HOBBY CENTER ART

Wall Drawing 2002 (Sol LeWitt)
Sol LeWitt was commissioned to create a masterpiece for the Grand Lobby of Sarofim Hall. Measuring 35’ x 27’, Wall Drawing 2002 was applied to the prepared wall surface by Tomas Ramberg, assistant to Mr. LeWitt and Lead Artist, along with a team of local Houstonartists.
 
Sol LeWitt

A sculptor and conceptual artist, Sol LeWitt has worked since 1964 creating art that focuses on abstract philosophical theories. Born in Hartford Connecticut in 1928, LeWitt graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in 1949 and later worked for architect I.M. Pei from 1955 to 1956. In 1962, LeWitt began his career as an artist with his first relief sculpture. LeWitt’s work evolved into modular geometric pieces painted white to emphasize the underlying concept of the sculptures and not the execution. In direct opposition to Abstract Expressionism, LeWitt’s art served as the beginning of a new era in Conceptual Art and the end of the Modernist art revolution. In the late 60s, LeWitt began designing murals and wall drawings of geometric designs, brilliant colors, and jarring patterns. Drawn directly onto walls and painted by a team of artists, his works are “temporary”, as they are painted over with the next exhibit or renovation of the hall—another conceptual tactic that lends itself to the non-materialistic and abstract. LeWitt pushed the conventions of art by asserting that art exists abstractly and lives in the intellectual practice of conceptualizing, planning, and mapping. By this philosophy, the original imaginative experience presides over the actual creation of the work or the finished product.

LeWitt states in the catalog of his art, “In conceptual art the idea of concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair.” LeWitt designs his pieces himself, but the artistic development of the works ends in his imagination, removing the “creative” out of the “creation” process by halting the emotional or intuitive possibilities that arise during installation.

In Minds Sculpture (Tony Cragg)
At the corner of Bagby and Walker streets stands the magnificent two-part sculpture In Minds dated 2001-2002 by internationally renowned artist, Tony Cragg. Cast bronze with stainless steel armature, the narrow form (28’ x 4’) weighs 1800 lbs. while the shorter, more voluminous form (22’ x 11’) weighs 3800 lbs. The work was cast in Germanyand shipped to the Houstonfrom the Port of Rotterdam in Holland.

Tony Cragg

Tony Cragg, born in Liverpool , England in 1949 has created eclectic yet classic sculptures since the 1970s. Cragg studied at Gloucester College of Art and Design in Cheltenham (1968-69), Wimbledon School of Art (1969-72) and the Royal College of Art (1972-77). In 1977, Cragg moved to > Wuppertal , Germany where he currently resides. With gallery shows and museum openings around the world, Cragg’s pieces assert the artist’s individuality with his elaborate installations, inventive materials, and humanitarian themes. He is known best for the unpredictability and diversity of his materials, which include tree trunks, plastic, rubber, copper, and glass. From the start of his career, Cragg has innovatively explored the restrictions of his materials with artistic techniques that constantly push conventional limits. His earliest works, from the 70s, consist of found materials that he used to create geometric sculptures and abstract images on gallery floors and walls. A decade later, Cragg used more refined materials such as copper and bronze to create organic representations of laboratory equipment, inspired by his work as a lab technician from 1966 to 1968 at the Natural Rubber Producers Research Association. Cragg continues to test conventional artistic confines. His pieces have most recently been exhibited in the Marian Goodman Gallery in New York . Cragg was awarded the Turner Prize in 1988 and was elected Royal Academician in 1994.

The Magic of Music 2003 & Rhapsody 2004 (Leonardo Nierman)
A gift of Houstonians Sydney and Ted Roggen, two magnificent Leonardo Nierman tapestries were added to the Hobby Center’s public art collection in December 2004.  The first entitled The Magic of Music 2003, graces the entrance of Zilkha Hall and serves as a prequel to the dynamic stage performances taking place just beyond the theatre doors.  The second, Rhapsody 2004 is located on the Gallery level overlooking the Grand Lobby.  The rich colors and vibrant hues of this musically themed piece create a dramatic entryway fitting of Sarofim Hall.

Leonardo Nierman

Leonardo Nierman has been a creative force for more than 45 years.  His paintings are exhibited in museums and galleries across the globe including Australia, Sweden, Israel, Vatican City and in 30 states throughout the US.  As a world-renowned artist, he has received numerous accolades including: Life fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, London; Diploma of Fine Arts, Monaco; Master of Painting honors, Academia of Italy and the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida worldwide design competition winner.  In addition to the Hobby Center pieces, Mr. Nierman’s has generously donated a stainless steel sculpture, entitle “Hope” on display at the Wallace D. Wilson Museum, which is located in the Denton A. Cooley Building on the Texas Heart Institute.
 
Harmony (David Kimball Anderson) 
  
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