Overview
- Organizers finished installing the herd in Back Bay and the display opens to the public on Saturday, Aug. 8, with a run into mid-September though outlets list either Sept. 13 or Sept. 18 as the end date.
- Each life-size sculpture was handcrafted by Indigenous artisans from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve using upcycled Lantana camara, an invasive shrub removed from protected areas.
- The touring project, launched in Newport in summer 2024, has raised about $1.4 million for coexistence work and continues to sell individual sculptures with proceeds designated to paired conservation groups.
- Local partners include the New England Aquarium, and organizers say the Boston installation is free, drawing large crowds and requiring around-the-clock security and city coordination.
- The exhibit links artisan livelihoods with conservation by turning a widespread invasive plant into public art and will move on from Boston to stops including Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Europe.