Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV

BID ON THIS ART!

The BuffalART Series is an exciting sculpture project brought to the Huntington community by the Huntington Museum of Art, in collaboration with Marshall University. The first in the series, commissioned of Robin Hammer and Chris Dutch, is shown near completion above.

Robin Hammer and Chris Dutch of Dutchhammer with their nearly completed buffalo, Parker's Dream, named after an American author who wrote about buffalos.

The Museum plans to commission a new buffalo sculpture annually by a different area artist, who will share in the proceeds of the auction. The sculptures will be unveiled each year at HMA's Hilltop Festival. After the unveiling, the sculpture will be auctioned off during the Marshall University Homecoming Week. In coming years, a growing "thundering herd" will invade the city as more and more artists provide their own perspectives on the famous M.U. mascot.

The Bidding Process

The BuffalART Series will be a limited series of specially designed large-scale sculptures. Don't miss your chance to own the first of these works!

To Bid: Write, call or email with your name, address & bid amount. Or click one of the following links for an online copy of the bid card in either .pdf or Word (.doc) format.

Minimum Bid: $5,000
Buy Now Price: $20,000
Bids Due: Friday after Homecoming

Top bids will be announced periodically, in anticipation of the final announcement the Friday after Homecoming.

Contact: Stephen Samples
Huntington Museum of Art
2033 McCoy Road
Huntington, WV 25701
stephen@hmoa.org
(304) 767-5333

The Artists

Robin Hammer and Chris Dutch of Dutchhammer created this year's buffalo, Parker's Dream, from a variety of materials, including fiberglass, wood, metal and paints.

The artistic team produces unique art. They work both separately and together. Chris Dutch's independent work is primarily in stained glass and mosaic, while Robin Hammer works as a painter, designer and sculptor. Their collaborative work runs the gamut from furniture, installations and sculpture to works designed to be hung on walls.

They may be found on the internet at http://www.dutchhammer.com

Or email at:
cdutchstgl@verizon.net
hammer@mindspring.com

The Museum hopes the new owner of Parker's Dream will allow it to be displayed in a prominent location in Huntington for 30 days after purchase.

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October 20, 2006

Contact: John Gillispie, (304) 529-2701, Ext. 17

HUNTINGTON MUSEUM OF ART & MARSHALL UNIVERSITY
COLLABORATE ON BUFFALO SCULPTURE PROJECT

The Huntington Museum of Art and Marshall University have collaborated on a large-scale public sculpture project called the BuffalART Series. The first work in the series by artists Robin Hammer and Chris Dutch of Charleston will be on view during Marshall University Homecoming Week activities. Bids are being taken on the sculpture as a fund-raiser for the Huntington Museum of Art.

"The Museum plans to introduce one buffalo sculpture each year and unveil it at Hilltop Festival and then auction it off during MU Homecoming Week," said Margaret Mary Layne, HMA Executive Director.

The project combines the idea of Marshall University's mascot with HMA's focus on fostering local artists and promoting creativity and artistic expression. The sculpture was unveiled on Sept. 9 at HMA's Hilltop Festival. Anyone interested in bidding on the sculpture should contact Stephen Samples, HMA's Director of Development, at (304) 529-2701.

"We know that there will be a lot of interest in this project," said Keith Spears, Marshall University's Vice President for Communications and Marketing. "The 'We Are Marshall' film is generating its own awareness and having the Huntington Museum of Art initiate the BuffalART series is a 'stroke' of genius. Marshall fans and art lovers from throughout the community are sure to love watching this new project unfold."

"We are excited to participate with the Huntington Museum of Art in this unique BuffalART project," said Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp. "Bringing the arts and higher education together in Huntington helps lift both institutions to a higher level of visibility."

Goals for the BuffalART Series include fostering regional artists, displaying the work throughout Huntington and planning for an exhibit of multiple sculptures in the future.

"We hope that prior to the new owner taking possession of the buffalo that it will be displayed in a prominent location in Huntington for a short period," Layne said. "Long-range plans involve the possibility of bringing the sculptures back to Huntington maybe in 10 or 20 years to do a full-fledged exhibit of them. You know, the Herd is back kind of thing, maybe at Ritter Park, at the Museum or in a downtown location."

The BuffalART project allows HMA to work on several long-range objectives at the same time.

"The Museum has a strategic imperative to foster artists and creativity," Layne said. "This project allows us to do just that. Each year we will employ an artist to take the basic Fiberglass buffalo form and turn it into a work of art. You will see from this year's sculpture that the sky is the limit."

Similar sculpture projects have been successful in cities such as Cincinnati and Lexington.

"Large-scale public art projects such as this have served as a community development tool in other cities," Layne said. "The Museum is proud to be able to bring the BuffalART Series to the Tri-State Region and to all the Herd fans throughout the country."

For more information, visit call (304) 529-2701. HMA is fully accessible.