The Moose And The Mouse

This is Mudgy Moose with his pal Millie Mouse sitting on his nose. Five incarnations of them made their debut as public art in Coeur d'Alene this past Saturday. How amazingly wonderful!

First it shows what can happen when the "doers and shakers" decide to do something for the community, especially the kids. It is also a wonderful example of how the public and private sector can work together for something really worthwhile.

Inspired by Boston's sculptures of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings, local author Susan Nipp wondered what sort of similar project she could come up with for Coeur d'Alene. Moose are plentiful in the area so Mudgy was a natural; what more opposite could there be than a mouse? And what could they do together? Why, play hide and seek!

Mudgy was first to be "it". Unknown to him, Millie found the best hiding place to be in the curve of his antlers. Off he went in search of his little friend. He checked all her favorite haunts around town but could find no more than good natured chuckles. Exhausted after awhile he took a rest in City Park before wandering over to the lake for a drink - and there was Millie's reflection! She had been nestled in his antlers all the time.

Local artist Terry Lee created faithful renditions of Charles Reasoner's illustrations; they were placed around town with the generosity of private citizens' sponsorship.

The proceeds from the book sales will benefit the Library Foundation and the North Idaho Health Network sees it as a way to get kids physically active by sponsoring community walks!


It was a beautiful September morning. The sky a brilliant blue, the temperatures in the low sixties. I had a couple of hours between appointments and decided to follow the trail. By the time I reached City Park it had really become a game of hide and seek for I could not find that Moose anywhere! Diligence paid off. I found him catching his breath and could almost hear Millie giggling.

Mission accomplished I wandered back into town to visit Figpickels Toy Emporium, the place for Mudgy and Millie merchandise, and chanced upon owner Susan Sommer. I told her I was a blogger and wanted to write about the project. Her enthusiasm was infectious. The Saturday kick off had been a huge success.

We chatted for awhile, the book is available locally at Hastings and they are hoping Amazon will pick it up. Coeur d' Alene has taken a giant step forward in becoming a city known for it's public art art. The kids win and the community wins. It is uniquely Coeur d'Alene's. No other community will ever have anything quite like it.

Oh, yes, I did my part too. I am the proud owner of an autographed copy of the Mudgy and Millie story! Take the walk; it will put a smile on your face and some community pride in your heart!

Feathers As Art? Absolutely!

I like public art. Whether it's in cities like Seattle or on a hillside like the Wild Horse Monument I recently wrote about. We have little in Coeur d'Alene and what we do have seems to be a topic of controversy. As you approach downtown from the Northwest Boulevard exit you will see our feathers. One Eagle, one Osprey. Birds indigenous to our lake country. There seems to be a love/hate relationship about them. Personally, I love them.

I hope those opposed to public art it will read the article in the
Spokesman Review about the vibrant and entertaining installation they have over in Port Angeles, WA. Calling it the Avenue of the People the art work was unveiled during one of the city's festivals and what a wonderful addition to the streets it will be.

Locals posed for the funky, abstract images capturing the individual's body language. It includes everything from a very pregnant torso to a pair of dancing senior citizens. What a concept! Involve the people!

It surely makes it fun for the people of Port Angeles, and while not knowing the individuals who posed, visitors cannot help but get a chuckle out of the strolling the "Avenue".

Public art does a lot for a town's image. It doesn't even have to follow a theme though often it does. Think about the interest and how many people came to downtown Coeur d'Alene to see the Moose on parade. We always make it a point to go over to Spokane when they have one of their Fun-d raisers featuring various critters decked out by the local art community.

Install it and they will come - to view it, enjoy it - and maybe even spend some money in your shops and restaurants. Not a bad deal.

Wild Horses

Headed east as you climb out of the Gorge on I-90, after having crossed the Columbia from Vantage,WA, suddenly there they are - racing along the ridge line. Wild horses as free as the breeze. Public art at it's best.

I was surprised to read, recently, that the monument is unfinished after nearly 20 years due to a lack of funding. In this case it may be a blessing in disguise. While many major cities are full of spectacular public art, one rarely has an opportunity to view it in a wide open setting that is reminiscent of how reality must once have been.

What's missing, we're told, is a basket the size of a satellite dish representing their being set free to spread life. Being an artist myself, I understand the need for unfettered expression in the creation of a work. This is one instant where I would advise the artist to leave well enough alone. The addition of an element that would be foreign to the setting would, to me, detract from the spectacular piece that it is.

To add something that represents something obviously man made would destroy the natural aesthetic of it.  The story about the "Grandfather Spirit" cutting them loose from the "Great Basket" is the artist's intent paralleled with paying homage to the last grand round up of wild horses in that area in 1906.

If it were me, I'd set both aside and leave those majestic animals to run free for eternity just as they are.