MAY 11, 2009, 5:00pm-5:30pm
Corner of Alabama and Harrison
The City of El Paso Public Art Program invites the public to the dedication and unveiling of Sky Boulder, a sculptural park designed by local artist Willie Ray Parish, located on the corner of Alabama and Harrison, on Monday, May 11, 2009, 5:00pm-5:30pm.
About the Project
As part of an open space enhancement project in district 2, two percent (2%) of funds were set aside for the design, fabrication, and installation of permanent public art. Upon review by an artist selection panel, Public Art Committee, and the Cultural Affairs Advisory Board, artist Willie Ray Parish was selected from a pre-qualified group of artists to provide an iconic gathering place for community residents and visitors alike.
About the Design by Willie Ray Parish
Transforming what was once a drainage dam into a sculptural landscape, Sky Boulder Park brings together 5 abstract elements: Sky Boulder, Hepgrind, Mogul, Divider, and Ballustrade.
Sky Boulder serves as a metaphor for the tenuous state of the earth as it hangs in an environmental balance. As the largest and most dramatic sculpture in the park, it is to serve as a magnet for visitors onto the site.
Mogul, Hepgrind, Divider, and Ballustrade were all designed to inspire the creativity and art of local skateboarders. Marks left by the public, including skaters, are intended to alter and gradually transform the patina of the sculptures.
About the Artist
El Paso artist Willie Ray Parish received a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Mississippi and a Masters in Fine Arts from the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles. As a metal and wood sculptor, his work has been exhibited nationwide, gaining highly regarded recognition. Parish is currently a sculpture professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and is founder and Director of the Border Art Residency, a foundation based in La Union, New Mexico that provides a laboratory environment for national and international artists in La Union, NM.
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