If you’ve noticed an artistic ox missing from a corner in Pennington, don’t go bull-istic! He has a brand new location and a new name.
This life-sized painted fiberglass bovine was part of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council’s “Stampede,” a Valley-wide art initiative and exhibit and was painted by artist Diane Lufrano.
After enjoying his temporary welcome at the intersection of Main Street and Delaware Avenue, ox owner, the Pennington Business & Professionals Association (PB&PA), has made the ox available to association members to host, beginning with Cream King on Route 31.
With the moo-ve, it seemed fitting that the ox, originally named “Pennington Means Business,” have a new name so the PB&PA sought contest entries to rename him.
“This ox has become a popular figure within the Pennington community as well as outside the community, as evidenced by the tremendous response from people all around the surrounding area who offered naming ideas,” said PB&PA co-president Kevin Ryan. “It has been a fun and creative way to allow our members to be engaged with the local residents. There are a lot of unique thoughts coming up around our “ox options” for additional locations going forward. Stay tuned!”
Carol Lipson, Hopewell Valley Arts Council board of trustees president said, “We are amazed at how the oxen of the Hopewell Valley Stampede have become area landmarks and continue to bring joy to the community. And Cream King has been a wonderful “grazing” location. Thank you to Creme King and the PB&PA for supporting the arts in Hopewell Valley and keeping the Stampede rolling.”
The winner of the contest is local quilt artist Janneke Van der Ree, renaming the ox “POP,” which stands for “Pride of Pennington”. Van der Ree is a Pennington resident, the new manager at Chance on Main, and has recently been named as a finalist in this year’s Quilt Competition at the 2017 Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza (PNQE).
“It’s great when local businesses and artist can work together,” said Van der Ree, who went on to explain how inspired she is by the Hopewell Valley art community. “The ox at Cream King represents Pennington for me. The whole ox showed that Hopewell Valley is such an artful community. And it is the same local art feel I get at Chance On Main, which continued under a group of Chance makers. I will be there as the eyes and ears of Elizabeth Bell who recently moved. The artful community keeps giving me inspiration and motivation to continue making fabric art.”
Van der Ree is the lucky winner of a $50.00 gift certificate to Cream King and, of course, the fame of being the ox-namer!
Left to right: Lee Dickstein (PB&PA Treasurer), Janneke Van der Ree (contest winner), Laurie Volpe (Cream King), Sara Cooper (PB&PA member who helped organize the contest), and Diane Lufrano (ox artist).
