Luna Park Elephant @ MakerPark - full view

The Luna Park Elephant 

By Diane Matyas

An Outdoor Interactive Sculpture @ MakerPark 

Location: Thompson Street between Front & Bay St., Staten Island, NY 

Exhibition Dates: Opening July 10, 6-8pm, 2025 – June 2026

Endurance and color infuse the story of Alice, the elephant that escaped and swam from Coney Island to Staten Island across New York Harbor in June 1904. Visual artist Diane Matyas has created a new public sculpture based on her story. Installed high on a metal container, with the Verrazzano Bridge as a backdrop, the elephant’s movable silhouette extents to 10 feet, and allows visitors to move her like a puppet, as if swimming through the powerful currents  of Narrows.

By weaving history, shadow puppet movement, and colorful Sri Lankan inspired prints, Matyas presents a theme of hope, buoyancy and endurance- as symbolized by Alice and her swim.

Credits:

Photography: Michael McWeeney.

This project is supported with funding from the New York Department of Cultural Affairs Art Fund, and an artist residency at Maker Space NYC.