Statues (or are they?) of Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and Harriet Tubman will literally come to life at this year’s Franklin Cultural Festival. Franklin Cultural Council Chair Kaye Kelly notes that these performers are a big ticket item of the event, hired out of a Pawtucket company, TEN31 Productions.

“These are three human beings completely decked out in bronze,” says Kelly. “They’ll parade over into the common, each have a space, and people can take selfies next to them.”

Founded by Eric Auger and Joe Pari, who have performed as living gargoyles at various events, TEN31 Productions, Inc. grew from a simple, powerful idea that art can be “brought to life” and provide emotionally inspiring entertainment, with the human form as its canvas. The human form is TEN31’s canvas. In 2000, founders Eric Auger and Joe Pari began performing as Living Gargoyles at art events and festivals. Members of the group continue to design and create characters and costumes, essentially “making pretend.”