So What Ye Reap | ZOOM |

        This is 171st in a series spotlighting pigs from the Big Pig Gig Public Art Project taking place in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Find past pig profiles and event details - and vote for your favorite pig — at www.cincinnati.com/bigpiggig

        These three big piggies have a special glow because they're painted with luminous paint.

        Artist: Tom Bacher, 49, downtown, worked with students from Springer School. Mr. Bacher exhibits his luminous landscapes worldwide. His art can be seen on his Web site, www.tombacher.com.

        Sponsors: The Lottery Channel (Pig 4), Marilyn and Martin Wade (Sow What Ye Reap), Boys Hope Girls Hope (Wings of Hope).

        Wings of Hope will be part of the Online eBAy Auction, Lot 3, Nov. 3-10. Pig 4 will be part of the live auction at Music Hall, Nov. 13.

        This pig's pen: Eden Park Mirror Lake (Pig 4); Kaldi's on Main Street, (Sow What Ye Reap and Wings of Hope.)

        You were inspired by: I felt this project was for kids and about kids. I was artist-in-residence at Springer School two years ago and really enjoyed working with the kids. I invited some of them to come to my studio. We had party food and went to town with a pig painting party. They worked all afternoon, five or six kids to each pig. I let them do what they wanted, then I went back and for the next two weeks finished it up.

        What's the pig idea? Sow What Ye Reap is the karma pig. It starts out glowing with flowers and butterflies. As the glow fades, you see the pig's bones.

        Wings of Hope is covered with lightning bolts and bugs. When the glow fades, you see stars and planets.

        Pig 4 is the Lottery Chanel pig so the kids wanted to make a casino dealer. Then they decided to get their hand and fingerprints all over it, and they got me to put my hand prints on it. That's what makes it special.

        What's the matter? Luminous acrylic paint.

        Your high on the hog was: When I am with kids, I become one of them. Working with them helped me see that it's important to maintain fun in paintings.

        Pig peeve: The pigs are illuminated with black light, so people won't get to see how the images change as the luminescence fades.

        My favorite pork dish: The pork chop breakfast at Ferguson Flea Market.

        The materials cost: $1,500 in luminous paints on each one. Another $500 to get each one sanded and primed.

        Do you consider this art or porkography? The kids are professionals at making kid art. It's got honest feelings and that's what art is all about.

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