Project Bulldog barks its way into town

In an effort to engage local artists and pay tribute to Hewlett-Woodmere School District’s beloved bulldog mascot, a public art exhibition called Project Bulldog was announced late last month.

Ira Friedman, a long-time area resident and Hewlett High School graduate, is the brains behind the project, which he hopes will help foster creativity among local artists, in particular student artists, while creating a buzz throughout the entire community. “I wanted to start something that could celebrate the great work that comes out of the art department,” Friedman said. “After seeing the bulldog on clothing in my house for years and seeing how kids responded to the mascot, a project like this just made sense.”

Friedman’s idea of spreading Hewlett school spirit through its mascot first began taking shape last summer when the bulldog icon was first made into a life-size, three-dimensional sculpture. It has since been cast and reproduced to prepare for its dispersal throughout the community.

“We decided that our beloved bulldog needed an exhibition of its own,” Friedman said. “It’s something that is supposed to excite this community and we hope that shopkeepers around the area will benefit from increased traffic to their stores.”

In the coming months, the bulldog statues will be individually designed and decorated by members of Hewlett High School’s art program, its faculty as well as noted alumni artists. Once painted, the bulldogs will then start appearing in storefronts and other places within the Hewlett-Woodmere School District.

“I think that this could create such excitement in this community,” Friedman said. “We want to see people in the towns and in stores appreciating the effort and work that is going into creating these bulldogs.”

Ms. Jessica Bayer, Hewlett-Woodmere’s Chairperson for Art and long-time resident of Hewlett, has been working behind the scenes with Friedman developing the program for introduction this fall. “Making art, and even experiencing art, is a dynamic way to bring people together and build community,” Bayer said. “We now have a dedicated group of parents, community members, merchants, students, faculty, and distinguished alumni engaged in various aspects of this exciting initiative.”

Friedman said that the inspiration for this type of exhibition came from what he has seen in art showcases across the country, specifically the “Painted Ponies” and “Cow Parade” campaigns. He first pitched the idea to Bayer who then presented it to Superintendent Dr. Les Omotani less than a year ago. Omotani said he immediately saw promise in the project.

“Ira was very interested in creating a great opportunity for our students,” said Omotani, who presented Friedman with a $1,000 check at the October Board of Education meeting to sponsor four of the bulldogs. I was truly blown away by the idea.”

Anyone can sponsor a bulldog by making a contribution of $250 to the project, with all profits going to the Hewlett-Woodmere Endowment Fund, earmarked for art department needs and initiatives. At the end of the exhibition, the bulldogs will be showcased at a central location within the Hewlett-Woodmere School District. After the showcase, the sculptures will be auctioned off to the public. “They will only be out in the community for a finite amount of time,” Friedman said. “I’d really like to see the art department get a lot of attention out of this.”

Bayer added, “The excitement and energy is contagious. The real learning going on is apparent in the generation of ideas, the rich dialogue about technique, and the remarkable artwork being created.”

Of all the students and artists that Friedman has been able to draw to this project, he is especially proud of recruiting Ross Bleckner, a Hewlett High School graduate and world-renowned contemporary artist. Bleckner has been a part of art exhibitions all over the globe for over 25 years. “Ross has had an absolutely tremendous career as a contemporary artist,” Friedman said. “It’s an example of how collaborative an effort this project is going to be. It’s going to be a group of very different and interesting individuals.”

Another local artist, Frank Giordano, who is a lifelong Hewlett resident and graduate of Parsons School of Design, said he is painting a bulldog that exemplifies the animal’s athleticism. “For the bulldog I am painting, I chose Hewlett High School blue and white as my primary color palette,” Giordano said. “The overall theme is one of athleticism, specifically the flow of energy and the intensity of sport. Gold ribbon accents which run along the sides and on the bulldog’s back suggest gold medal victory.”

Dr. Omotani said he is looking forward to seeing the impact that this project has on the Hewlett-Woodmere community as a whole.

“This unique collaboration benefits the arts, our students, local merchants, residents and the community as a whole,” Omotani said. “I love the Project Bulldog concept, applaud its initiative and look forward to the positive impact it is poised to generate.”

For sponsorship information or further details, call Ira Friedman at (516) 375-0842 or e-mail ifpower1@aol.com.

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