Pig Mania

The city that once shunned its Porkopolis nickname and hog-butchering past is turning sentimental about its porcine past. Dozens of artist-designed fiberglass pigs hit the streets this month, in time for the second annual Flying Pig Marathon this Sunday. In all, residents can look forward to 360 fiberglass pigs on the streets, in parks and in building lobbies during the Big Pig Gig art project that runs into October. The idea came from a 1998 public art project in Zurich, Switzerland, which featured more than 800 decorated fiberglass cows. It was mimicked in Chicago last year with “Cows on Parade.”