Art on the River: Celebrate the Premiere!
Two Events – September 18 and September 29 – Celebrating the Premiere of
Three Separate, Intricate Outdoor Sculptures in Jefferson, Texas
BACKGROUND: Richard Collins, the President and Founder of the Collins Academy, working with the City of Jefferson created an Artists-in-Residence program. The purpose is to build on their vision to transform the future of the city’s quality of life by offering an active and rich cultural program in conjunction with the “Art on the River” initiative. Art-on-the River is bringing world-class art to the Park on historic Big Cypress Bayou.
MEET THE ARTISTS AT COLLINS ACADEMY
WHEN: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 – 7 p.m.
WHERE: COLLINS ACADEMY
500 East Broadway Street
Jefferson, TX 75657
WHAT: The media and public are invited to meet renowned artists Sherry Owens and Art Shirer at a reception at the Collins Academy. The artists will talk about the work that is underway in the Park and the process by which it was conceived and is being created.
VISUALS: There will be stand-up interview opportunities with the artists-in-residence, Sherry Owens and Art Shirer. In addition, there will be opportunities to record the lecture and public interaction with the artists.
WHO: Internationally esteemed artist Sherry Owens and Art Shirer will be on hand. The team works collaboratively on projects that are both complex and intricate. This will be their 18th collaborative project together.
CELEBRATE THE PREMIERE!
WHEN: Saturday, September 29, 2018 – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHERE: The event will begin in a tent adjacent to McGarity’s Saloon No. 61
208 W. Dallas Street
Jefferson, TX 75657
WHAT: All of Jefferson and beyond is invited to “Celebrate the Premiere!” The renowned artists will lead groups into the Park to see the completed work and be on hand to talk about the installations of the three completed works.
VISUALS: There will be a ceremony in a tent a short walk from the art installation. Richard Collins, internationally renowned art consultant for Art on the River Lucy Buchanan, and nationally renowned artists Sherry Owens and Art Shirer will make brief presentations before leading the groups of people down a picturesque path to the art in the park. Shot ideas include the presentations, crowds under the tent, tracking as groups walk to the park, and individuals admiring the art. There are three separate works of art being premiered:
- “above and beyond” is the first installation encountered and intersects the boardwalk of the Port Jefferson Nature Center, creating an elevated sightline in two directions using 900 pounds of river rocks.
- “the forest echoes with laughter” is a suspended construction incorporating miles of wire and thousands of glass bits that will travel through the woods visually connecting two locations on the boardwalk. The sunlight will play on the surface of the glass as it shimmers through the trees.
- “oodles of doodles” will be an installation of objects produced during a creative workshop with local children.
WHO: Presented by Richard H. Collins, whose ties to Jefferson begin with his roots: his mother, Calvert K. Collins, was from nearby Marshall. He bought The House of the Seasons in 1973 and spent three years fully restoring it to its original form – built in 1872. His love of The House of the Seasons has expanded to adding a Victorian sculpture garden and the ongoing restoration of the Union Missionary Baptist Church, one of the oldest African American structures in Texas. Now, he is leading and underwriting the effort to bring artists and sculptures to Jefferson. Richard H. Collins will be joined by national art consultant Lucy Buchanan in the introduction of the two nationally-renowned artists, Sherry Owens and Art Shirer.
WHY: To view the creation of two nationally celebrated artists participating in a first-of-its-kind project in East Texas and get a glimpse of the contemporary creations that installed in the park. The Artists-in-Residence program is a significant part of Collins’ multi-year reinvestment effort to bring art to Jefferson and to restore historical properties.
