Coulson Tough Sculpture for the Woodlands and Possibly Galveston?

This past year, I had the honor of sculpting an incredible man. The connection to this commission spans 30 years.  Here is my back story. At the beginning of my sculpting career, I had a fabulous idea. The Historical Strand in Galveston was going through some beautiful restoration and renovation, and I had the notion to create a series of bronze figures in costumes of the 1880s.  I wanted to pitch it to Mr. Mitchel, a philanthropist and investor in the strand, and see if he would be interested. He was already instrumental in bringing art to The Woodlands, a community north of Houston. I could see bronze children playing hoop and stick, ladies walking in bustle skirts, and men wearing top hats. I imagined the corners of streets with bronze people so that visitors could interact with them, and that also would be a sort of intriguing artistic directional system to lead tourists to destinations.

I love Galveston. It speaks to me. The connection began the first time I visited. So, mustering up all the hutzpah I needed, I contacted George Mitchell about the possible opportunity to do these bronzes. I knew he was doing a lot with art in The Woodlands. I had hoped the trend would continue in Galveston, and I began correspondence with Coulson Tough about this idea. Cleaning out years of art paperwork recently, I found my original correspondence with Mr. Tough from 1992.

Mr. Tough was a creative person in his own right as an architect and visionary, working in development alongside Mr. Mitchell. He joined forces with Mitchell in 1973, working on The Strand in Galveston and The Woodlands. 

Outdoor art is everywhere in the Woodlands. There is a collection of over 86 public art pieces.  It proudly stands as the largest public art collection in Texas.

I’m intrigued by the history and structure of The Outdoor Sculpture Project and the Woodlands Public Art program. Early in my career, it was interesting how many cities, like the Woodlands, have adopted a ‘percent for art’ program. This innovative approach involves imposing a fee on large developments, which they then used to creating public art.

A 2023 article in Paper City states, “The Howard Hughes Corporation’s vast Art Fund and The Woodlands Arts Council keep that drive going. “The Howard Hughes’ Art Fund is a major driver behind the public art in The Woodlands, particularly the larger pieces. The Art Fund was created in 1973 by community leader Coulson Tough under the direction of the founder of The Woodlands, George Mitchell.”

The Woodlands is about 45 minutes north of my home and art studio. I have seen events at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, one of over one hundred projects created through Coulson Tough’s influences. I mostly love to kayak Lake Woodlands, including visiting the one piece of art in the water—the 35-foot-long steel sculpture Rise of The Midgard Serpent by Marc Rosenthal.

I was so excited about the possible Galveston bronze idea all those years ago, but as I pursued it, the prospect of it fizzled out. But my connection to the Woodlands and Tough appeared in a recent commission.  

In 2022, just after the death of Coulson Tough, The Howard Hughes Corporation and Kinzelman Art Consulting contacted me about creating a sculpture of the beloved man.  The Woodlands honored the community leader by naming Tough Elementary after him. The school was the intended spot for my sculpture of this man of influence.  I feel honored to not only have a sculpture in The Woodlands but for it to be of the man who brought all the incredible art to the area. 

I learned a lot about Mr. Tough while creating the sculpture and shared it with the kids at the school. His mark is all over southern Texas, from The San Louis Hotel in Galveston, Texas, to the A&M campus in Galveston and the University of Houston.

The sculpture is of Mr. Tough sitting on a large bench with plenty of place for visitors.  It appears to be a blueprint in his lap, but instead of drafting, there are images and a list of some of his projects. His hand rests on the blueprint as he looks into the distance, reflecting on his contribution and community.  The children can bring paper and pencil and rub the images, transferring them to their own paper.  With permission from the family, I hid some things in the sculpture. I love that the children at Tough Elementary can learn about the man as they explore. 

The unveiling of this sculpture was in December 2023. Many were in attendance, including his son and grandchildren. I may have seen a tear or two.

I never got to create my bronze historical figures in Galveston, but I sure wish someone would pay me to cast a second in the edition of Mr. Tough so we could put him down in Galveston.  I think he belongs there as well.

I am so proud to add this one to my collection of art created for schools, to have worked with Mr. Tough—posthumously, and to be a part of The Woodlands art. I have the best job in the world. I get to celebrate a life remembered.