Three public art projects on display in Jefferson

JEFFERSON, Texas—A benefactor, two artists, and civic leaders unveiled three public art installations Saturday in Jefferson, Texas.

The event culminated two weeks of activity by artists Sherry Owens and Art Shirer. The premiere featured these three works at the Park on Big Cypress Bayou:

■ “Above and Beyond,” that 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,” a suspended construction incorporating miles of wire and thousands of glass bits that travel through the woods. This piece visually connects two locations on the boardwalk.

■ “Oodles of Doodles,” which accompanies the first two works, is an installation of objects produced during a creative workshop with local children.

Richard H. Collins, the president and founder of the Collins Academy, worked with the city of Jefferson to create the Artists-in-Residence program. The goal was to improve the city’s quality of life by offering an active and rich cultural program in conjunction with the

River” initiative.

“It turned out great. It was a very favorable experience,” Collins said.

The Artists-in-Residence program is a significant part of the academy’s multiyear reinvestment effort to bring art to Jefferson, to restore historical properties, draw tourists and enhanced the East Texas economy.

“Jefferson transformed in the late 1860’s into a cosmopolitan town,” Collins said. “Now it’s a historic destination where one can become immersed in the natural and cultural heritage of the past. Art on the River and the artists who come here will only increase interest in Jefferson. We believe our efforts will make Jefferson a leader in both ecological and historical preservation and community involvement.”

The artists arrived in Jefferson on Sept. 15. The pair incorporated the natural resources of the Port Jefferson History and Nature Center into the design, according to a press release. To determine the nature and scope of the sculptures, the duo would walk in the woods, measuring distances and identifying a variety of viewing points from which the public could see pieces.

Collins says he wants the program to combine “history, art and nature.”

“Art on the

Submitted photo ■ Artists Art Shirer and Sherry Owens work on “The Forest Echoes With Laughter”— one of the art installations in Jefferson, Texas, created as part of the “Art on the River” artists-in-residence project. Three new works of public art premiered Saturday.