Thursday, June 25, 2009

Houston Arts Alliance Commission

Here it is my latest newsletter:

"Radiant Fountain" Wins the One Million Dollar Houston Arts Alliance Gateway Commission

Dennis Oppenheim has been awarded a one million dollar commission by the Houston Arts Alliance for a work at the entrance to Houston at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The competition for this artwork, which concluded in April of this year, required a proposal for a major sculpture to replace the 'Welcome to Houston" sign visible from the roadway as one exits the airport. Oppenheim's proposal, titled "Radiant Fountains" consists of three sixty foot high cylindrical towers containing thousands of LED's suspended by cables, the animated LED's representing a giant twenty five foot tear drop falling into a pool, creating the upward sensation of a splash, which rises to sixty feet and consists of a multitude of colored lights cascading and sparkling toward the top and beyond, emerging in bright, spherical globes; representing giant droplets.

This "event" sculpture will occur in three locations sited on both side of the highway exiting the airport.

The simple transaction of the falling teardrop, plunging upward, brings to mind a universal display of energy production and creation. It is the artist's desire to captivate motorists leaving the airport, both during the day and at night. The highly visible animate LED presentation is programmed to change often, both in tempo and coloration.

The work will be executed by local fabricators, joined by Oppenheim's staff.

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