“From The Hood to the Heights” by Patrick Medrano
Instead of a gallery walk, we had a gallery “drive,” proceeding south to north on the boulevard, parking about every two blocks to savor the art.
Here you will see art for all ages, as a sense of humor linked the artists, and the works often sparkled with wit.
At 14th Street is From the Hood to the Heights by Patrick Medrano, a small green barn-like building supported by eight huge metal oars, a version of Noah’s ark. It resonates of a personal journey, navigating above the tide of society. Its combination of colors seems just right, and I’m sure its oars, though embedded now, will be able to pull free and propel it forward when the need arises. It is truly beautiful, and I would love to see a patron provide Medrano with the funds to rebuild it to ten times its present size, straddling a plaza, so we could walk between the oars and wonder at genius. How fun would this be?
“From the Hood to the Heights represents art that is finished not by the artist,but by the elements of nature. Created 100% from scratch and made to change with time. “This is my proudest and largest public sculpture to date.” What a honor it is to display our creation in such a historic and beautiful part of our great city!” says Medrano.
“Our Glass and It Came from the Sea” by Dan Havel, Dean Ruck & Lee Littlefield
At 18th Street is Our Glass by Dean Ruck, two oblong teardrops of glass, one over the other, composed of circles of reflective material on an open structure. The top circles reflect the sky, the bottom ones the earth, generating a feeling of anchored particularity, which of course would change with the setting. The image seems familiar, but it is not — it may be an alien force, observing and biding its time while pretending to amuse.
“Lawn Chairs” by Paul Kittelson
At 12th Street is Lawn Chairs by Paul Kittleson, offering the familiar look of the inexpensive and portable seating facility, yet amusing us because these chairs are several times the size of the ones you may have in your garage. If you did clamber into them — do not, since the signs say “Do Not Touch” — you would find yourself insignificant, in the words of William Butler Yeats, “a tattered coat upon a stick.” So smile and move on, before the chairs are occupied.
Paul’s studio work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries both nationally and internationally. For over 25 years Kittelson has engaged the larger public audience through temporary site-specific works and community-based projects.
Doesn’t Tarzan look just a little smaller nowadays? Can I tell you how hard I am laughing? I don’t think Tarzan can read the signs…smile.
“Pointing North” by Carter Ernst
Between 6th and 7th streets is Pointing North by Carter Ernst, a gargantuan dog about six feet tall and eight feet long, a setter that has found its prey and is indicating the location.
As a sculptor, I enjoy working figuratively, bringing my chosen subjects alive through gesture, whether it be dogs, logs, birds, flowers etc. I am enamored with fabrics and other tactile materials that I can manipulate over a supporting armature of steel, wire and resin. Some of the fabrics I use are remnants from thrift store clothing. This large hound pointing true north is modeled after one of my handsome hounds who occasionally gets to visit the Heights to take a stroll down the Boulevard.” says, Carter Ernest.
“Wildlife Sanctuary” by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck
Between 4th and 5th streets is Wildlife Sanctuary by Dan Havel. This is the sculpture that most organically seems to belong. It might be the turret of a church, now sunken into the ground at an odd angle, or it might have been carried there by alluvial silt as a great river overflowed. Dan and
Dean came together in a collaborative quasi-public environments to re-purpose architectural structures and remnants of no perceived market value into works of art. “We want to bring attention and recognition to under appreciated and ordinary buildings and their histories.” says Dan Havel and Dean Ruck.
It was a grand morning on the Boulevard with our cup of coffee, and a perfect 75 degrees! Yes, even in Houston we can see weather like this…maybe every ten years.
This was part 2 of the Heights Boulevard Tour, if you missed part 1 click here.
So I have to ask, “Which sculpture was your delight?
Laurie
XXOO
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