"I think that the UTB-TSC sculpture garden is a start. If the powers that be agreed on the concept, that in itself is positive. I think the "real art" anonymous is asking for can happen if Brownsville community accepts art as a necessity in their everyday lives. Upon reading the reaction of the public to the UTB president's decision to commission a mural, do you think they would be ready to invest their tax dollars on something that has never been a part of their lives? This is where I think local artists, art teachers, art professors, should be working together to change the mentality of the general public.
I would like to share what I have done in Weslaco . Very minor, but it may illustrate to others that things can be accomplished. A replica of Michelangelo's "David" was available by a Chicago-based company. It was actually a fragment of the famous sculpture
; the head. Apparently the sculpture was cleaned several years ago by a certain party and secretly they created a mold of the head. It stayed in a family’s possession for years until they sold it. Anyway, the replicas produced are exact and allow one to see the artists work up close.
The sculpture was purchased by organizing art teachers to fundraise and to create a public relations plan. My idea was to present the sculpture to a public area on a long term loan. In return, the people who ran the office/grounds would feature it in their events. We chose the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce as they could showcase it properly and was in the news regularly. Getting the event recognized was very hard. Local newspapers and TV stations did not show interest. I had to really be persistent and ended up with some coverage.
3 years have past, and the city of Weslaco and Weslaco ISD has given art a chance.
In March an elementary Weslaco campus will open a permanent art gallery for students to see their own art and traveling art shows. A small sculpture by Auguste Rodin will be donated by elementary art clubs and the city officials will declare Youth Art Month for Weslaco in March.
This month, art students took a trip with their drawing boards, 11 x 18 paper, and ebony pencils to sketch “David”.
Brownsville has so many resources and talent. I learned about hard work there.
Attached to this e-mail are students sketching “David”. "
by James Miller
I would like to share what I have done in Weslaco . Very minor, but it may illustrate to others that things can be accomplished. A replica of Michelangelo's "David" was available by a Chicago-based company. It was actually a fragment of the famous sculpture
; the head. Apparently the sculpture was cleaned several years ago by a certain party and secretly they created a mold of the head. It stayed in a family’s possession for years until they sold it. Anyway, the replicas produced are exact and allow one to see the artists work up close.
The sculpture was purchased by organizing art teachers to fundraise and to create a public relations plan. My idea was to present the sculpture to a public area on a long term loan. In return, the people who ran the office/grounds would feature it in their events. We chose the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce as they could showcase it properly and was in the news regularly. Getting the event recognized was very hard. Local newspapers and TV stations did not show interest. I had to really be persistent and ended up with some coverage.
3 years have past, and the city of Weslaco and Weslaco ISD has given art a chance.
In March an elementary Weslaco campus will open a permanent art gallery for students to see their own art and traveling art shows. A small sculpture by Auguste Rodin will be donated by elementary art clubs and the city officials will declare Youth Art Month for Weslaco in March.
This month, art students took a trip with their drawing boards, 11 x 18 paper, and ebony pencils to sketch “David”.
Brownsville has so many resources and talent. I learned about hard work there.
Attached to this e-mail are students sketching “David”. "
by James Miller
Pieces from a sculpture garden at the University of Texas at Brownsville.....Photos by Gabriel Trevino..
2 comments:
We need real art sculptures, not Home and garden junk !
Excellent job James, We need more couraged and gutsy leaders like Youself.
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