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> The Facts About Herd About The Prairie
> What is it?Herd About the Prairie: A Virtual Art Stampede is our region's largest public art project and fundraiser and will introduce a creative and elaborately decorated herd of life-size bison (5' x 8' x 3') to businesses and public areas throughout the central Red River Valley May through August 2006 > Who was behind the project?The Lake Agassiz Arts Council, the sponsoring organization of Herd About the Prairie, is an association of over 50 not-for-profit arts organizations, artists and arts related businesses which have been working to advocate and serve the arts for 35 years. Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Dilworth and the surrounding communities of Cass and Clay counties make up the arts rich community the Lake Agassiz Arts Council serves. Over the years, the Arts Council has raised money for arts funding, produced arts showcase events and recognized the achievement of arts supporters. It promotes the arts through its publications the FM Arts Forum and the FM Arts Events calendar and its Webbsite (www.fm-arts.com). The Arts Council re-grants thousands of dollars every year on behalf of the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo to fund quality arts projects and provide operational support to many of our most treasured arts organizations. > What was the goal?Herd About the Prairie placed 74 transformed fiberglass bison throughout the cities of Cass and Clay counties and served as a means to bring community, business and art together in a very public and visible way. The proceeds from sponsorships and the auction of the Herd on September 9, 2006 at the FargoDome raised funds for the Lake Agassiz Arts Council to reinvest in one of our most valuable resources –- the arts. > Why Bison?The burly and majestic North American Bison continues to be a stunning national symbol of the American Indian, buffalo hunter, the Wild West and the vast splendor of the Great Plains. As the largest land animal on the continent, the Plains Bison herds roamed once in great numbers ranging from 30 to 70 million and served as a sacred and vital source of food and provision to the native peoples of America who called the bison Tatanka. There are other buffalo in the world, but there is only one North American Bison. A true American native, the bison will forever be associated with the Great Plains and the people of the prairie. Herd About the Prairie celebrates our collective story, imagination, and culture-past and present. A herd of bison is nature’s fitting symbol of the region’s history and is also representative of the strength and spirit of American business and artistic expression. > Why Community Art?Herd About the Prairie is designed to be a very accessible way to introduce public art to our area communities. We have an abundance of talented painters, sculptors, potters, glass blowers, quilters, and crafters. Herd About the Prairie provides an opportunity for a variety of visual artists to display their talent, imagination, and skill on a unique canvas (the bison) and present their work in a very high profile exhibit. This will set the stage for other public art projects that combine artists, business, and community in the future. > How will the fundraising proceeds be used?The Lake Agassiz Arts Council will use the proceeds from Herd About the Prairie to reinvest in the arts. The arts is a growth industry with significant economic and quality of life impact on our communities. Herd About the Prairie features visual artists who make it possible for arts providers of all types to benefit from the funds raised. The Arts Council will be able to augment its on-going re-granting opportunities to any not-for-profit organization that presents a quality arts project or operational support to existing arts organizations, and to initiate additional ways to support and serve the arts. > What are the bison specifications?Material: Fiberglass The original bison mold was sculpted by noted Montana artist, Joe Halko and made available to Herd About the Prairie by special arrangement with the Charles M. Russell Museum of Great Falls, Montana. > Project Time Line
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