Opening of David Rogers’ Big Bugs

What happens when you recreate the insects all around us on
a gargantuan scale using all natural materials? You have Big Bugs.

Sculptor David Rogers creates insects such as 25-foot long
ants and dragonflies with 17-foot wingspans using various combinations of whole
trees, cut green saplings, dry branches, and other forest materials. All wood
is found dead or harvested sustainably. The inherent uniqueness of these
materials, their different shapes, colors and textures provide these sculptures
with their character, definition and a sense of motion. The effect is a role
reversal of dimension and perception.

These over-sized statues were inspired years ago by the
sight of a sapling bent over by a winter storm. “It reminded me of a dinosaur’s
backbone,” Rogers says, “so I started collecting branches and twigs and
fashioned a dinosaur.” The leap to insects was a small one. “Insects play this
vital role in a garden but are unnoticed, so I put them on such a large scale
that you can’t help but notice them.”

The Big Bugs at Heritage will include: three ants, a
dragonfly and a damselfly, an assassin bug, a praying mantis, a spider on a web,
a ladybug and a grasshopper, all placed in interesting landscape settings
throughout the grounds.