This jolly giant gives a new meaning to “green.”
A year ago, he was nothing but an assortment of plastic water bottles scattered across Tarrant County — likely destined for a landfill or roadside. Now, he’s a 30-foot sculpture on display at the Arlington Museum of Art.
Composed of about 24,000 water bottles, visitors can view “The Giant Water Bottle Sculpture Project with Artist Willie Cole” for free until Oct. 15.
The Tarrant County Education Foundation commissioned the sculpture project to artist Willie Cole in 2023. The foundation wanted Cole to introduce his “Artcycling” philosophy — the repurposing of discarded materials into art — to Fort Worth public schools and community stakeholders.
Over the next few months, more than 1,000 families in Tarrant County helped gather materials for the sculpture, which was then assembled by about 300 students, teachers and community partners.
What: The Arlington Museum of Art’s showing of “The Giant Water Bottle Sculpture Project with Artist Willie Cole”
Where: 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington
When: Aug. 17-Oct. 15
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Price: Free, with tickets for other exhibitions available for purchase