Here’s your chance to be an urban cattle baron.
Now that the Chinese Year of the Brown Earth Cow (a.k.a. Year of the Ox) is winding down, the folks at Flushing CowParade are auctioning off their herd – for charity.
The Flushing CowParade Charity Auction will be on Sunday, January 24 at Queens Crossing, 39th Avenue and Main Street, to benefit the Greater New York Chinese Community Dollars for Scholars.
A total of 73 cows, ranging from life-sized to 6 inches long will be offered at two events, co-hosted by Queens Crossing and Crossing Art gallery, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception and Baby Cow Raffle at the ground floor gallery, followed by a dinner at 6:30 p.m., with both live and silent auctions, in Mudan Restaurant.
Twenty-eight of the cows are as small as 4 ½ inches high and 6 inches long. Other auction items include 30 “Micro Moos,” at 13 ½ inches high and 22 inches long, and 10 two-by-three foot “Mini Moos.”
Five of the full-size cows will be auctioned, including the New York Mets Amazin’ Cow, which had been on display outside Citi Field last season.
For 50 years, Dollars for Scholars programs nationwide have been helping students pursue post-secondary education. Established in October of 2004, the Greater New York Chinese Community chapter is the first to benefit students of Chinese descent.
“We need to unite the community and everyone’s participation to be able to help the most students and families,” a spokesperson said.
Launched for the first time in 1999 on the streets of Chicago, CowParade has made its way through 66 cities and six continents. These events have reached over 100 million fans and visitors and involved over 5,000 artists.
The Flushing CowParade, billed as “the world’s largest public art event,” was launched last January, by Crossing Art gallery. Artists originally from all parts of the world selected a cow figure that was either standing, grazing or reclining, and were given the freedom to paint, sculpt, transform and adorn the cow however they desired.
During an “Open Studios” period, the public could watch them paint and decorate their cows, with the support of sponsors including the New York Mets, Queens College and Starside Pharmacy.
You can see the cows that are up for auction by visiting Cowparade’s web site at www.flushingcowparade.com. Tickets to the event are $68, including the cocktail hour and dinner. For more information, visit www.crossingart.com.
