sniff bovine! As winds blow down from the Rockies, the scents given off by Moo-tanical Gardens will fill the viewer’s nose with the wonderful fresh smell of flowers.
The silk flowers will be sealed with a waterproofing and UV spray so this cow can be exhibited both outdoors as well as indoors.
Moo-tanical Gardens celebrates Colorado’s natural resources and attractions. Plus it appeals to both the viewer’s senses of sight and smell!
Moo-tanical Gardens, The Blog
or "How to Grow Gerbana Daisies on the Back of a Bovine
by David Westman
MooDate April 27. 2006
I received an email today that my cow design has been selected for the Denver CowParade project. I am very excited! Ever since I saw the first cows show up in Chicago in 1999, I've always wanted to do a piece of cow art. Yes, I had mad cow disease way back then, before it became so popular. As a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, a graphic designer, and all around creative person, this is right up my alley. Bring on the cows!
MooDate April 28. 2006
A herd of cows arrived today in Denver, so it was off to a warehouse in Centennial to pick up my cow. I corralled my coworker Tyson to help me out on our lunch hour. Thanks Tyson!
My design is already evolving, as a "grazing cow" was not available. So I agreed to work with an standing cow. Moovelous!
There she is - my cow. I just love a nice white canvas. Even if it's in the shape of a bovine.
It seems that the cows get a little rowdy, so it's necessary to keep their eyes and ears wrapped up. The last thing we need is a cow stampede. This one is already trying to make a run for it.
Loading the cow into the back of the pickup. The white one is the cow. It seems our warehouse guy in the hooded sweatshirt had developed a particular affection for my cow. He hugs her one last time.
Time to mooooooooooooooooove out.
Here I am, the happy artist, with a very wrapped up cow. Just call me Christo. Maybe I should just stop here. I kind of like the bondage thing going on.
Safe and sound at home in my garage at Stapleton. I am quite sure that livestock living in your garage is probably quite illegal in Stapleton. But I have never been a stickler for those tedious homeowner association rules and regulations. Our country was built on immigrants keeping all manner of chickens, ducks, goats and pigs penned for that yummy Sunday family dinner. You just gotta love America!
MooDate May 5. 2006
I placed an order today for 450 white, red and yellow silk gerbana daisies over the internet. Do you know how hard it is to measure the square surface area of an entire cow. I hope I did my math right. I was told there would be no math. I'm an artist, not a rocket scientist, though I have played one on TV. I need a name for my cow. I keep referring to her as "she". I guess the logical choice is to call her "Daisy". Not very original, but it fits.
MooDate May 6. 2006
No everything on my cow will be covered in gerbana daisies, so today was the day to paint all the cows "accessories". It's always about the accessories anyway.
The udders...
The horns...
The hooves...
I believe this is my first ever "hoof-icure". This would be so much easier if they made Lee-Press On Nails for Heifers.
Yep, Daisy is definitely a she-cow.
A second coat for the horns.
Except for the eyes, Daisy's accessories are complete. I think I will do her eyes last.
MooDate May 12. 2006
The flowers arrived today. The next task? To de-stem 450 gerbana daisies and trim them down flat on the back side.
MooDate May 16. 2006
My best friend Tai Beldock and her daughter Penn volunteer to help with the de-stemming portion the cow project.
Trimming down the flower so we have a nice flat surface for the adhesive.
Let the gluing begin!
Mootanical gardens begins to take shape. Too cool.
27 down. Only 423 more to go. Or more....I think we are going to need more than 450 flower to cover Daisy. She is one big girl! We'll see. We might be placing a second order for more flowers.
MooDate May 18. 2006
Did you know there is no flat surface on a cow? Since my adhesive takes a good 24 hours to dry, it's necessary to glue the daisies on a level surface, otherwise the flowers go sliding right off. So I find that I have to put ole Daisy into more positions than the Karma Sutra in order the create areas that are somewhat level.
Daisy resting on her side. She is not too happy about this.
Do these flowers make my thighs look fat?
MooDate May 21. 2006
I put in an order for another 450 daisies today. Looks like the first 450 is only going to cover a little over half of the cow. Wow. Who knew it would take 900 flowers to cover one cow? She sure is looking festive!
MooDate May 24. 2006
Upsee Daisy! Teaching a cow new tricks!
Daisy is learning how to roll over so I can have flat surfaces to glue the flowers on. She's on a slow rotissierie minus the flames. Her right side is almost done. She is starting to remind me of a giant pinata.
After consulting with my friend Tai, I've decided to leave her eyes white. We felt that painting eyeballs would make her look to much like a cartoon. And we want Daisy to be art. She seems more sophisticated this way.
MooDate May 31. 2006
Daisy is a little more than half covered in the gerberas. I've begun sealing her painted parts while I wait for the next batch of flowers to arrive. This is a good time to also add my signature to her. I decided to put my signature on her udders. She is now officially art!
I've used up all the flowers from the first batch. My second order of 450 flowers arrives tomorrow! The original due date for Mootanical Gardens was tomorrow, June 1. Since having to order more flowers has set me back, I'm not going to meet the deadline. The good news is that I received word that my cow drop off date is now June 7. So I now have an extra week to finish her. What a relief!
Tomorrow I'll be destemming 450 more flowers. My partner Anthony has volunteered to help with that task. Thanks Anthony!
MooDate June 3. 2006
The second batch of flowers have been destemmed and prepped to go on Daisy. The flowers are starting to grow toward her tummy.
MooDate June 4. 2006
The daisies now cover the entire circumference of Daisy. She is starting to look like a complete garden now. I just have to finish the front and back of her legs and her hindquarters. That's a fancy name for butt!
MooDate June 5. 2006
You can teach an old cow new tricks. Here is Daisy showing off by standing on her head. Now I suppose I have to start giving her treats for her tricks. Do you think she would like Milkbones?
MooDate June 6. 2006
Sit, Daisy, sit. Daisy is picking up tricks faster than Anna Nicole at a nursing home.
Egads, what is this?? I have run out of flowers again! It seems 900 was not quite enough to cover Daisy completely. She still has some holes to fill on her legs and butt. I secretly think Daisy has been grazing on the flowers at night when I am away. I suppose I was not giving her enough Milkbones. Poor thing. I've put in an overnight order for 100 more flowers. I would never have dreamed it would take 1,000 flowers to cover a cow. I guess that's why you don't see this done often. Only 3 more days left to finish her up!
MoDate June 8. 2006
While the flowers are on order, it's time to give Daisy a lobotomy.
I
Ouch. That's gotta hurt!
There we go. Much better. The hole was for Daisy's giant hat! You can see one of her legs still needs flowers.
Later that day...
The flowers showed up this afternoon! Anthony has agreed to help prep them while I commence the glueing. Thanks Anthony!
In order to get that last leg, Daisy takes yet another contortionist position. I think she is growing fond of the Halloween ghoul that lives in my garage.
MooDate June 9. 2006
I spent last night gluing on the last of the flowers. How many did it take? 1001 to be exact. I was so close to 1,000 that I went ahead and squeezed a few more on. You can never have too many accessories, right? The "one" is Daisie's big yellow gerbera hat.
Daisy was due today to be delivered to the CowParade warehouse. So I added her final touches.
The flowers are suppose to be scented, to make Daisy a kind of scratch-n-sniff cow. I spent some time at the perfume counter last night picking out something that would smell like flowers and not your grandmother. I settled upon Windsong by Prince Matchabelli. I figured if it's good enough for a prince, it's good enough for Daisy.
Dousing Daisy in perfume. My garage is going to smell like Wind Song for days!
I decided that Daisy needed some flower earrings to complete her look.
Daisy is finished and emerges from my garage!
All aboard! Now leaving for CowParade Denver.
A little protection for the ride. Always ride with protection!
Daisy arrives at the CowParade warehouse. She seemed happy to be back with the herd.
It was great to see all the other cows. Here's a sneak preview of what I saw. Watch for these cows appearing at grazing spots all over Denver on July 11!
That last one is one of my favorites. It was done by Barbara Hudson. Here cow is called "Front Range Cow". Brilliant!
Creating Mootanical Gardens was a dream come true for me. Ever since I saw CowParade in Chicago in 1996, I've always wanted to decorate a cow. My dream has finally come true!
Where will Mootancial Gardens, ie, Daisy end up in Denver? Stay tuned for future updates. And thanks for visiting my cow blog. Comments about Mootanical Gardens? Feel free to send me an email! Email David Westman.
