New Bedford’s Newest Art Sculpture Is a Giant 24-Foot Rooster Made From Recycled Plastic

New Bedford's Downtown District is set to welcome a spectacular new art installation: a 24-foot rooster made entirely of recycled plastics. This impressive sculpture, created by renowned Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo (known as Bordalo II) and his team, João Sobral and João Carvalho, will be unveiled on June 14th. The project is produced by the Massachusetts Design Art Technology Institute (DATMA) and represents a unique collaboration with the Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School (GNBVT).

The Making of the Rooster:

The journey to create this colossal rooster began months ago with a series of intricate preparations and collaborations:

March 21: Bordalo II held a Zoom call from Portugal to discuss technical standards for the project.
March 22: Fabrication began at GNBVT's Metal Fabrication Shop, with junior and senior welding students working on the structure.
April 30: Cage fabrication started in the school shop.
May 7: The project officially kicked off on Union Street in New Bedford.
May 29: Artists João Sobral and João Carvalho arrived in New Bedford to join Bordalo II and begin the installation process.

The rooster's structure consists of a steel tubing skeleton covered with a plywood skin, providing a robust frame for the recycled plastic pieces. This massive artwork involved 9,000 screws, 350 cuts, and 170 structural steel pieces provided by Mid-City Steel, which also contributed to the project’s cost. Chasse Industrial, a local company with expertise in welding and machinery, played a crucial role by raising the support structure with a crane. Additionally, a customized boat trailer was built to transport the initial 18-foot metallic structure, which will ultimately stand 24 feet tall.

Community Involvement and Support:

The project's success is due in large part to the community's support and involvement. The New Bedford YMCA, where the rooster will be displayed, along with the New Bedford DPI and the city of New Bedford, have been supportive throughout the five-year development period. The artists are currently seeking donations of large-scale colorful plastics, such as children’s playground pieces, barrels, and sandboxes, to complete the sculpture. These materials can be dropped off at the project site.

Educational Collaboration:

GNBVT’s involvement provided a valuable hands-on learning experience for students. Certified welding students from the seniors teamed up with the junior class to collaborate and weld the frame of the giant rooster. Steve Flowers, the shop instructor at GNBVT, expressed immense pride in his students:

“The maturity and teamwork they showed to truly bring the shop to move as one entity is where all the gold is hidden. We weld a lot of things and fix a lot of things, to see everyone coming together to work on something so big is incredible.”

The Opening Event:

The unveiling event and artist talk will take place on June 14th at 10:00 A.M. outside the New Bedford YMCA on Union Street. Amanda Hawkins, DATMA’s program manager and the project's producer, will be present along with the artists Bordalo II, João Sobral, and João Carvalho. This event will offer a unique opportunity for the public to learn more about the creative process and the significance of using recycled materials in art.

The giant rooster symbolizes the power of collaboration and creativity, transforming waste into a striking piece of public art. This project not only enhances New Bedford’s cultural landscape but also highlights the importance of sustainability and community engagement. Once again, Downtown New Bedford has been vibrantly transformed thanks to the arts.