Cavorting Critters, Public sculpture on Brady Street, Milwaukee, United States
Cavorting Critters is a public art installation on Brady Street featuring two large animal figures - a blue deer and a red river rat constructed from steel, solder, plastic, and enamel paint. The sculptures occupy a corner across from the Milwaukee River, transforming a former municipal pump station into an outdoor display.
The artworks were created in 2002 by Bill Reid after the Brady Street Association launched an art initiative to improve the neighborhood. This installation was part of a broader effort to transform industrial structures into community gathering spaces through art.
The figures show Milwaukee's relationship with its natural surroundings, representing how the river and local wildlife appear in the city's artistic vision. The deer and rat are creatures that residents notice when passing by, bringing color and local character to the neighborhood.
The installation is located at the corner of Brady and Holton Streets and is easy to reach on foot as it sits directly on a busy pedestrian path. The surrounding area has restaurants and shops, making it a natural stopping point when exploring the neighborhood.
The artist used an oxyacetylene cutting technique to join different materials and create detailed animal forms with distinctive craftsmanship. This method gives the figures an unexpected texture and structure that reveals itself upon close examination.
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