Portuguese Artist Bordalo II to Craft Iconic Rooster Sculpture from Recycled Trash in New Bedford

Portuguese street artist Bordalo II is set to unveil a striking new sculpture, “Plastic Rooster,” in downtown New Bedford. This unique piece, made entirely from recycled materials, aims to highlight environmental issues and celebrate the city’s rich Portuguese heritage.

Key Takeaways

Bordalo II will create a rooster sculpture from repurposed waste materials.
The sculpture will be unveiled on June 14 at the New Bedford YMCA.
The project is part of the “TRANSFORM: Reduce, Revive, Reimagine” public art series by DATMA.
Local students and landfill management departments are involved in the creation process.
The sculpture will be on display through 2029.

The Sculpture and Its Significance

The “Plastic Rooster” will be a vibrant, 12-foot-long, 9-foot-wide, and 15-foot-tall sculpture made from discarded materials sourced from the SouthCoast region. The rooster, a symbol of Portugal, was chosen to resonate with New Bedford’s significant Portuguese-American community. Bordalo II, known for his environmental art, aims to use this piece to draw attention to issues of excessive consumption and waste.

Community Involvement

Bordalo II is collaborating with local landfill management departments and 11th-grade Metal Fabrication students from the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. This partnership not only enriches the students’ educational experience but also fosters a sense of community involvement and environmental responsibility.

Artist’s Vision

Bordalo II, whose real name is Artur Bordalo, has been using art to express his environmental and social concerns since a young age. He believes that human behavior, characterized by excessive consumption and a lack of recycling, poses a significant threat to the planet. Through his art, he hopes to inspire a change in these behaviors.

Unveiling and Public Programs

The “Plastic Rooster” will be unveiled on June 14 at the New Bedford YMCA. The event will include a conversation with Bordalo II about his creative process, a reading by New Bedford’s Poet Laureate, and a performance by the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. Following the unveiling, a curator-led walking tour of DATMA’s newest public art exhibition will take place.

Additional Events

DATMA will host various free public programs throughout the summer, including:

The Art of Technology: Exploring Transformative Innovations of the SouthCoast: A photography exhibition showcasing regional innovations in sustainable energy.
Curators Tour: ‘Iterations’ at New Bedford Free Public Library: A tour examining the transformative nature of art.
DATMA Design Day presents “WindWorks”: A hands-on workshop about wind energy.
DATMA Design Day presents “Trash Transformed: Eco-Art Workshop”: A creative workshop focused on recycling and waste reduction.

For more details on these events, visit DATMA’s website.