THIS JUST IN: A swarm of giant metal bugs have invaded Buttonwood Park in New Bedford!
Buttonwood Park officials are urging the public not to panic as a swarm of giant bugs prepares to invade the park this summer. Fortunately, these oversized creatures are friendly.
“Bug Out” is a playful public art project led by DATMA in partnership with Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School, where more than 40 local teens spent the semester designing and fabricating a series of large-scale insects—and one snail—sculptures from recycled metal.
FIND THE BUGS AT THE PARK! Saturday, June 6th, park visitors will find brightly colored bugs swarming in the grassy rotary just out front of the Buttonwood Zoo main entrance located, 425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford, MA 02740. Free parking and bike racks available to the public. See the full selection of species by exploring the walking path through the park where you’ll discover several bugs making habitat on the lamp posts.
Meet the bugs:
Large Ant #1
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Small Ant #1
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Pill Bug / Roly-Poly (Armadillidium Vulgare)
Student lead:
Scott Cardin
Small Ant #2
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Eastern Whitelip Snail
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Small Ant #3
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Small Ant #4
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Medium Ant #1
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Large Ant #2
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Dung Beetle
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent Painted by: Landen Furtado and Brayden Mora of GNBVTHS Auto body & Collision Dept.
Hummingbird Moth
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Medium Ant #2
Student lead:
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Student team: Aaliya Chase, Alexis Ferreira, Landon Florent
Preying Mantis
To be installed Spring 2027
Student lead:
Landyn Cananzey
Student team:
Austin Rymszewicz, Liam Stevenson
Painted by: Landen Furtado and Brayden Mora of GNBVTHS Auto body & Collision Dept.
BUG BAIT: the hot dog
Check out this backstory....
What’s causing all these bugs to invade the park!?? Someone dropped a half eaten hotdog…
This element was the idea of Mr. Flowers, realized into a larger-than-life hotdog by rockstar student Denisse Alvarez Figaro. Painted by: Landen Furtado and Brayden Mora of GNBVTHS Auto body & Collision Dept.
Contributing Student Artists:
Thank you to the 40+ teen artists from Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School who contributed their creative talents to BUG OUT!
Aaliyah Chase
Abelino S. Morente
Aiden Bellovance
Alexis Ferreira
Anas Sellami
Andrew McCarty
Austin Rymszewicz
Brayden Mora
Camryn Cobb
Christopher Ben-David
Daejon Conceicao
Daniela Alvarado
Denisse Alvarez Figaro
Dracen Franco
Drew Bachaud
Ella Whitlow
Ethan DaSilva
Fletcher Greenspan
Gavin Pacheco
Genesis Avila Moreno
Harrison Camille
Joshua Martinez
Josue Santos Martinez
Kevin Rivas
Landon Florent
Landen Furtado
Landyn Cananzey
Leah Bonia
Liam Stevenson
Logan Gomes
Mauro Gomes
Nghia Nguyen
Nilson Spinola Monteiro
Noah Carlos
Noah Hook
Peyton West
Richard Cornell
Scott Cardin Jr
Sergio Sam
Seth Nielson
Vicky Roberts Gomes
Teen-led creative process
Local youth designed and produced a series of 14 oversized, large-scale, colorful bug sculptures fabricated from recycled metal objects to be permanently installed at historic Buttonwood Park for public enjoyment. DATMA partnered with the Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School, GNBVT, Metal/ Fabrication students. The designs process, sculpture production, and installation will had regular check-ins with various stakeholders including New Bedford Parks & Rec, the Friends of Buttonwood Park, and the Department of Public Infrastructure.
This public art project is a continuation of “DATMA in the Classroom” programs that give students first-hand learning opportunities in the art-making process with actual civic partnerships, professional artist experiences, and completed semi-permanent artworks.
Building the bugs
The project provides student participants with:
- Practice building 21st century skills: collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking;
- Impactful opportunity to connect and create with an important local artist;
- Education & empowerment of youth to learn about and engage with public spaces;
- Discussions / practices centered on environmental benefits of recycling, while raising awareness about consumption.
Project Mentors
BUG OUT would never have been possible without the valiant efforts of Voc Tech Faculty
Stephen Flowers
Welding and Fabrication Dept. Head
Ray Batalon
Welding and Fabrication Dept. Faculty
Originally from Plainville, MA, Mr. Raymond Batalon, is a Welding and Fabrication teacher at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School primarily focusing on sophomore level students. Batalon is a husband, a father, and a twelve year military veteran with four years ship building and seven years experience in the Ironworking field. He worked with DATMA to oversee the design concepts and fabrication of the 2026 public art project called, “Bug Out” which resulted in a series of giant, colorful metal bugs installed at New Bedford’s historic Buttonwood Park. Batalon says about his time working with his students on the recent “Bug Out” project, “I am endlessly impressed with the creativity of these students. Their hard work and humor shows in the sculptures that are sure to bring joy to park visitors.”
Professional artist visits
DATMA enlisted local sculptors to support students’ ideation process by sharing their creative reuse sculptures. Visiting artists included:
Chuck Hauck: Lead artist & mentor. Originally from Toledo, Hauck moved to New Bedford in 1970 earning his BFA in Sculpture from Swain School of Design in 1981. A founding member of Gallery X, he has been a driving force in the city’s creative community for five decades, remaining deeply committed to art as a form of community building, while mentoring emerging artists that contribute to our rich cultural heritage.
Johnny McCoy: Boston area artist practicing Painting, sculpture, installation, photography and new creative paths. McCoy’s work includes direct examples of welding and creating sculpture with upcycled metal and has previously collaborated with the projects lead artist mentor, Chuck Hauck.
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BUG OUT is made possible by:
This “DATMA In the Classroom” program is supported by the New Bedford Economic Development Council’s New Bedford Creative grant program called, Wicked Cool Places. Defining staffing and artistic direction support, such as artist visits, DATMA’s education contributions, project management, countless visits to metal recycling plants and more, were generously made possible by the Amelia Peabody Foundation, Bristol County Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, the William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust, BayCoast Bank, Lanagan & Co Inc., the Massachusetts Cultural Council New Bedford LCC, and Servedwell Hospitality. Thank you to our generous supporters who believe in investing in the arts. Every dollar of support has been instrumental to making this exhibition a success.
Thank you to our Contributing Partners:
City of New Bedford, AllMetals, the Buttonwood Zoo, the Friends of Buttonwood, The Greater New Bedford Garden Club, Powder Pro, New Bedford Free Public Library, and a special thanks to our most dedicated educational partner— the Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School (GNBVTHS) & the Metal/ Fabrication Department faculty and very talented students!
To further your exploration of the area’s cultural offerings, New Bedford’s Office of Tourism, EXPLORE NEW BEDFORD, is a critical department for the arts & culture community and can direct you to local events and more.