Wednesday, August 09, 2000

Pig Parade: Piganthropy

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Generous swine tells tales of charity

By Owen Findsen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        This is 102nd in a series spotlighting pigs from the Big Pig Gig Public Art Project taking place in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Find past pig profiles at cincinnati.com.

| ZOOM |

        Not all pigs are “piggy,” says artist Suzanne Fisher. “To be piggy usually means to be selfish, but this is a generous pig, a real philanthropist.”

        Ms. Fisher, 42, of Fairview Heights and director of community education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, is leaving the job to work full-time as an artist. She recently completed a mosaic mural for Southern State College at Wilmington.

        Sponsor: Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

        This pig's pen: Lobby of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Fourth and Elm streets.

        You were inspired by: The foundation knew of my mosaic work, so they asked me to do their pig. They wanted something light and humorous that would represent all six areas of community support.

        What's the pig idea? The pig is made of gold, silver and copper leaf. It's imitation gold leaf. The real stuff is too expensive. There are six mosaic circles, each with a picture of a generous pig. One pig is in a garden to represent the environment. One is playing a violin to represent the arts and humanities. The pig's feet are covered with pennies.

        You want people to look at this pig and think: It's made to make the trustees smile when they walk by. The foundation may keep it as a kind of visual aid to point out the various areas of community support.

        Pig peeve: Working with gold leaf. It comes in small squares as fragile as Saran Wrap. If there is a breeze, or if you sneeze, it blows away. It kept winding up in my neighbor's flower beds.

        Best pig tale: After the wings were attached the pig wouldn't fit through the door of my studio, so I had to work on it in my back yard. One morning, the little girl next door woke up and came out and saw the pig. She went running in to tell her father that there was a gold pig with wings outside. That must be a great thing for a little girl to see in her neighborhood the first thing in the morning.

        My favorite pork dish: Pork chops made with garlic and lime juice, served with applesauce.

        The materials cost: $350.

        Do you consider this art or porkography? It's light hearted pig art.

        If your pig starred in a movie, who would you cast to play the role? Goldfinger.

       

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Pig Parade: Piganthropy
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