The Herd Of Sheffield public art project featured 58 painted fiberglass elephant sculptures auctioned off to support The Children’s Hospital Charity.
Heavy Metal
Elephants in my Sheffield? It’s more likely than you think… or at least it was, back in the summer of 2016. The massive (in more ways than one) public art project not only showcased a wealth of local art talent, it effectively announced to the world that Sheffield had evolved away from its gritty “City of Steel” past. These days, over 60 percent of the city’s total area is designated green space and and one-third of the city itself lies within the boundaries of the Peak District national park.
Steel Heals Tour
Now let’s be clear: we’re not quite at the point where endangered elephants can roam through Sheffield. That said, those verdant urban spaces made ideal stomping grounds for the Herd of Sheffield, a Wild in Art event conceived as a unique, fun way to benefit The Children’s Hospital Charity. For over three months in mid-2016, it seemed residents and visitors couldn’t swing a cat without hitting one of the 1.6m (5.25 ft) tall fiberglass elephant sculptures scattered throughout the city.
Oversized Canvases
We’re only featuring a few of the 58 individually and eclectically painted pachyderms – you can view the bulk (pun intended) of the designs at Flickr member Karen Roe‘s “Herd of Sheffield 2016” album. Today we’re featuring those painted by (from the top down) Caroline Greyling and Steve Millington, respectively, with more to see after the jump.
Ever wondered how animals view the Human Zoo? Check out Elephant GoPro Provides A Pachyderm’s POV!
