Public art is important to our culture. There are many people who may never be able to go to a gallery or buy art of their own, but due to all of the awesome grants and creators out there, you can find art to admire for free in almost any city or town. Rhode Island has a particularly rich history of public art. The state is absolutely packed with murals, sculptures, and installations of all kinds that will grab your eye in an instant. However, some of our most prevalent public art is also definitely some of our wackiest. The Mr. Potato Head statues in Rhode Island, for example, have to be seen to be believed, and the story behind them is oh so fascinating.
While driving through the state, there is a good chance you've spotted at least one of these person sized Potato Heads.
At six feet tall they're pretty hard to miss.
You may not have thought too much about them, just believing they're a strange anomaly. However, these Potato Heads have been around for over 20 years now. Actually, there used to be a LOT more.
In an attempt to up tourism in 2000, Rhode Island decided we needed a state ambassador.
As luck would have it, the headquarters for Hasbro toys is located in-state, so the Potato Head seemed like a perfect fit!
Most reports say that around 35 six foot Potato Heads were originally erected. However, others claim the number was closer to 45.
Each head had a theme related to its location, and they were not exactly met with the warmest reception.
This Potato Head is a slightly morbid memorial for an elephant who was shot in the area.
Whilst many loved the potato heads, others saw them as eyesores and campaigned to have them removed!
So, despite the original number of Potato Heads seeming massive for such a small state, we are now left with only eight. It's a sad end to a cute story, but we think these few that remain are here to stay!
This Rhode Island Mr. Potato Head gets brought out every year for the Fourth of July parade in Bristol.
These Mr. Potato Head statues in Rhode Island are incredibly unique! And while they may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's sad that we've lost so many over the years when they are so iconic. The remaining Rhode Island Potato Heads are scattered throughout the state. Do you have a favorite of the potato head statues in Rhode Island? If you're a Potato Head fan, you'll love all the incredible finds available on Etsy!
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