Art Exhibit Underway At Lakeshore State Park In Milwaukee

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the installation is complete on the first-ever temporary public art project at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee. The flock of swallow sculptures titled "REbirth" is sponsored by the Milwaukee-based Black Box Fund in partnership with the Friends of Lakeshore State Park (FLSP).

Sculpted by the artistic movement Cracking Art, "REbirth" features 22 5-foot-tall, brightly colored swallows made of "regenerable" plastic. Cracking Art calls the plastic "regenerable" because each bird is crafted from re-purposed plastic and will subsequently be turned into another iteration of its art.

Cracking Art, whose anonymous members are scattered around Europe, derives its name from catalytic cracking, a process that converts crude oil into plastic. Through its art installation, the group aims to "create a sense of wonder that can bring pleasure while highlighting the overwhelming presence of plastic in our lives."

Lakeshore State Park is adjacent to the Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds and Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. The park is an urban oasis offering a small beach and accessible paved trails that link to Milwaukee's other lakefront parks and the Hank Aaron State Trail. The park provides excellent views of the city and Lake Michigan.

More information about "REbirth" is available on the Black Box Fund's website. To learn more about Lakeshore State Park, visit the DNR's Lakeshore State Park webpage.