John Lennon composed “Hey Bulldog” for the Beatles, but it’s Paul McCartney who has transformed into a four-legged friend.
Er, make that “Paw” McCartney.
Liverpool’s legendary rocker, donned in his teal Sgt. Pepper regalia, is now among the first litter of artist-embellished fiberglass dogs unleashed on DeKalb and Sycamore for Huskies on Parade. The colorful canines commemorate “communiversity,” the bond between NIU and its neighbors.
Nearly 50 decorated dogs are expected to sit and stay along the sidewalks and storefronts through Homecoming. After the painted puppies ride in the Homecoming Parade, organizers will learn how much they can fetch in an auction to benefit the February 14 Scholarship Fund.
“This is really a community-led effort to make sure that when our students came back this fall they were greeted by something festive and fun,” said Rena Cotsones, executive director for community relations at NIU. “We always thought it would be cool to create a public art project like this, and after the events of last semester, everyone buckled down and figured out a way to get it done in a short time.”
“It’s fun. It’s artsy. It’s colorful,” said Becky Harlow, assistant director for Student Involvement and Leadership Development. “This is our way of looking back to see how much the community rallied around the university, and we would like to see as many dogs on our campus as possible to really show our stake in this.”
Unpainted dogs are available through Monday, Sept. 22. Student groups can take advantage of discounted rates to participate; contact Harlow at (815) 753-6703.
Dogs already barking for attention include a downtown shopper, a farmer, a DeKalb Public Library patron and a Huskie football fan. A map of their locations is available online.
- Mark McGowan, NIU Public Affairs
Paw McCartney
Sponsored by: Vidicon
Artist: Eileen Balcom-Vetillo
King
Sponsored by:
Castle View Real Estate
Artist: Dan Wiemer