The first-ever Goat Parade is underway! After months of planning, which Rivers Agency has been involved in since the earliest stages, a group of extraordinary artists is now hard at work at University Mall in Chapel Hill transforming life-sized goat statues into exquisite works of art.
A public art project celebrating the bond between Orange and Chatham Counties and their senior citizens, the Goat Parade features 10 fiberglass goat statues that are being transformed by hand into vibrant pieces of art.
When the goat statues first arrived at University Mall, they were wearing nothing but factory applied primer. Now, artists are using their talents to paint the goats in original, humorous and uplifting ways, creating art objects designed to surprise and delight. Some of the whimsical themes being explored include “Perfectly Paisley,” “Whatever Floats Your Goat” and “Botanimal.” Each piece is sure to be utterly unique.
Local artists selected to paint the goats include Ginger Anderson, Chapel Hill Art Gallery, Lisa Goldstein, Julia Kennedy, Steven Ray Miller, Nick Murray, Reid Coyner, Lauren Roberts, Elbert Tremblay and Jane Woodard. Visitors can see these artists at work at University Mall from now until September 15 during normal mall hours: Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Here at the Rivers Agency, we’ve been involved with this project since May, creating posters and other high-impact promotional materials. The Goat Parade has been great fun for our team every step of the way, and we can’t wait to see what the artists come up with now that the goats are here!
Once the artists finish their work, the goats will be placed at public locations throughout Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, where they will be available for viewing at no charge from early October through mid-November.
The first public unveiling of the goat herd will take place October 5 at the Festifall Arts Festival on historic West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. The event, considered one of North Carolina’s premier arts festivals, starts at noon. It includes music, dancing and food.
Following that celebration, from October 6 through 23, the painted goats will be grazing at various locations throughout the Chapel Hill area. The sites include the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, University Florist, Julian’s on Franklin Street, Rivers Agency, The Robert and Pearl Seymour Center, Squids Restaurant, the Siena Hotel, The Chelsea Theatre and Stein Mart in Chapel Hill; and The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Then, from October 23 through November 13, the painted goats will move to 10 other locations in Pittsboro for another round of public viewing. These spots include Angelina’s Kitchen, Chatham Market Place, Circle City Book Store, Galloway Ridge at Fearrington, The Joyful Jewel, Liquidamber Gallery and Gifts, New Horizon Trading Co., Pittsboro Roadhouse, Spa at Bell House and the Courthouse.
The project culminates with a special Goat Parade Gala on November 14, when all these gorgeous goats will come home to Galloway Ridge and be auctioned off to the public. In addition to live and silent auctions, the gala will feature delectable hors d’oeuvres, a wine bar, music and dancing.
Proceeds from the sale of the goats will benefit the Robert and Pearl Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill and the Chatham County Council on Aging in Pittsboro. The Goat Parade project is sponsored by Galloway Ridge, a non-profit continuing care community in Pittsboro. Read more about this exciting project here.