This should be the last week of the Charlotte SHOUT! Festival. But the festival of diversity and creativity was postponed for the second year in a row because of the pandemic. There is a pretty big consolation prize, however – a dozen of them even floppy ears.
“Intrude,” a public art installation of 12 large, inflatable rabbits that glow at night, came to life on Sunday in a field across from First Ward Park in Uptown, just off East Eighth Street.
“It was really fun,” said Bree Stallings, director of artistic experiences at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. “Probably over 600 people came the first night before we really announced it – while the rest of the rabbits were still being blown up.”
When the festival returned in 2019 after a 10 year break, “Intrude” was one of the most popular attractions. Blumenthal is the main sponsor of the festival and had the installation for 2021 at SHOUT! was canceled.
“It had a great response,” said Stallings. “It got a lot of people out, and there is a lot of joy when people see large format works of art – especially things that light up. And it really ignites the inner child and creates space for a moment of play across generations. “
Now the bunnies are back, but this time there are more.
The installation was created by the Australian artist Amanda Parer. “Intrude” comes in all shapes and sizes – the Parer Studio site shows options from small (aka pony) to XXL (aka some houses). And they have toured cities all over the world including Rome, Shanghai and Mexico City.
According to the studio, “penetration” is meant literally. The rabbits “invade” their host towns, alluding to how rabbits were introduced to Australia in the 19th century and have become an invasive species. They actually wreaked some ecological havoc there and harmed native species and crops, reports National Geographic.
But bunnies are cute too.
“‘Intrude’ deliberately relies on this cute image paired with a strong visual humor to lure the audience into the artwork, only to reveal the more serious environmental messages that form the basis of the work,” says Parer Studio on its website. “They are huge, the size relates to the ‘elephant in the room’, the problem of how our influence on nature is large and visible, but nevertheless chosen to be ignored.”
The “Intrude” bunnies are definitely too big to ignore when you’re near First Ward Park. The largest is just over 35 meters high.
“There’s something about the size and attraction of these things that makes people get out of their cars, run across the field and raise their arms to take a picture,” Stallings said.
Elizabeth Palmisano and Krystle Baller were so excited to learn the Bunnies were coming back that they were getting married right before their very eyes. The couple had only just started dating in 2019 when they went to SHOUT! Festival – and there they say that they fell in love. “Intrude” played a huge role in these memories, and the couple’s original wedding plans were disrupted by the pandemic.
Breeding stallions
Elizabeth Palmisano and Krystle Baller got married on September 29th in front of the giant bunny “Intrude” near First Ward Park in Uptown Charlotte.
When they found out the bunnies were coming back, they had a lightning wedding.
“Children and adults ran around the rabbits, just played and didn’t take themselves too seriously,” said Palmisano. “And I think that’s a very special kind of magic, and I really wanted the room we got married in to feel as magical as our relationship feels.”
You tied the knot on Wednesday evening. The moment was what she expected.
“There were so many random people out there and everyone was just smiling from ear to ear and it was really cool,” Baller said. “… It was just great for strangers to perform and see a public declaration of love.”
Stop by in the morning and you will see families with young children strolling through the installation and taking photos. The rabbits glow at night, and Charlotte’s skyline lights up behind them.
The visit to “Intrude” is free and open until October 12th from 10:00 am to midnight.
It’s worth noting that there are a few safety rules for the giant rabbits – common sense things like not hitting them, jumping on them, or trying to crawl under them. As the “rabbit rules” put on a sign during installation, “treat them like real rabbits”.
Especially the one the size of a 3 story house.
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Another thing: For SHOUT! two more public art installations are planned. that you can see now. Luke Jerram’s “GAIA” is a 22-foot-diameter representation of the earth that hangs in Founders Hall on North Tryon Street. It’s coming down tomorrow. Made up of poetry and statements, “Of Earth and Sky” is scattered around Uptown and will air through October 31st.
