MADISON - Monroe High School art teacher Kathy King found it challenging to design and create a 6-foot, three-dimensional Bucky Badger statue now on display across from the Capitol in Madison, but what made it even harder was not being able to share her progress with anyone.
"I had to keep it a secret and keep it to myself for two or three months because they wanted it to be a surprise," King said. "I couldn't share any photos. That was hard."
The statue, named "Animals Need Bucky Too," is one of 85 interpretations of 6-foot Bucky statues that are part of the Bucky on Parade free public art tour depicted by 64 artists across the state. The more than seven dozen Bucky statues are on display in Madison and the greater Madison area, including Fitchburg, Verona, Middleton, Monona and Sun Prairie.
"I really felt like a celebrity when I went to Madison," King said. "To be honored with one of the Buckys on the Capitol Square really is an honor."
King, an art teacher who has taught at Monroe High School for 21 years, spent three months designing the fiberglass Bucky statute now covered with acrylic paintings of a peacock wearing a stethoscope, six dogs, three cats, two sheep, a couple of cows and a horse. Each of the animals depicted on the statue are animals and pets of various friends and family members King painted to life.
"I love collaging," King said. "I think when you have a personal connection with an animal, you can look at what makes them special."
After being contacted by the University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine in January to design a Bucky statue for them, King's artistic mind started racing. She drew her proposal on two coloring pages and then transferred the idea into a three-dimensional unique creation.
"I couldn't wait to pick up the Bucky (statue) and get started in January," King said. "Taking the two drawings and making them three-dimensional was a challenge."
It was unlike some of her other projects - she's painted cows, designed art pieces on the Square in Monroe and is widely known for her mural work at Baumgartner's, along with other establishments. She also creates a new piece of art for each Cheese Days.
This project, however, had life-like dimension and she felt she had more area to incorporate more animals than usual.
"A Bucky has a lot more curves to it," she said of the statue, compared to the cows she has painted in the past.
She used chalk to outline the various animals she would paint on the Bucky statue.
After a day of teaching, she would spend time building sets for the school play and work late nights to complete the Bucky piece. When she finished, a hard enamel sealcoat was applied to preserve Bucky through bad weather.
It's an experience she wouldn't trade.
The 85 Bucky statues will be on display through Sept. 12. After that, 36 of the statues will be auctioned off at a closing celebration Sept. 29 to raise funds for the Madison Area Sports Commission and Garding Against Cancer, an organization founded by UW men's basketball coach Greg Gard and his wife, Michelle, that raises money for cancer victims and the caregivers in their family.
The Bucky statue King designed is already reserved for the UW veterinary school and will not be up for auction.
Pat Bowdish, a 1999 MHS graduate and managing senior director of development for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, said the statute will be a welcome addition to the vet school.
"It's been a really neat, iconic symbol for our staff and alumni," Bowdish said of the statue. "It will be a perfect iconic creation for what all veterinarians do for animal and human health."
He is excited about incorporating it into the school's drive for a new teaching school. The veterinary school's capital campaign, "Animals Need Heroes Too" works in conjunction with King's Bucky statue, "Animals Need Bucky Too."
The statue is sponsored by Debbie Cervenka and Karen Walsh.
"I knew (King's) various talents from my time in Monroe," Bowdish said. "We wanted to ask Kathy because she's unbelievably talented, and the school was thrilled she agreed to help bring this one-of-a-kind piece of art to life."
"I had to keep it a secret and keep it to myself for two or three months because they wanted it to be a surprise," King said. "I couldn't share any photos. That was hard."
The statue, named "Animals Need Bucky Too," is one of 85 interpretations of 6-foot Bucky statues that are part of the Bucky on Parade free public art tour depicted by 64 artists across the state. The more than seven dozen Bucky statues are on display in Madison and the greater Madison area, including Fitchburg, Verona, Middleton, Monona and Sun Prairie.
"I really felt like a celebrity when I went to Madison," King said. "To be honored with one of the Buckys on the Capitol Square really is an honor."
King, an art teacher who has taught at Monroe High School for 21 years, spent three months designing the fiberglass Bucky statute now covered with acrylic paintings of a peacock wearing a stethoscope, six dogs, three cats, two sheep, a couple of cows and a horse. Each of the animals depicted on the statue are animals and pets of various friends and family members King painted to life.
"I love collaging," King said. "I think when you have a personal connection with an animal, you can look at what makes them special."
After being contacted by the University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine in January to design a Bucky statue for them, King's artistic mind started racing. She drew her proposal on two coloring pages and then transferred the idea into a three-dimensional unique creation.
"I couldn't wait to pick up the Bucky (statue) and get started in January," King said. "Taking the two drawings and making them three-dimensional was a challenge."
It was unlike some of her other projects - she's painted cows, designed art pieces on the Square in Monroe and is widely known for her mural work at Baumgartner's, along with other establishments. She also creates a new piece of art for each Cheese Days.
This project, however, had life-like dimension and she felt she had more area to incorporate more animals than usual.
"A Bucky has a lot more curves to it," she said of the statue, compared to the cows she has painted in the past.
She used chalk to outline the various animals she would paint on the Bucky statue.
After a day of teaching, she would spend time building sets for the school play and work late nights to complete the Bucky piece. When she finished, a hard enamel sealcoat was applied to preserve Bucky through bad weather.
It's an experience she wouldn't trade.
The 85 Bucky statues will be on display through Sept. 12. After that, 36 of the statues will be auctioned off at a closing celebration Sept. 29 to raise funds for the Madison Area Sports Commission and Garding Against Cancer, an organization founded by UW men's basketball coach Greg Gard and his wife, Michelle, that raises money for cancer victims and the caregivers in their family.
The Bucky statue King designed is already reserved for the UW veterinary school and will not be up for auction.
Pat Bowdish, a 1999 MHS graduate and managing senior director of development for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, said the statute will be a welcome addition to the vet school.
"It's been a really neat, iconic symbol for our staff and alumni," Bowdish said of the statue. "It will be a perfect iconic creation for what all veterinarians do for animal and human health."
He is excited about incorporating it into the school's drive for a new teaching school. The veterinary school's capital campaign, "Animals Need Heroes Too" works in conjunction with King's Bucky statue, "Animals Need Bucky Too."
The statue is sponsored by Debbie Cervenka and Karen Walsh.
"I knew (King's) various talents from my time in Monroe," Bowdish said. "We wanted to ask Kathy because she's unbelievably talented, and the school was thrilled she agreed to help bring this one-of-a-kind piece of art to life."