DISCOVERY GREEN PARK AWASH IN "SYNCHRONICITY OF COLOR" Civic art to be dedicated adjacent to George R. Brown Convention Center
04.03.2008 -- Acclaimed Texas artist Margo Sawyer's geometric work "Synchronicity of Color" was dedicated today at Houston 's new downtown park, Discovery Green.
City Council Member James Rodriguez, Dawn Ullrich, director of the City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department, Jonathon Glus, CEO of Houston Arts Alliance, Guy Hagstette, president of Discovery Green Conservancy, and Sawyer participated in dedication ceremonies. Sawyer received a mayoral proclamation from Council Member Rodriguez, who presented it on behalf of Mayor Bill White.
"Synchronicity of Color" is the newest addition to the City of Houston 's inventory of more than 400 civic art works in public spaces. The two-piece architectural installment of red- and blue-themed aluminum boxes conceal concrete stairwells that lead into the Convention District parking garage beneath Discovery Green, across from the George R. Brown Convention Center. More than 1,400 aluminum boxes were used to create the vibrant "Synchronicity of Color."
Cutting the ribbon to formally dedicate the new "Synchronicity of Color" art installation at Discovery Green park in downtown Houston are, from left, Jonathon Glus, CEO of Houston Arts Alliance, Guy Hagstette, president of Discovery Green Conservancy, artist Margo Sawyer, District I Council Member James Rodriguez and Dawn Ullrich, director of the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department.
"This installation demonstrates Houston 's ongoing commitment to civic art," said Ullrich, whose department commissioned "Synchronicity of Color" and will be responsible for its maintenance. "It also proves that functionality can be beautiful when placed in the hands of an artist as talented as Margo Sawyer.
"Without the civic art component, the stairwells leading from the garage would be just concrete bunkers," Ullrich added. "But when dressed up with a façade as aesthetically pleasing as 'Synchronicity of Color,' they become another conversation-starter in Discovery Green."
Other civic art works in Discovery Green include Jean Dubuffet's "Monument Au Fantome," two pieces by artist Doug Hollis, "Listening Vessels" and "Mist Tree," and a bronze statue of the late Houston business titan - and convention center namesake - George R. Brown.
Discovery Green is scheduled to be opened to the public on April 13.
