Your Daily Dose of Mosaic

What Is Art?

I can't pretend to answer that question in a way that would satisfy anybody.

I'm not even certain there was an artful way to combine a cow and shoes, but surely someone might've come closer than this.

What I found especially odd was that the same artist who slapped together this shoddy mess also pieced together the witty, captivatingly beautiful Pasture Bedtime.

Maybe it's a pointed commentary on the perils of corporate sponsorship? (This one was sponsored by Famous Footware.)

Pasture Bedtime again

While we were on the square I had to show Tim the cow art called Pasture Bedtime, and snapped this side view.

Pasture Bedtime, one of the cows exhibited on the terrace around the capital, has to be seen up close and personal to be appreciated. It's inlaid with hundreds of clocks and wrist watches.

Pasture Bedtime again, this time from almost directly over the cow's flanks, to give you a better idea of the sheer number of clocks, watches and watchbands used to inlay the hide of the beast.

I, Cow

Madison's nighttime skyline was reflected in the eye of this cow, to arresting effect.

Madison Skyline at Night (Cow Version)

The capital of Wisconsin is built on an isthmus. Lake Mendota's to the north, Lake Monona to the south, and a never-ending slew of photos and paintings of the city in between. Seems nobody with a camera or paint brush can resist the frame that sky and water put around the city.

The Cows Came To Madison

The state milk marketing board dreamed up this promotional art exhibit; they cast several hundred cows in fiberglass, handed them to local artists and bid them do what they would. Then they loaded the cows on trucks and began to cart them all over the state. I have no idea of Madison is the beginning of their tour, in the middle, or near the end.

Cows again

I found this cow face (complete with hen-shaped lock of forehead hair) hidden in the turquois pattern that covered one cow from head to hoof.

The cows are supposed to be in town for one or two weeks and, as you can see, they're scattered here and there along the sidewalks of the town. How long before the grafitti taggers get in on the action?

Bumper Cow

For sheer whimsy, I think this was my favorite cow — for today. Although several others have climbed in to take the wheel for a photo op, I resisted the urge (and I'm kicking myself for it now).