Dogs to Dollars
Leader photos by Caleb Daniel
Bidders showed up Thursday night at the Davison Athletics Complex on the campus of Louisiana Tech for the Ruston Cultural District’s Bulldog Project Auction. Above, attendees participate in the Puppy Project silent auction.
Mellie and Corbin Turpin of Turpin Orthodontics were the successful high bidders for the “ Everybody Loves Breakfast” bulldog statue, which had previously stood at Cook Park.
The big spender of the night was Hunt, Guillot & Associates who won the “Star Stuff” bulldog with an $18,500 bid. Representing the company and signing the check is Senior Vice President Jay Guillot as Tori Davis looks on.
Canines became cash Thursday night at the Davison Athletics Complex. Lots of cash.
The Ruston Cultural District’s Bulldog Project completed its four-year journey as seven of the fiberglass bulldog statues-turned-works-of-art were auctioned off to community members looking to give them a new home.
The event raised $71,760 for the cultural district, which promotes the arts in downtown Ruston and plans to put the funds toward more events and projects.
“I think the word of the day is ‘wow,’” RCD President Amy Stegall said. “We were wowed by the support, the number of people who attended the event, and the money we raised. It exceeded all of our expectations. We are just thrilled.”
The three-foot-tall dogs on five hundred pound bases have stood guard at notable public locations across the Ruston community since the fall of 2018. While some of their new destinations are still being finalized, each of them will continue to be displayed in public access for at least the next two years.
Rosy Bromell, for example, won the fruitful “Farmers Market” bulldog that has graced the lawn of Ruston’s City Hall. Immediately after the winning bid, Bromell pledged to bring the dog to — the Ruston Farmers Market, of course.
The biggest seller was “Star Stuff,” the space-themed bulldog originally located at Railroad Park. The statue wrapped up the night by going for $18,500 to Hunt, Guillot & Associates.
The large statues made up the bulk of the event’s proceeds, but 20 miniature designs were also sold off in a silent auction as the second wave of the “Puppy Project.”
“People can definitely expect another Puppy Project in the near future,” Stegall said.
As for another round of the Bulldog Project itself, Stegall said it’s a possibility, but the RCD board wants to get back to the table and review their project options first.
“We want to emphasize the value of public art and what it brings to the community,” she said. “Making that accessible to everyone is an important part of our goals. We appreciate businesses who have seen the value of that and want to help us continue that for the whole community.”
