Cows are coming to DeKalb County! The 12+1 Initiative is a new county-wide public art project bringing a herd of customized painted cows to each city in DeKalb.

Life-size fiberglass cows are currently being delivered to 12 cities in DeKalb County to be transformed by local and regional artists into one-of-a-kind creations celebrating the creativity, culture, and character of each community. 

Why the cow? It’s a nod to the county’s history as the dairy capital of Georgia and largest Grade A milk producer in the South. 

Cows will be delivered to Tucker, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stonecrest, and Stone Mountain by September 10, when selected artists will be finalized. The cows will be installed in prominent areas in each city from October 26 to November 6. 

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The 12+1 Initiative is the product of Arts DeKalb, launched in March dedicated to celebrating creativity, supporting artists, and expanding cultural opportunities in the county. 

DeKalb County arts leaders gathered feedback this summer to develop a new cultural arts plan for the county. The project proposal was drawn up in August by the DeKalb Arts Council and presented to vendors specializing in the development of cultural arts plans. The selected firm is expected to be announced in November, with project updates to follow.

Both Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and Tucker announced a call for artists to participate in the city’s own cow. Artists are asked to submit applications with renderings electronically through the Brookhaven Procurement Portal. The deadline for applications for Brookhaven’s cow is Sept. 11.

Kirby the cow at the Donaldson Bannister House (Provided by the City of Dunwoody)

Dunwoody’s cow, Kirby, is currently residing at the Donaldson-Bannister House on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. According to a Facebook post by the city, “Kirby is named for the Kirby family, who operated a dairy along Chamblee Dunwoody Road in the days when DeKalb County was one of the South’s leading milk producers.”

The artist with the winning design, according to the Dunwoody information, will receive $5,000 for his or her creation. The deadline for submission is Aug. 21, according to informationn about the project.

The deadline for the Tucker cow submission is Aug. 31 at 2 p.m., according to the city’s website.

Katie Burkholder is a staff writer for Georgia Voice and Rough Draft Atlanta. She previously served as editor of Georgia Voice.

Caleb C. Ward (MFA student, Writing Program) is a Florida State University graduate, writer, and visual production creative based between Atlanta and Tallahassee.