We are getting excited for the opening of Bamboozled: An Unexpected Bamboo Adventure on May 1. While there are many layers to the exhibit, it centers around 8 larger-than-life bird sculptures made from bamboo. The creatives behind these sculptures are The Myth Makers, the collaborative duo of artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein. Their work, both monumental and ephemeral, has captivated audiences around the globe. Rooted in nature and storytelling, their sculptural installations are striking in form and fleeting in presence—designed to appear, fade, and eventually vanish, leaving behind a legacy in the communities they touch.

The partnership between Dodson and Moerlein was born from a shared reverence for the wild. Dodson draws her creative spark from birds—creatures of mystery and symbolism—whose forms and behaviors ignite her imagination. Moerlein, in contrast, finds inspiration in dramatic natural events that scar the land and spark a narrative resonance. Together, they craft towering figures from branches, twigs, saplings, and other organic materials—each work a conversation with the environment and its people.

Their sculptures are intentionally impermanent, typically lasting only three to five years. Rather than standing apart from their surroundings, they embed themselves in the local story—transforming public spaces into stages for myth and reflection.

Over the past 14 years, The Myth Makers have completed more than 50 large-scale public art projects across 16 U.S. states and in countries including Peru, China, Denmark, Switzerland, Taiwan and Vietnam. Their work has earned widespread recognition and acclaim for its artistry and impact.

In 2021, the State of New Jersey Senate and General Assembly issued an official Citation commending The Phoenix Festival—part of A New View Camden—for bringing pride and inspiration to the city of Camden. A few years earlier, their piece The Dance was featured in the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s receipt of the National Medal for Museum Service, the highest honor bestowed upon American museums by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2015, their acclaimed series Avian Avatars was honored by the State of Michigan as one of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s “Agents of Change.” That same year, it was also named the most beautiful art show in New York City by Artnet and the Huffington Post.

Both artists bring impressive credentials and deep experience to their collaboration. Dodson is a graduate of Wellesley College, a former Fulbright U.S. Scholar, and currently serves as a Scholar at the Brandeis University Women’s Studies Research Center. She is also a Fellow of the historic St. Botolph Club in Boston. Moerlein holds degrees from Dartmouth College (BA) and Cornell University (MFA), and has spent a lifetime teaching visual art across all age groups, from young children to adults.

Together, The Myth Makers create more than sculpture—they build living, breathing stories that rise from the earth, engage the imagination and return to nature, leaving behind echoes of myth in the landscapes they briefly inhabit. And now it’s your turn to come see their art come to life with Bamboozled.