Pink Dolphin Monument facts for kids

Pink Dolphin Monument (statue), a unique statue in Galveston, Texas.

The Pink Dolphin Monument is a special public statue located in R.A. Apffel Park/East Beach on Galveston Island, Texas. It was officially opened on July 25, 2014. This monument celebrates diversity and helps all people feel welcome and included. It was the first monument in the southern United States to honor these ideas for different groups of people.

History of the Monument

The Pink Dolphin Monument was made by artist Joe Joe Orangias. He worked with writer Dr. Sarah Sloane and scientist Dr. Frank Pega.

Orangias carved the main part of the monument, a pink dolphin, from red sandstone. This stone came from the Texas coast. The idea for the pink dolphin comes from an old place called the Pink Dolphin Tavern in Galveston. It also connects to the symbol of the Pink Posse, a local group that works for fairness and acceptance for all people.

Mr. Orangias gave the monument to R.A. Apffel Park/East Beach. He wanted it to help the park's goal of celebrating diversity on the island.

The artist told the Galveston Daily News that more monuments are being made around the world to celebrate different groups of people. He felt this statue added to that growing network.

In 2015, the Pink Dolphin Monument was shown in an art exhibit called "Island Time" at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Sadly, the statue was damaged by vandals. Artist Ryan Hawk helped fix and restore it in 2019.

What the Monument Looks Like

The main dolphin statue is about the size of a small dolphin. It measures about 36 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 13 inches tall. It sits on a five-foot-tall base, called a plinth. This base makes it look like the dolphin is jumping out of the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston Island.

The monument is placed inside an open building called a pavilion. The base of the statue looks like the columns that hold up the pavilion. Next to the statue, there is a poem that reads:

∩ The path that led you here
through giant gold headdresses
shaking in the wind
below a long calligraphy of stars -
finds you standing in R.A. Apffel Park
lit by dreams of dolphins rising
pink arches in the dark ∩

When Orangias carved the dolphin statue, 243 small pieces of sandstone broke off. He shaped these pieces into 243 triangles. He then buried these triangles around Galveston Island. This was another way to remember and honor different groups of people in the landscape. The dust from carving the statue was also collected. During the opening ceremony, people poured this dust into the ocean.

Images for kids

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  One of the 243 buried sandstone triangles.

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  The plaque at the monument, Galveston Island, Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Pink Dolphin Monument para niños