HOWL for UWG is a public art benefit project that raises funds for the UWG Annual Fund Campaign. Beginning early October 2011, the art project has come a long way by featuring more than 32 submissions of howling wolves, which are selected to become life-size fiberglass replicas and placed across campus and among the community in the 2012 fall semester. Based after the “Cows on Parade” art project, each unique howling wolf represents a local artists’ depiction of the community and UWG working together.  The art project is headed by Clint Samples and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

“The project is going well,” Samples said. “The response from the community has been great.”

The goal of the project is to provide scholarships for students and a portion specifically dedicated to art majors.

Senior art education major, Breanna Ingle, believes the project can help students and the community.

“It’s a good way to raise money for scholarships and future students to represent the art department by getting everyone involved,” said Ingle.

Any student or community member can participate in the project to bring them both together to tie together the theme of UWG and the community.

Currently, the project is in need of donors to support the project and add to the UWG Annual Fund Campaign.

“We definitely need sponsors to get the project off the ground,” Samples said. “We have the artists on board and now it’s just a matter of securing sponsors for the wolves. Without sponsor help, the project is simply an idea.”

With support from UWG and the community the art project can help many students.  There are three different sponsorships available: $10,000 Alpha Wolf Sponsor, $5,000 Beta Wolf Sponsor, and $2,500 Omega Wolf Sponsor. To become a donor or sponsor, contact Bill Norris from UWG Alumni and Development or visit the project’s website at http://howlforuwg.com/sponsors.html.

On December 19, “Wolf-A-Day” was started to show the artists’ wolf drawings by University Marketing and Communications to UWG’s Facebook page. Samples hopes that followers will learn more about the project and want to get more involved.

“Seeing the comments and ‘likes’ is a great way to gauge interest in the project,” said Samples.

The representation of the project online gives students and the community the ability to stay connected and informed. Students can “like” the University of West Georgia on Facebook to see submissions and comment on their favorite.

An article was also published in the Times-Georgian on January 10 that stated “UWG begins community-wide art project,” and it described all the details in the project. The Carrollton Main Street Association has promoted HOWL for UWG on its Facebook page as well. The promotions for the project have nearly doubled since it began.

Throughout January and February, the goal is to secure sponsorships. The following months will be to start the fabrication of the fiberglass wolves and then distribute them to the artists and donors. The project has a tentative completion date for September/October 2012. For all information regarding the HOWL for UWG public art benefit project, visit www.howlforuwg.com.