Writing
Some Wonderful Galveston Art Created From Devastation
Leave it to artists to take devastation and create art. I’m proud to be an artist when I see something like this. Not only are they wonderful pieces of art it is a way to encourage more tourism for our beloved Galveston. I can’t wait to see these. If anyone finds a map of where all of these are please forward me the link.
A little bit of information before the art:
On September 1, 2008 the Houston, Texas area received a blow from a Hurricane called Ike. The amount of devastation that happened in this area went pretty much unreported over the United States. As wiki says (… It also became the largest search-and-rescue operation in U.S. history) I know it was not covered at great extent because the week after the hurricane I was traveling up to deliver the Dick Hathaway memorial by car from Houston, Texas to Montpelier, Vermont. ( The link is my documentation of that sculpture as well as the travels as we delivered it. My September 2008 posts talk a bit also mention this trip along with our preparations for this hurricane. )
My traveling companion and I would check back home and on the internet to find out as much as we could about Houston, and our beloved Galveston. [ I’ll add this personal observation. Many people who did hear about the hurricane said, “Why didn’t those people leave?” For those not in a hurricane area I must tell you NO ONE realized the type of storm surge that was attached to this category 2 hurricane. For us a cat 2 is really not that big of a deal, but there was a storm surge of a category 5. I believe this storm and the devastation that was caused by it really caused those powers at be to think about the way they categorize these storms.
On to the art: Tree Stump Carvings In Galveston
What follows came into my inbox and I though I would share it. Photos are by Carlos Antonio Rios. It looks like this might be from an original article in the Chronicle By Lana Berkowitz. lana.berkowitz@chron.com.
Thank you Lana for sending this around. I definitely will be going to Galveston and checking these out. I have not asked permission to use this article , and hope there is no copyright infringement here, since it is distributed through e mail by a reputable source, I figure it is all right. If there are any problems please let me know and I will delete it.
Information provided through e-mail
The toad? The Tin Man? The Dalmatian?
It’s hard to choose a favorite among the tree sculptures that are carving a new beginning for Galveston Island .
The transformation of tree skeletons that were reminders of Hurricane Ike’s 2008 devastation is another sign of the island’s recovery. And tourists love the chain-saw and chisel artwork.
More than 20 tree-stump sculptures can be viewed from sidewalks and streets, and more are joining the list as commissions are completed. Many of the carvings are by Galveston artist Earl Jones, Houston artist Jim Phillips and Dayle Lewis of Richmond , Ind.
The artists have plenty of potential work. About 40,000 of the island’s trees died after they were swamped by storm waters. Contractors cut down the dead trees and left the stumps, which are becoming dogs, angels, dolphins, toads, mermaids and more.
Here’s a list of Galveston Island Tree Sculptures visible from the street, according to www.cityofgalveston.org: Need a map? download or print one of these Galvestohttps://galvestonislandguide.com/galveston-tree-sculptures/n maps to mark these works of art.
Geisha, 1717 Ball
Mermaid holding clam shell, 1428 Church
Large pelican, 1609 Post Office
Wildlife tree inside the castle playground at Schreiber Park, 83rd Street near Airport
Dalmatian and a fireplug at City Hall outside Central Fire Station, 823 25th
Toad, 1615 Ball
Angel cradling bunny, 511 17th
Sister angels, 1717 Ball
Squirrel with acorn, 1302 Ball
Tin Man from theWizard of Oz, 1702 Winnie
Monument to Galveston’s trees, 1028 Winnie
Yellow Lab, 1820 Winnie (inside chain-link fence)
Hand clutching diploma at Wright-Cuney Park, 718 41st
Two herons, 1316 Ball
Great Dane, 1228 Sealy (facing 13th)
Other tree sculptures in Galveston:
Wildlife totem pole, 1302 Ball
Dolphin, 828 Ball (facing Ninth)
Dolphin, eel and dorado, 1302 Ball
Owl, 1302 Ball
Pod of dolphins and mermaid, 902 Ball
Birds of Galveston, 1620 Sealy
Pelican sitting on piling, 1618 Church
Pelicans, 628 14th (behind the Mosquito Café)
If you would like a sculpture done from your tree stump.
I was able to track down the website of Jim phillips. Check out his work and give him a call.
If there are any other carvers that want me to list their web sites please feel free to contact me.
Map of the area
Here is a map of the locations of these tree stumps.
Other Articles on this subject
In Galveston, Dead trees see new life as art by Harvey Rice Houston Chronicle Aug 24, 2009
Dolphins and Sea Nymph- Glaveston, Texas
Galveston Dead tree sculptures
In Galveston, Texas, new Life for Dead trees This appears to be an interview with Donna Leibbert who starts a citizen led tree committee.
I’m Still Here
I have been preoccupied with putting up http://www.digitalsculpting.net and fixing problems which end up being bugs and causing me to pull my hair out. But…. It is coming along or I am learning. I remembered I had this picture and I wanted to use it on the web so I’m going to post it here.
If you get a chance check out the podcast player on the new site. So thrilled. I really need one of those for the other podcast.
Now to get the podcast registered with iTunes and get number two up. The one with Robert Michael Smith.
I’m Making A City!
At least that is what it feels like. My coauthor Mike de la flor, who also just happens to be my husband as well, and I have been working diligently to prepare another new website. But it is not just a place to go and look, it is a community site, where people can have their own blogs, comment on forums etc. It is a HUGE undertaking.
The entire project was prompted by our publisher Focal Press. Instead of having a CD in the back of the book they are moving to providing files to the book buyers online. So months ago we knew what we needed to do. INTRODUCING ….. Digital Sculpting.net
It has taken a tremendous amount of energy this weekend to get this up, but we are there. Still some tweaking and we will be adding a ton of content. So if you get a chance come on over, drop in, become a user, set up a blog and say hi! It will be great to have a legitimate post. I’m fighting spam bots!
Our New Book Is On The Stands!
I’m thrilled to report that the new Mudbox book is available!
I am coauthor on this book with my husband Mike de la Flor. We found out the book was in the hands of buyers this morning when someone went to the new website at DigitalSculpting.net and asked for the support files. We have been scrambling to put the site together. It is a web community of digital and traditional sculptors. So thrilling. But quite an undertaking. I encourage all to join. The book can be purchased from Amazon.com
More Slow
A class mate at Goddard understood what I was saying about the power of slow and shared with me SlowDance By David Michalek. I’m sorry I can’t post the videos but the links are incredible. “Sculpting Time.”
WANT YOUR WORK IN A MUDBOX BOOK? Please Pass This On and Twitter, Need Art Quickly
PLEASE REPLY QUICKLY, PASS ON THIS INFORMATION AND POST
We are looking for artwork created in Mudbox for a gallery for our new book. Deadline is this weekend. If you are interested in possibly participating please e mail me directly at Bridgette (the at sign) creativesculpture.com. There is no monetary compensation but we will give you credit in the book. You can use other software in conjunction with this creation as long as Mudbox was used as part of your work flow.
Please contact me by this weekend (March 5-6) and let me know your interest, if you have your work posted on the internet send a link and then I will ask you to send an image via e mail once I check with my coauthor. Then we will send you a release form. WE ARE ON A TIGHT DEADLINE. ALL ARTWORK MUST BE IN ALONG WITH RELEASE FORMS BY TUESDAY the 9th of March. Thanks in advance for your interest.
Gin at 9:00 a.m.? Just Show Up And See What Happens
Gin at 9:00 am? Just show up and see what happens.
I have, for a long time, wondered at and marveled at the creative process. I love listening to others discuss and discover the process, the nuances. If I could study any part of the human psyche it would be the creative process, and all that surrounds it. In fact I have. It is a hobby of mine. Helping others come to terms with their creativity and encouraging others in their creative journey is something that I have enjoyed doing through lectures and workshop. Today I happened upon Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray Love” on a TED video. I loved hearing her talk about the angst. I loved her quote about “just showing up.” Because often we as artists are so afraid of failure, we just don’t show up. Heck if you don’t try you won’t do.
I encourage each of you to show up and know you have done your part.
Your Brain May Explode! TED May Be Coming To Your Area! Introducing TEDx
I have long been a fan of TED. If you are looking for a wonderful and enlightening experience you must check out their website and give a listen to the speakers.
TED is a conference that brings together minds in technology, design and entertainment. Of course the TED talks video site is a frequent for me.
I can’t imagine attending a TED conference held in Long Beach . With conference memberships costing $6,000. a year and selling out a year in advance, I doubt I will ever have that experience. 50 speakers speaking at 18 minute slots. TED is interdisciplinary the web site says it is a four day “brain spa.”
“At some point in the next 4 days your brain may explode, by then you won’t even care,” states curator Chris Anderson.
Below is a short preview of the introduction to TED
Now TEDx is coming to Houston 6/12/2010. And that is not all, apparently TEDx is spreading. There may be one coming to your area.
And according to the TEDx guidelines it may be free or very low cost.
If you can’t get excited about TED Coming to your area then think what will soon be available online as the TED lectures are made available. Inconceivable! I think I feel my brain swelling already!
A Cool Job. Bringing to Life Extinct Animals
Gary Staab just e mailed me and said I should check out his website. He has just updated it. God I love this man’s work. I wrote a complete article on him for Best Of Artists and Artisans November 2007. Love the new stuff.
Thanks to Friends For Posting Just What You Need To Hear On Facebook
My good friend posted this today. I have not seen him in a very long time, though it is good to see his face on facebook regularly. Charles Hively one of the most creative people I know, and a friendship I will cherish my entire life. Quoted Roosevelt.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. “
Amen.
Thanks Charles, I needed to hear that today.