Okay, I must admit that I scoffed at the idea of giant animal art coming to downtown Cleveland. When I first read the article a few months ago on Cleveland.com I was less than impressed with what I considered to be a “tacky” display of giant animals in bright colors.

Today I completely changed my mind. I never realized how monotone downtown looked with all the concrete, brick and stone. Yes, we have greenery from the trees and flowers, but you’ll be amazed how a 10-foot high fuchsia snail will change your perspective on what a splash of color can do for the city.

So where can you find these larger than life animals that have invaded our city? By the time the exhibit is complete, there will be hundreds of vibrant larger-than-life animals at the Great Lakes Science Center, Public Square, Cleveland Public Library and Convention Center. Land Studios is responsible for the Italian art collective exhibit, with a grant of $1.5 million to spruce up the city for the RNC. Made of recyclable plastic, these animals will stay in the city for a couple of years following the event.