Pepperjack art sandwiches in town residents

Associated Press

POWELL, Wyo. — Cosimo Cavallaro has a vision — and it involves cheese. Tons and tons of cheese, in fact. Enough cheese to blanket a house.

The New York artist began spraying pepperjack cheese in the bedroom of a vacant home Tuesday. By the time he’s done, 10,000 pounds of cheese will cover the home, inside and out.

Welcome to the Wyoming Cheese House, the latest project for an artist who lays claim to having covered a hotel room and the model Twiggy in cheese. Now he’s set his sights on a bigger target.

Cavallaro explains his interest in cheese this way: "It’s milk. It’s life."

Sharon Earhart, executive director of the Powell Chamber of Commerce, sees the project as fun, a bit silly and reason enough for a parade. She’s involved in "Cheesefest" scheduled Oct. 27, which will feature a parade and a cheese king and queen.

Other residents are, well, cheesed.

Jim Montoya, a neighbor, sees it as a nuisance that will attract not only mice and birds but also more people to what he says is a normally quiet neighborhood.

And Bob Mueller sees the project as a mistake that could make this northern Wyoming farming community of 5,373 a laughingstock.

Besides, he said, "I don’t consider painting something with food art."

With some help, Cavallaro began Tuesday to melt down the cheese. He and his helpers cut off chunks — whitish-yellow and dotted with red and green — which were placed in barrels surrounded by heated water.

Cavallaro said he planned to use about 10,000 pounds of cheese, which aides said was not suitable to eat.

A pump sent the warmed cheese through a hose, spurting it into the house. As it hit the brown walls, floral-print curtain and furniture, the cheese gave off a warm, pleasant aroma.

Cavallaro’s vision through art, he said, "is beauty."

Mayor Jim Milburn was one of a number of people who stopped for a peek. "It looks like a work in progress," he said. "I didn’t really have a concept of what to expect. The color gives it a nice texture."

Earhart said Cavallaro’s project and resulting media coverage gives city leaders a chance to showcase Powell as a possible attraction for families and new businesses.

Demolition of the house, which has been vacant for some time, is scheduled to begin about Nov. 1, Milburn said.

That may not be soon enough for Montoya. "It sure doesn’t look like art, and I have a feeling it’s going to smell," he said. It may not have been so bad, he said, "if it was not 12 feet from my bed."

Cosimo Cavallaro: www.cosimocavallaro.com

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.