Newton Artist Creates Life-Size Cow Sculpture For Cancer Research Fund

NEWTON, MA – A Newton resident and artist has painted a life-size cow sculpture as part of a public art installation and fundraiser for the 75th anniversary of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

Tova Speter’s cow sculpture “Heifervescence” will be on display on High Street Place in Boston from June 24 through September 4.

It is part of CowParade New England, a public art installation featuring 75 unique cows decorated by local artists throughout the region. The cows will be placed at landmarks around Greater Boston to recognize 75 years of progress and impact made by the Jimmy Fund community.

Speter is a community artist, art therapist, and educator who bases her work on her belief that making art is inherently therapeutic and formative. Her cow creation, Heifervescence, has a blue palette and resin-cast white bubbles. In addition to Heifervescence, Speter will also be creating a miniature cow with one of her students, Yael Schulman, as part of an educational arts initiative through CowParade New England.

The cause is especially meaningful to 11-year-old Schulman, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2020 and treated for nine months at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. During her treatment, she learned of the art technique syringe painting, which she used to design the "mini moo" for CowParade.

"The Jimmy Fund is special to me because they cured me. The doctors and nurses and child life specialists care so much and took such good care of me when I was so sick,” Schulman said in a news release. An avid art-lover, she is excited to participate and feels the cow is special as it was made by a cancer survivor.

“We’re thrilled to have so many talented and diverse local artists in Greater Boston and throughout New England participating in CowParade New England,” Suzanne Fountain, vice president of the Jimmy Fund, said in a news release. “CowParade is a beautiful way to bring our community together to celebrate 75 years of the Jimmy Fund and look ahead to continue raising funds to bring us one step closer to a world without cancer.”

Community members can view a full pasture map with the locations of each cow. Select cows will be auctioned off in August to benefit the Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.