NEW YORK CITY - #FREE HAPPY (FALL 2025)
Happy is not happy. Torn from her natural habitat and herd in Thailand as a baby, Happy has spent nearly 50 years in captivity at the Bronx Zoo. Like humans, elephants are deeply social animals—they don’t thrive in isolation. Alone, they suffer from loneliness, stress, and depression. We want to give Happy the life she deserves: freedom, companionship, and care in an elephant sanctuary where she can finally be with others of her kind. The Nonhuman Rights Project is fighting to secure legal rights for her, City Council Member Shahana Hanifand has introduced, Intro 213, a bill that would require that any entity in the city holding elephants captive relocate them to a facility that can meet their complex physical and psychological needs, and I’ve stepped up to help in my own way with the ...
#Free Happy Billboard Art Exhibit - Enter Your Art Now
In conjunction with SaveArtsSpace, I'm using New York City as a gallery by curating a show of #FreeHappy billboards all over the city. The only parameter is that the art features an elephant(s). It can also have people or other animals in it. We invite artists of all ages, styles, and talents to submit their artwork between September 22 and October 20, 2025 in order to be considered for the exhibition. This is an opportunity to have your work exhibited on billboard ad space in New York, NY.
There is no application fee as this public art exhibition. Selected artists will be announced after November 3, 2025. Public art will be installed December 1, 2025 in New York, NY, and will be on view for at least one month. Enter at SaveArtSpace.
And that's not all! Images of Happy will appear behind cages all over New York City. Massive banners will be installed on highway overpasses, fences, and on scaffolding. We'll be placing these behind chainlink fencing and metal bars symbolizing Happy's prison. We are also giving away window clings. Place them on car, storefront, or home windows (first floor barred windows are best). Removing these banners symbolically “frees” Happy—raising awareness of her captivity and advocating for her release. This street art project does not damage any property. The banners and clings can be easily removed!
In conjunction with SaveArtsSpace, I'm using New York City as a gallery by curating a show of #FreeHappy billboards all over the city. The only parameter is that the art features an elephant(s). It can also have people or other animals in it. We invite artists of all ages, styles, and talents to submit their artwork between September 22 and October 20, 2025 in order to be considered for the exhibition. This is an opportunity to have your work exhibited on billboard ad space in New York, NY.
There is no application fee as this public art exhibition. Selected artists will be announced after November 3, 2025. Public art will be installed December 1, 2025 in New York, NY, and will be on view for at least one month. Enter at SaveArtSpace.
And that's not all! Images of Happy will appear behind cages all over New York City. Massive banners will be installed on highway overpasses, fences, and on scaffolding. We'll be placing these behind chainlink fencing and metal bars symbolizing Happy's prison. We are also giving away window clings. Place them on car, storefront, or home windows (first floor barred windows are best). Removing these banners symbolically “frees” Happy—raising awareness of her captivity and advocating for her release. This street art project does not damage any property. The banners and clings can be easily removed!
How can you help?
Contact Your NYC Council Member: If you live in New York contact your council member and tell them to vote to pass "Intro 213," the bill which requires that any entity in the city holding elephants captive relocate them to a facility that can meet their complex physical and psychological needs. Input your address to get the contact info for their councilmember: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/ If you don't live in NYC ask your NYC friends to help out.
Enter Your Art: SaveArtsSpace
Join My Street Team: [email protected]
Request A Window Cling (while supplies last): [email protected] (Include name and address)
Contact Your NYC Council Member: If you live in New York contact your council member and tell them to vote to pass "Intro 213," the bill which requires that any entity in the city holding elephants captive relocate them to a facility that can meet their complex physical and psychological needs. Input your address to get the contact info for their councilmember: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/ If you don't live in NYC ask your NYC friends to help out.
Enter Your Art: SaveArtsSpace
Join My Street Team: [email protected]
Request A Window Cling (while supplies last): [email protected] (Include name and address)
WORLDWIDE - FORESTINA PUPPET (COMING SOON - 2025/2026)
When I saw Little Amal—a massive puppet representing war refugees, created by the makers of War Horse—I felt the world needed a similar project to promote environmental awareness. That inspired the creation of Forestina, a 15-foot puppet based on my tree-girl character, currently being built by Chris Green Kinetics. She will travel the world, walking through parks, along streets, and appearing in parades and public events. Forestina’s mission is to raise awareness about environmental issues and support fundraising efforts for environmental charities.
— CvB
— CvB
WASHINGTON, DC - FEARLESS GIRLS SCULPTURES (OCTOBER 2020)
Dozens of sculptures were installed in the unused antique call boxes on the streets of Washington, DC, a month before the November 2020 presidential election. Additional pieces were placed at Black Lives Matter Plaza and in local parks. The artworks addressed the national debate surrounding the removal of Confederate monuments, the legacy of slavery, and the broader political climate leading up to the 2020 election. - CvB
Replace "The Emancipation Memorial" With "Stepping Into His Shoes - Obama and Lincoln"
Thomas Jefferson, his slave Sally Hemings, and their children
Replace the Emancipation Memorial
Confederate Soldiers
NEW YORK CITY - SPEAKEASY DOLLHOUSE DOORS (2014-2018)
One hundred doors were installed throughout New York City, some concealing secret items inside or hidden beneath doormats. -CvB
