Art Installations
Since 2018, we’ve been revitalizing and enhancing Charlestown’s public open spaces by cultivating and bringing public art into the Navy Yard. Please join us for our exciting upcoming installations!
Current/Past Art Installations
Experience the Bridge of Joy
Experience the Bridge of Joy, a public art installation bringing large, joyful sculptures to Charlestown.
Installed to connect both sides of the Tobin Bridge—long a dividing line within the neighborhood—these three bronze works by internationally renowned artists Gillie and Marc were created to surprise, delight, and symbolically deepen Charlestown’s connection to the Navy Yard, and to each other as a community.
This project is presented by Navy Yard Garden & Art, with generous support from community sponsors and civic partners.
📅 Grand Opening Event Details – August 6, 2025
Meet the Sculptures
🐙 The Arms of Friendship
📍 Dry Dock 2, between the two large anchors
“This sculpture invites people to experience true awe... It cradles some of our planet’s most iconic and endangered creatures within its eight limbs.” — Gillie and Marc
This 36-foot-long, 7-ton bronze octopus—The Arms of Friendship—is the centerpiece. The sculpture holds endangered animals in each of its limbs, a powerful symbol of interconnection and care.
Crafted with meticulous detail and immense scale, this piece reflects the artists’ mission to enchant, educate, and inspire action for wildlife conservation.
Please enjoy up close, but do not climb.
🐘 The Wild Table of Love
📍 Under the Tobin Bridge at Lowney Way
“A symbolic banquet in bronze, where the table is set for both humans and animals.” — Gillie and Marc
Rabbitwoman and Dogman host a whimsical dinner party seated alongside ten endangered animals. Two open seats invite the public to join the table, offering a joyful moment of connection, care, and shared presence.
🦛 The Hippo Was Hungry to Try New Things
📍 Shipyard Park on the brick plaza near the MBTA ferry
“This sculptural artwork represents a poignant conversation between a hippo and Rabbitwoman… sharing her concerns over coffee and watermelons.” — Gillie and Marc
This sculpture reflects on habitat loss and the importance of empathy, featuring a quiet coffee moment between Rabbitwoman and her hippo friend. It’s a space to pause, sit, and reflect on our relationship with the natural world.
🎨 About the Artists
Gillie and Marc are a husband-and-wife artist duo known for creating large-scale public sculptures that invite connection, play, and reflection. Their work often features two characters—Rabbitwoman and Dogman—who represent diversity, compassion, and a deep respect for the natural world.
Through Bridge of Joy, the artists continue their mission of using public art to spark conversation and bring people together. Each sculpture invites a sense of connection and wonder, encouraging moments of pause, reflection, and discovery.
Their sculptures appear in public spaces around the world—including parks, city squares, and waterfronts—always blending storytelling and sculpture to create joyful moments in everyday life.
Learn more about Gillie & Marc
Keep Exploring
Follow @NavyYardGarden on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and launch event details.
This installation is part of our mission to bring world-class public art into the everyday lives of Charlestown residents and visitors. Donate here to support future projects.
Experimenta el Puente de la Alegría
📅 Viernes, 1 de agosto de 2025 – Sábado, 31 de julio de 2027
Experimenta el Puente de la Alegría (Bridge of Joy), una instalación de arte público que trae esculturas grandes y alegres a Charlestown.
Instaladas para conectar ambos lados del puente Tobin—una línea divisoria histórica dentro del vecindario—estas tres esculturas de bronce, creadas por los reconocidos artistas internacionales Gillie y Marc, fueron diseñadas para sorprender, encantar y profundizar simbólicamente la conexión de Charlestown con el Navy Yard y entre sí como comunidad.
Este proyecto es presentado por Navy Yard Garden & Art, con el generoso apoyo de patrocinadores comunitarios y socios cívicos.
📅 Detalles del evento de inauguración – 6 de agosto de 2025
🌐 English version of this page here
Conoce las Esculturas
🐙 Los Brazos de la Amistad
📍 Dry Dock 2, entre las dos grandes anclas
“Esta escultura invita a las personas a experimentar un verdadero asombro... Acuna a algunas de las criaturas más icónicas y en peligro de nuestro planeta entre sus ocho extremidades.” — Gillie y Marc
Este pulpo de bronce de 11 metros de largo y 7 toneladas—Los Brazos de la Amistad—es la pieza central. La escultura sostiene animales en peligro de extinción en cada uno de sus brazos, un poderoso símbolo de interconexión y cuidado.
Creada con un nivel meticuloso de detalle y a una escala impresionante, esta obra refleja la misión de los artistas de encantar, educar e inspirar acción en favor de la conservación de la vida silvestre.
Por favor, disfrútela de cerca, pero no se suba.
🐘 La Mesa Salvaje del Amor
📍 Bajo el puente Tobin en Lowney Way
“Un banquete simbólico en bronce, donde la mesa está puesta para humanos y animales.” — Gillie y Marc
Rabbitwoman y Dogman organizan una cena imaginativa junto a diez animales en peligro de extinción. Dos asientos vacíos invitan al público a unirse, ofreciendo un momento alegre de conexión, cuidado y convivencia compartida.
🦛 El Hipopótamo Tenía Hambre de Probar Cosas Nuevas
📍 Shipyard Park, en la plaza de ladrillo cerca del ferry de MBTA
“Esta obra escultórica representa una conversación conmovedora entre un hipopótamo y Rabbitwoman… compartiendo sus preocupaciones con café y sandía.” — Gillie y Marc
La escultura refleja la pérdida de hábitat y la importancia de la empatía, presentando un momento tranquilo entre Rabbitwoman y su amiga hipopótamo. Es un espacio para pausar, sentarse y reflexionar sobre nuestra relación con el mundo natural.
🎨 Sobre los Artistas
Gillie y Marc son una pareja de artistas reconocidos por crear esculturas públicas de gran escala que invitan a la conexión, el juego y la reflexión. Sus obras suelen incluir a dos personajes—Rabbitwoman y Dogman—que representan la diversidad, la compasión y el respeto por la naturaleza.
A través de Puente de la Alegría, continúan su misión de utilizar el arte público para generar conversación y unir a las personas. Cada escultura despierta un sentido de conexión y maravilla, alentando momentos de pausa, reflexión y descubrimiento.
Sus esculturas están presentes en espacios públicos de todo el mundo—incluidos parques, plazas y zonas costeras—siempre combinando narración visual y forma para crear momentos de alegría en la vida cotidiana.
🔗 Más información sobre Gillie y Marc
Sigue Explorando
Sigue a @NavyYardGarden en Instagram para ver actualizaciones, contenido detrás de cámaras y detalles del evento inaugural.
Esta instalación forma parte de nuestra misión de llevar arte público de clase mundial a la vida cotidiana de los residentes y visitantes de Charlestown. 💛 Haz una donación aquí para apoyar futuros proyectos.
Navy Yard Night Sky: The Myth of Nut
For her update of Navy Yard Night Sky, Brooklyn-based artist Sohaila Mosbeh was inspired by how similar Boston harbor is to Alexandria, Egypt, in terms of the colors of the sea and sky and the strong presence of historical artifacts. This similarity led her to center the piece with the Egyptian goddess of the sky Nut (pronounced "newt.") The goddess is represented by an oval shape and Mosbeh states that "Nut is dancing above the humans (i.e. us) below."
Of Many Minds by Michael Alfano
"Of Many Minds" is a 20 sculpture exhibit by artist Michael Alfano. The installation represents and highlights Alfano’s long standing passion to celebrate our differences through his art and includes sculptures spanning many years of his work, as well as new sculptures created specifically for this exhibit.
Navy Yard Night Sky: Inaugural Piece
Navy Yard Night Sky is a series of four large mesh light panels that can be infinitely programmed for color, movement, and brightness. it is located on the second floor of a WW2-era "ghost" building in Shipyard Park.
WOW Wind on Water by Lyman Whitaker
WOW, Wind on Water, consists of kinetic sculptures created by nationally recognized sculptor Lyman Whitaker. The thirty-two wind sculptures, of diverse heights and design, beautifully showcase our windy microclimate while delighting thousands of visitors, neighbors and friends who strolled along the Harbor Walk from Shipyard Park to Thomas Menino Park.
The Big Dog Show by Dale Rogers
Massachusetts sculptor Dale Roger’s whimsical and free public art exhibit The Big Dog Show featured twenty Cor-ten steel dogs measuring 8’ tall by 10’ long and weighing 500 pounds.
Support Us
Your tax-deductible contribution will help us revitalize and enhance the public open spaces within the Charlestown Navy Yard including Shipyard Park through planning, design, programming, and implementation for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
