Batavia Has Finally Gone To The Dogs, The Bulldogs That Is

More than 200 enthusiastic spectators filled the Peg Bond Center to witness the official unveiling of Bulldogs Unleashed on Friday, June 10.

What began as a fundraiser for the Batavia Library Foundation, Batavia Parks and the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, Bulldogs Unleashed quickly evolved into something much more.

“The Library Foundation came up with the idea for a fundraiser and asked others to join in,” Joanne Spitz, chairwoman of the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence said. “But as time went on and people’s interest in the project grew, it blossomed into a wonderful community event.”

Modeled after the hugely popular Cows on Parade in Chicago 12 years ago, Bulldogs Unleashed’s aim was to bring together people from all areas of the community to share their pride and love for their hometown.

“Bulldogs Unleashed provided all of Batavia with a very nice forum to get together for fun and appreciate the arts,” Nell Novak, artist coordinator and steering committee member of Bulldogs Unleashed, said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been even more fun.”

At the ceremony, Mayor Jeff Schielke officially unleashed the 25 bulldogs to the streets of Batavia. In his address, the Mayor touched upon the history of the bulldog in Batavia and noted that originally, Batavia High School’s mascot was the Vikings, much to the chagrin of the crowd.

“Bulldogs Unleashed is a great tribute to anybody that has been involved in the Batavia High School Athletic Program,” he said. “This project has really been a great illustration of what the spirit of Batavia is all about. We have a history and legacy that is second to none and today we are paying tribute to a very proud tradition we have in Batavia.”

Following the ceremony, at which each bulldog was introduced with its artist and, at times, its sponsor, the crowd went into the pavilion to get a closer look at the artwork.

Siblings Elly, Max and Sam Girmscheid each had their favorite bulldog.

“I like It’s a Bulldogs Life,” Elly, 12, said. “It was awesome, plus, my neighbor did it.” Her brother Max, 10, took a shine to Maximus because “it has my name in it.” Younger brother Sam, 7, liked a second entry named It’s a Bulldogs Life, sponsored by Homestead because “it looks like a map with all the buildings.”

Ed Demask and his son Luke, 7, of Batavia also attended the festivities.

“I think it’s a cool event that brings people together from all walks of life,” Demask said. “We have three totally different organizations all coming together for a common cause. It’s just a cool event.”

Son Luke, sporting an Army camouflage bracelet said that he loved the Staff Sergeant Batavia, Support Our Troops bulldog “because of all the Army stuff.”

Local artist and 20-year Batavia resident Sharon Sychta was the creative force responsible for Sport, the Batavia High School Booster Club bulldog.

“I was honored that they asked me to be a part of this,” she said. “The Boosters have done an awful lot for me and my family. My daughter just graduated, and they were instrumental in keeping her healthy, active and involved in high school. I love what they do.”

Sychta, who just returned from showing her art in France, said it took her approximately two and one half weeks to paint Sport, who sports a Batavia High School letterman jacked and a spiked collar.

“I took my time, painting in several layers,” she said. “It was very detailed work but it was a lot of fun to do.”

The bulldogs will be on display all summer on the streets of Batavia. Each bulldog will be mounted on a cement pad so they don’t run away and will be accompanied by a plaque with the name of the bulldog, its artist and sponsor.

On Sept. 10, Bulldogs Unleashed will hold a live auction and reception at the Fox Valley Country Club to auction off many of the bulldogs. Tickets for the auction are $75 with proceeds going to benefit the Batavia Library Foundation, Batavia Parks and the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence.

For more information about Bulldogs Unleashed, go to bulldogsunleashed.com.