The Strandbeests have taken over City Hall Plaza
They come in peace. And pieces.
Dutch artist Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests made a stop at City Hall Plaza today as part of their promotional tour before the Peabody Essex Museum exhibit opens September 19. Just before noon, two sneak peek-size creations were uncrated from a moving van, assembled, and walked by PEM staff.
“My kids and I were watching videos of these on the beach earlier this morning, and now it’s really cool to see them in an urban setting,’’ said Emily Silet, 37, of Cambridge.
Silet, who is also the head of Educational Exhibitions at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, added, “Boston’s done a really good job at bringing public art to the people this summer with the projects on the Greenway and the Islands. It’s great to see contemporary art everywhere you go.’’
These Strandbeests, which were smaller versions of their 42-foot-long, wind-powered counterparts, couldn’t move without their handlers, but still solicited cheers and a sea of cell phones from the crowd.
“I’ve been researching these things online since high school, but I never thought I’d have the chance to see them in person,’’ said Song Kang, 21, of Providence.
“I’ve been seeing documentaries on them for a couple of years,’’ continued Sasha Pacek, 22, also of Providence. “They showed them to us in art school.’’
The multi-legged kinetic sculptures visited Crane Beach in Ipswich last weekend and will take a second walk down the Rose Kennedy Greenway from 4:30-7 p.m. this evening. They’ll then stop by the MIT Media Lab on September 10.
Jansen’s PVC-pipe sculptures have “muscles,’’ “brains,’’ and “stomachs’’ that allow for them to move and store energy, the larger versions to be on display at PEM will graze and interact with visitors, powered solely by the wind. But is it jarring to see these creatures take over downtown?
“Honestly, I think they’re beautiful,’’ said Pacek.
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