Cows and music make for an odd pair. However, when viewed through the lens of Mago Huang’s cow painting, it becomes easy to mistake music for moo-sic.
Huang, a junior at Interlake High School, is one of 30 finalists in the Safeway-Lucerne The Art of Dairy Taste of Moo-sic Art Contest. The competition asks for a design which can be painted on a plaster cow and which blends elements of music with a subject that is related to dairy products.
Huang’s design was inspired by the Greek goddess, Euterpe, one of the Greek Muses, and patron goddess of music. The cow sports a version of Euterpe, painted in the likeness of a cow, playing a flute.
As a finalist, Huang is in the running for the Grand Prize of $5,000 for herself and another $5,000 for her teacher and $20,000 for the school’s art department. Other prizes include a First Prize winner – $5,000 for the art department and $2,500 for the student and teacher. Three “Honorable Achievements” will be awarded, which give $1,000 apiece to the student and teacher. All other finalists will receive a $500 savings bond.
The competition allows for the student to designate a teacher to provide guidance during the competition. Huang chose Interlake AP/IB Art teacher, Candice Rutherford. Rutherford was allowed to provide instruction, but not help paint the cow, although other students are allowed to do so.
Apart from painting, Huang also works with ceramics and jewelry; she studies art outside the classroom as well, attending an art studio in Duvall. Huang plans to continue in art beyond high school, eyeing various art colleges in California, and eventually hopes to become an illustrator.
Art talent seems to run in the family, as both of Huang’s brothers are also avid artists.
If Huang wins money for Interlake’s art department, Rutherford tentatively plans on purchasing items such as image-editing software and additional art supplies. If the ultimate decision of what to with the money does materialize, Rutherford stated “I would like student input,” to better suit the students’ own needs.
As for the secret of getting a strong design, it often lies in trying multiple times. “First I did a couple designs, then I chose one,” Huang said.
