PHOTO/RELEASE: Equine Rhythm Sculpture Greets Visitors at Texas Horse Park Opening - 3/28 at 10:30 am

City of Dallas sent this bulletin at 03/16/2015 11:59 AM CDT

PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION, EQUINE RHYTHM,

GREETS VISITORS AT ENTRANCE TO TEXAS HORSE PARK

 

DALLAS: A new public art installation welcomes visitors to the Texas Horse Park in southeast Dallas. Equine Rhythm is the creation of Atlanta-based Sculptor Curtis Patterson who was selected for the commission from an international pool of artists. Mr. Patterson will be in attendance to provide remarks and visit with guests at the Texas Horse Park Community Event, which will offer the public opportunities to experience programming offered by Equest and River Ranch Education Charities, the facility’s two non-profit partners. The Texas Horse Park Community Event takes place from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, Saturday March 28, 2015. Texas Horse Park is located at 811 Pemberton Hill Road in Dallas. Additional information is available at http://www.texashorsepark.com/.

“This extraordinary public art installation creates a noble presence at the entrance to Texas Horse Park,” says Office of Cultural Affairs Interim Director, David Fisher.

The first public art installation in the Great Trinity Forest, Equine Rhythm stands 19 feet high, 10.5 feet wide and 15 feet long. The sculpture is made of Corten steel which develops a dark red patina that radiates a deep reddish-orange glow in the sunlight. “Horses typically have a minimum of four distinct movements: the walk, trot, canter and the gallop. All of these movements are determined by the foot fall of the horse,” says Patterson. “With this sculpture, I have attempted to symbolically capture some of those movements through the use of surface texture, and the assignment of various elements in a rhythmic and balladry pattern within the sculpture composition. The delineated tail combined with wing elements, and the subtle visual reference of the standup bass instrument further illustrates these rhythmic movements.”

Equine Rhythm is the latest public artwork to be created by Patterson whose public art installations include the Andrew Young Obelisk, honoring the former Atlanta politician, diplomat and activist, and Celebration for a Champion, honoring athlete Jesse Owens, which stands near the entrance to Jesse Owens Plaza at Ohio State University.

“We are honored to host this impressive artwork on the grounds of the Texas Horse Park,” says Paul White, senior environmental coordinator with the City of Dallas, Trinity Watershed Management. Equine Rhythm was funded by City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department and managed by the Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program.

The sculpture becomes the 104th commission completed by the City of Dallas Public Art Program since its inception in 1989. Photo credit: Margaret Fullwood. Please contact Marketing Manager, Margaret Fullwood at 214-670-4428 or by email at Margaret.Fullwood@dallascityhall.com for more information.

About the Artist

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Sculptor Curtis Patterson grew up during the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 60s and sought expression in the arts as a means to balance the social inequities of the period with the harmony and spiritual guidance of his family. Patterson developed the ability to work with his hands at an early age under the tutelage of his maternal grandfather, a master carpenter. He furthered his training through academic studies at Grambling State University where he received a degree in Art Education and later at Georgia State University in Atlanta where he became the first African American to receive a Master of Visual Arts in Sculpture. During this period, Patterson’s work in painting and wood gave way to large-scale works in cast iron, fabricated steel and ceramic. In 1976 he joined the faculty at The Atlanta College of Art and entered the world of public art. Many of Patterson’s works incorporate elements and symbols that pay tribute to the historical contributions and sacrifices of both well-known and unknown African Americans. His work invites participation and encourages audiences to touch and experience them, rewarding those who explore with subtle surprises. Patterson’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally with exhibits in the United States, France, Nigeria and Sweden. Additional information is available at http://cpattersonsculptor.com/

About The Public Art Program

The Public Art Program works to enrich the quality of life for the citizens of Dallas and enhance the cultural appeal of the City to visitors by overseeing the integration of high-quality visual art into public spaces. The Program provides opportunities for local and regional artists as well as visual artists from around the globe through commissions of works of public art. The program also supports donations of public art to the City of Dallas that are subject to a review process for acceptance that includes members of the Public Art Committee and the Cultural Affairs Commission. The Public Art Program is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. http://www.dallasculture.org/publicArt.asp

About the Office of Cultural Affairs

The Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) provides opportunities for all Dallas citizens and visitors to have access to the arts and the means of cultural expression. The Office of Cultural Affairs works with its citizen advisory board, the Cultural Affairs Commission, to foster the development of the cultural system in Dallas. OCA provides a variety of programs and services, including the management and operations of seven cultural facilities, a public art program, cultural funding programs and WRR Radio. More information on the Office of Cultural Affairs’ programs can be found on its website at http://www.DallasCulture.org.

About the Trinity River Corridor Project

The Trinity River Corridor Project is the largest and most complex public works and urban development project undertaken by the City of Dallas. This project is a flood protection solution at its heart and one of the largest of its type in the nation. The project consists of five major components: flood protection, transportation, recreation, environmental stewardship, and business development but today, it is more about exploring and enjoying the Trinity. Exciting amenities near the downtown corridor include the Trinity Skyline Trail providing 4.6 miles of hard surface trail in the Dallas Floodway. A gateway to the trail, Continental Avenue Bridge and West Dallas Gateway offer passive and active programming for people of all ages plus unprecedented views of Dallas, the Trinity River and the iconic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. . The Trinity River Audubon Center welcomes visitors to 120 acres of restorative spaces and family-friendly programs. The Great Trinity Forest offers 6200 acres for adventure hikes and bike rides. The Texas Horse Park will be in full operation later this spring and on March 28, a community event showcases the programs and activities offered by the two non-profit operators, Equest and River Ranch. Work continues on projects under construction: Trinity Strand Phase I, Pavaho Wetlands, Baker Pump Station, Riverfront Boulevard Improvements, Dallas Horse Shoe Project IH35, IH30 and Margaret McDermott Bridge at IH30. Explore the Trinity and visit http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org for more details.