Photo courtesy of Blithewold/Cerio Communications.
The “Big Beautiful Bamboo Birds” exhibition at Blithewold Mansion is causing a stir and combines art and engagement with a bird attraction that is second to none!
International artist duo Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, known as Myth Makers, chose Blithewold as the home for six bamboo bird sculptures, each towering over visitors at up to nine metres in height. Made entirely from recycled material, the flock of bamboo birds are scattered throughout Blithewold’s sprawling gardens and groves.
Dodson and Moerlein bonded over their shared love of nature and the world around them. Since 2010, the pair have completed more than fifty projects and received national and international recognition for their giant bamboo attractions. After visiting Blithewold and spending two days with the visitor experience and horticulture teams, the Myth Makers received exciting news: instead of waiting until 2025, their birds would land in Bristol a season earlier than planned.
“From the beginning, we felt that Donna and Andy’s sculptures were a perfect fit for Blithewold,” says Tree Callanan, the estate’s director of museum operations and communications. “The estate’s vastness provides the ideal setting for these colossal works of art.”
Despite their gigantic scale, these incredible works are temporary in nature, according to the Myth Makers. Each bird is site-specific to the local audience and will only last three to five years due to the recycled materials. The bamboo art will slowly wear down during its time in Blithewold and its remains will be returned to the planet. This art is a symbol of natural life cycles and will mark a memorable chapter in the lives of Rhode Islanders who get to experience this truly once-in-a-lifetime event.
The team chose a specific position for each of the six birds and ensured that the surrounding landscape complemented the shapes and colors captured in each sculpture. The spectacle opened to the public at the end of July.
Upon entering the visitor center, the first thing that greets visitors is a 15-foot Bluebird. Other bamboo birds to look for include an owl, sandhill crane, and other exciting species.
Can’t make it to Blithewold this summer? Don’t worry – these birds don’t fly south until August 2025 and can’t wait to spend the holidays at such a festive property!
Blithewold is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Regular admission prices apply, starting at $22 per person. For more information, visit blithewold.org.
