Bulldoggish on science
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| Photo: Reidar Hahn | |
West of Chicago, the town of Batavia, Ill., has long been dominated by two images: Fermilab and the local high school mascot, the bulldog. So when artists were asked to decorate bulldog statues placed throughout town as part of a community-building event, Dana Parisi immediately thought of combining the two.
“Fermilab's so awesome and amazing,” she said.
Her piece, titled “Fermi-Lap Dog,” won Best in Show, and its sale, along with those of the other statues, generated money for local charities.
Modeled after the 1998 CowParade art show in Zurich, Switzerland, the Bulldog Unleashed event highlighted a variety of artistic styles and community themes. Spectator votes determined the winner.
The Fermi-Lap Dog's back sported a bird's-eye view of the accelerator complex, surrounded by exploding particles and the iconic Wilson Hall, named for the laboratory's first director. From the dog's belly rose clouds in shades of neon orange and green—a colorful galaxy expanding into the dark universe.
“It's a very kid-friendly design. My daughter loved it,” said Bulldog Unleashed project spokesperson Nell Novak, adding that the Lap Dog's location may have given it a leg up, so to speak, in the voting: “Being near the popcorn stand might have helped.”
Brad Hooker
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