In late July, 6 big-beautiful-bamboo bird sculptures “landed” at the 33-acre Blithewold estate in Bristol, Rhode Island. The avian inspired works of art are the creations of The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein. This internationally known duo brought their shared love of the natural world, and birds especially, together by creating these avian characters. The sculptures are made from bamboo and colorful up-cycled items and range in size from 15 to 30 feet tall and each has a story to tell.
The Myth Makers creative team visited Blithewold earlier this year and spent 2 days working with the Visitor Experience and Horticulture teams to select the perfect spots on the property to install the sculptures. That early planning allowed everyone to move quickly when the surprise news revealed that there was a rare opportunity to have the sculptures this summer instead of next. This week they literally hit the ground running, walking, digging and settling these new friends into place. Now everything is ready to share the Big Beautiful Bamboo Birds at Blithewold with visitors!
“From the start we found that Donna and Andy’s sculptures were the perfect fit for Blithewold. The scale of this property is perfect for these colossal pieces of art.” Says Tree Callanan, Director of Museum Operations and Communications “Looking out at the Sandhill Crane from afar, you’d never guess it was well over 30 feet tall. We love that its height is such a surprise once you get right up to it. Each bird is made from bamboo. We have a beautiful stand of bamboo which is a huge draw for visitors. And as part of this exhibit there is a hidden surprise inside the Bamboo Grove waiting to delight visitors!”
Blithewold is open:
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 – 4 pm, Sunday 10 – 3 pm
Regular admission rates apply.
Your admission fee is for the whole day giving you an open invitation and plenty of time to visit the manor home, enjoy the gardens, and arboretum.
