A dozen oversized Canada goose statues have landed in Cambridge, with local artists transforming the familiar birds into works of public art. The 12 fibreglass geese, each standing 4.5 feet tall, feature unique designs created by local artists and are installed at locations throughout the city as part of a community-wide scavenger hunt. “Five of the geese were revealed earlier this year in June as part of the Goose on the Grand event,” said Stephen Lavigne, the City of Cambridge’s supervisor of recreation, arts and culture. “And now seven more have been added to the flock and installed across the city.” The installations can be found near local landmarks, businesses and community spaces, including the Cambridge Farmers’ Market, the Gaslight District, libraries and parks. Lavigne said a range of community partners helped bring the project to life, including the Preston Business Improvement Area (BIA) and local businesses such as Water’s Edge. The initiative is intended to encourage residents and visitors to discover different parts of Cambridge, including areas they may not typically explore. “We wanted to bring people back down to the river, and we thought the perfect icon for bringing people down to the river would be a Canadian goose,” said Jeff Hunter, a member of the city’s placemaking working group. Each goose cost approximately $3,000, covering artist fees, materials and hardware to secure the statues in place. The project is funded through the city’s capital budget. Artists bring their own designs to the flock For the artists involved, the project offered an opportunity to share their work with the community in an unconventional way. Helen Turner said she was particularly excited to create a goose for the Cambridge Farmers’ Market, a place she grew up visiting. “I’ve been coming here on Saturdays with my mom since I was a little girl,” Turner said. “Connecting to the community aspect and tying it in was really special.” Another artist, Jessica Penney, said she welcomes the opportunity to make art accessible to people of all ages. “I’m somebody who is happy to share my work with everyone,” Penney said. “And if children want to jump on it, they can.” Could more geese be on the way? The project has already prompted questions about whether the flock could grow. Ingrid Talpak, director of the Fire Hall Museum, said people have been asking whether more geese could be added. “We’re always asked, ‘Are they going to be more geese?’ And that’s really exciting for us to know,” Talpak said. “We do want to continue this some way if we can.” For now, residents can visit the existing 12 installations across Cambridge. Unlike their real-life counterparts, the fibreglass geese will remain in place through the winter, giving people plenty of time to track down the flock.
