Bon's Eye Marketing
frog at airlie
Dancing, mowing, fishing and painting are common pastimes during the warmer months. And visitors to Airlie will see these actions – and more -- performed by none other than large frogs. Ribbit the Exhibit, a collection of copper sculptures by Wilmington-based artist Andy Cobb, will do their thing throughout the Gardens until August 18, 2013.
With an emphasis on nature and its unique aura, Airlie Gardens is the perfect fit for such a whimsical exhibit, according to the Gardens’ staff. Tara Duckworth, Parks and Gardens Director for New Hanover County, said she is most looking forward to offering something different and new to guests.
“Although the beautiful landscape is reason enough for visitors to spend their day at Airlie, this wonderful exhibit offers even more to see and enjoy throughout the Gardens,” Duckworth said. “The sculptures call to both the young and young at heart- they are bound to make you smile.”
Ribbit the Exhibit consists of more than a dozen sculptures ranging in size from less than three feet to more than six feet tall. With a mixture of males and females, young and old, well-dressed and bare-skinned, the variety of frogs should please all who view their fanciful forms.
Guests can expect to stumble upon “Zenny” meditating on a lily pad, “Jeeves” wearing a tailcoat and holding a lantern, the Ultimate Horn Trio, and an assortment of other personified hoppers. The exhibit will be free with Garden admission and available for viewing during regular hours of operation.
“We are so excited to share with the community the amazing work of a local artist,” Duckworth said. “Our hope is that visitors will get the same sense of childhood imagination our staff did when they experience this exhibit.”
About the Artist:
Andy Cobb, a sculptor from Wilmington, North Carolina, has worked with copper for more than 15 years. He started out as a bird and fish sculptor creating realistic replicas. As his frog sculptures reveal, his style is now one of whimsy.