General Motors 'Moo-ves' the Cows on Parade
9 November 1999
General Motors 'Moo-ves' the Cows on ParadeCHICAGO, Nov. 8 -- Chicagoans will get their last chance to see cows from the Cows on Parade(TM) exhibit when General Motors , the official automotive sponsor of the Chicago Public Art Program, conducts an actual parade through various Chicago neighborhoods on Wednesday, Nov. 10, beginning at approximately Noon. About 30 of the 65 cows auctioned off at the Chicago Theater on Nov. 9 will be showcased in the beds of GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup trucks as they motor through the streets of the city before being delivered to their new owners. "General Motors is committed to the people of Chicago and the great heritage of this city, " said Mike O'Malley, general manager of General Motors' North Central Region. "Our involvement with the cows is just one part of our larger role as the official vehicle of Chicago's Public Art Program. It will be exciting for kids and adults alike to admire the cows one last time as they parade through their neighborhoods." The GM motorcade will take a one-hour tour through several neighborhoods giving Chicagoans a chance to catch their final -- or first -- glimpse of the animals. The parade route will be announced on Monday, November 8. Between June 15 and Oct. 31, thousands of people admired the exhibit presented by the Public Art Program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Cows on Parade(TM) was the fourth major temporary public art exhibition presented by the program, and the first to feature the work of Chicago artists and to provide for many of the artists their first public art commission. "This has been one of the most exciting programs I've been involved with," said Michael Lash, Chicago Public Art Program Director. "Because most of the cows were situated in the downtown area, we're appreciative of General Motors' efforts to bring the cows to people in some of our outlying neighborhoods." General Motors is one of the primary sponsors of the live auction, conducted by Sotheby's at the Chicago Theater. Proceeds from the auction go to the charity of the individual cow sponsor's choice, which include such charities as the American Heart Association, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Y-Me, among others. GM's North Central Region is headquartered in Naperville, Ill., and is one of five GM regions across the country. The region encompasses 13 states and sells more than 1.2 million new GM cars and trucks every year. Parade Route: State Street/Lake to Roosevelt Roosevelt to Halsted Halsted to Washington Washington to Wacker Wacker to Michigan Michigan to Chicago Chicago to State State to Walton Walton to Clark Clark to Division Division to Humboldt Blvd. Humboldt to Chicago Chicago to California