A Sculpture from The Great Elephant Migration (2021, Newport Cliffwalk)
In Newport, Rhode Island, sculpture and architecture have long lived side by side. Newport is a city renowned for its Gilded Age mansions and maritime charm, but also enjoys a rich and evolving history of public sculpture. Beyond the grandeur of its historic estates, Newport has, for centuries, embraced the idea of art as an accessible, communal experience, transforming its streets, parks, and waterfronts into expansive open-air galleries.
Fountain on the grounds of The Elms Mansion (Newport, RI)
The tradition of publicly displayed sculpture in Newport can be traced back to the city’s earliest days, though often in more modest forms like commemorative plaques and architectural embellishments, like pineapples over doorways. As Newport prospered and its cultural landscape matured, so too did the ambition of its public art. Historic figures and civic achievements found their permanent representation in bronze and stone, often gracing prominent squares and institutional grounds, reflecting the prevailing artistic tastes and societal values of their time. These early installations laid the groundwork for a city that valued artistic expression beyond the confines of private collections. Similarly, private estates like The Elms were frequently decorated with garden statuary and sculptural fountains.
Monumenta Event Displays
However, Newport’s public sculpture scene experienced a significant resurgence and redefinition in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, marked by initiatives that actively sought to integrate contemporary art into the urban fabric. One of the most impactful of these was Monumenta, a groundbreaking series of outdoor sculpture exhibitions that happened in 1975 at the Newport Preservation Society’s properties and elsewhere. Monumenta brought monumental works by internationally acclaimed artists like Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Beverly Pepper, and Christo to Newport, transforming the sprawling lawns of Bellevue Avenue Mansions into dramatic showcase for modern sculpture. This exhibition challenged both traditional notions of art display, inviting visitors to engage with large-scale works in both historical and breathtaking natural settings. Monumenta not only elevated Newport’s profile in the art world but also introduced a new generation of residents and tourists to the power and presence of contemporary art in unexpected places.
The Great Elephant Migration in 2021 (Newport, RI)
In 2021, the city experienced another captivating public art phenomenon with The Great Elephant Migration. This whimsical and thought-provoking installation, saw dozens of life-sized, intricate elephant sculptures strategically placed throughout the city. Each elephant, created by African artists from invasive reeds, was modelled on an actual elephant. As a group, the sculptures carried a powerful message about wildlife conservation and the plight of endangered species. Copies of each of the elephant sculptures were available for sale during the exhibition process and many residents choose to add elephant sculptures to their properties and estates. Before the Great Elephant Migration moved on to its next destination, the assemblage was more than just a public Newport art exhibit; it was a city-wide scavenger hunt, a community engagement project, and a potent educational tool. It drew immense public participation, encouraging exploration of different neighborhoods and sparked countless conversations about art, nature, and social responsibility.
Permanently placed Mother & Baby Elephant Sculpture (Newport, RI)
For the City of Newport’s contribution in facilitating the exhibition, the organizers gifted a mother and baby elephant sculpture to the community. These were placed in the park next to the public library as a beautiful, permanent addition to Newport’s collection of public sculpture.
If you would like your next New England project to be a work of art, reach out to A4 Architecture, which has been selected as the best architectural firm in Newport County many times, and we will be pleased to discuss your project goals with you. We look forward to being in communication soon.
Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP, is a historian, educator, author, and practicing architect living and working in Newport for A4 Architecture and is Founding Chairman of the Newport Architectural Forum. He holds honors degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale, Cambridge, and Columbia Universities, and teaches in the Circle of Scholars program at Salve Regina.