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 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 two parts of Charlestown divided by the Tobin Bridge—the three large bronze sculptures by internationally renowned artist Gillie and Marc are here in Boston through July 2027, with a goal to surprise, delight, and symbolically deepen connections within Charlestown by creating a Bridge of Joy.
This project is presented by Navy Yard Garden & Art, with generous support from community sponsors, civic partners and grant funds from the City of Boston Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.
Meet the Artists
Watch Gillie and Marc's video introducing their sculptures to the City of Boston.
First shown in August 2025 at the Grand Opening for the Bridge of Joy public art installation, this six-minute video provides a glimpse into life events that shaped Gillie and Marc's passion for educating the public through their art.
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.
Where
The Bridge of Joy is installed throughout the Charlestown Navy Yard along a short, walkable route near the waterfront.
For the most accurate location, enter “1 Shipyard Park, Charlestown Navy Yard” into your GPS. This brings you to the center of the neighborhood and close to all three sculptures.
Approximate Bridge of Joy sculpture locations
Transportation options:
By Car: Public parking is available at 197 Eighth Street Garage
By MBTA Bus: Take routes 92 or 93 to the Navy Yard
By Ferry: Boston Harbor City Cruises ferry from Long Wharf
By Subway: Take the Orange or Green Line to North Station, then walk or transfer to a bus
🎨 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
Experimente el Puente de la Alegría (Bridge of Joy), una instalación de arte público que trae grandes y alegres esculturas a Charlestown.
Instaladas para conectar dos partes de Charlestown divididas por el Puente Tobin, las tres grandes esculturas de bronce de los artistas de renombre internacional Gillie y Marc estarán en Boston hasta julio de 2027 con el objetivo de sorprender, deleitar y profundizar simbólicamente las conexiones dentro de Charlestown mediante la creación de un Puente de la Alegría.
Este proyecto es presentado por Navy Yard Garden & Art, con el generoso apoyo de patrocinadores comunitarios, colaboradores cívicos y fondos de subvención de la Oficina de Arte y Cultura de la Alcaldía de la Ciudad de Boston.
🌐 English version of this page here
Conoce a los artistas
Mira el video de Gillie y Marc (en inglés) presentando sus esculturas a la ciudad de Boston.
Mostrado por primera vez en agosto de 2025 en la gran inauguración de la instalación de arte público Puente de la Alegría, este video de seis minutos ofrece una mirada a los eventos de la vida que dieron forma a la pasión de Gillie y Marc por educar al público a través de su arte.
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.
Dónde
El Puente de la Alegría se encuentra en el Astillero Naval de Charlestown, a lo largo de una ruta corta y transitable cerca del paseo marítimo. Para obtener la ubicación más precisa, introduzca "1 Shipyard Park, Charlestown Navy Yard" en su GPS. Esto le llevará al centro del barrio, cerca de las tres esculturas.
Ubicación aproximada de las esculturas del Puente de la Alegría
Opciones de transporte:
En auto: Estacionamiento público disponible en 197 Eighth Street Garage
En autobús MBTA: Toma las rutas 92 o 93 hacia el Navy Yard
En ferry: Ferry de Boston Harbor City Cruises desde Long Wharf
En metro: Toma la línea naranja o verde hasta North Station, luego camina o transfiere a un autobús
🎨 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.
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.
