Outdoor Gallery Installation (during Covid)- Rockport/Fulton TX
"Rockport Weathers the Storms"
What it's about: Rockport Weathers the Storms is a public art installation in the Rockport/Fulton area of Aransas Co. TX.
The installation consists of 9 paintings created from research and experience of the enduring little coastal Gulf towns and their historical ability to persevere through times torn apart by the physical assaults born in nature and human emotional assault born in stress and human suffering.
The installation is temporary, to be up for 1 year 2021-2022. This aspect of the works reminds us of the finite existence of everything, including art; and the ability of nature to erase both the good and the bad; both the ugly truths of our societal pitfalls and the beauty of those who love one another. The temporary nature is emphasized by the canvas being casually stapled to the boards instead of meticulously stretched over a frame and emphasized by the paintings being created on much more fragile fabric rather than on wood or stone.
The Experience: As you stand and face each painting, take in the sounds, smells, taste in your mouth and feel of the air on your skin while you take in the sight of the painting; and notice your own personal impression of the moment and what that image may mean to you.
The installation consists of 9 paintings created from research and experience of the enduring little coastal Gulf towns and their historical ability to persevere through times torn apart by the physical assaults born in nature and human emotional assault born in stress and human suffering.
The installation is temporary, to be up for 1 year 2021-2022. This aspect of the works reminds us of the finite existence of everything, including art; and the ability of nature to erase both the good and the bad; both the ugly truths of our societal pitfalls and the beauty of those who love one another. The temporary nature is emphasized by the canvas being casually stapled to the boards instead of meticulously stretched over a frame and emphasized by the paintings being created on much more fragile fabric rather than on wood or stone.
The Experience: As you stand and face each painting, take in the sounds, smells, taste in your mouth and feel of the air on your skin while you take in the sight of the painting; and notice your own personal impression of the moment and what that image may mean to you.
This installation sponsored by:
Fine Line Group
The Family Office of Sasha and Edward P. Bass
in partnership with
Gallery of Dreams
Fine Line Group
The Family Office of Sasha and Edward P. Bass
in partnership with
Gallery of Dreams
The Rebirth of Con Rong
about:
Vietnamese proverb Con Rong, chau Tien (children of dragon, grandchildren of immortal sages) tells the folklore story of the beginning of Vietnamese dynasty. In this culture dragons are symbols of water, universe, life and growth.
The gulf coast of Texas became home to Vietnamese refugees as early as 1975 as they fled their war-torn homeland and invested their shrimping talents in establishing a new version of their civilization in a new land.
Hurricanes which regularly ravage coastal towns of the gulf from June through November are Mother Nature's opportunity to wipe out the existing life and restart anew. Although the damage may be visceral, these coastal communities are strong in their faith, their commitment and their ties to the water and earth; and they forge onward to rebuild, restore and rebirth from their roots which are fed by the local waters.
This painting is owned by HuDAT Benchwarmers restaurant in Fulton TX.
The Holy Light of All the Colors
When Rockport's St. Peter's Catholic Church was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey, most of the stained glass windows were destroyed; but one had a very strange occurrence happen. It was completely intact except for a center section that only removed the faces of the Madonna and Child. This Church, with its strong ties to Rockport diversity, is hoping to break ground on their new building soon. We are paying homage to the the mother and child for assistance with this endeavor.
For more information on Rockport community diversity visit the Aransas County History Center.
This painting is now owned by and located at the St. Peter's Catholic Church Campus on FM 1781
"Waiting for J.L."
When we finally discover who we really are outside of our familial sphere, not as a provider, a student, a parent or a child, we come up against "prejudice of our species and socially imposed traditions".
Both Richard Bach's 1970's novella "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" are existentialist explorations of the purpose of life. Prejudices may make the road more challenging but take it just the same. Don't wait for J.L., become J.L.
Safe Harbor
about:
Safe Harbor is an invocation that nurses may use to protect themselves and their licensure if they are given an assignment which is unsafe for patient outcomes due to understaffing, overworking, lack of expertise, unsafe environment or other obstacle to providing safe and effective patient care. This situation occurred frequently during the pandemic in places hit especially hard for a period of time. Unfortunately, “Safe Harbor” isn’t always safe for the nurse's continued employment.
Safe Harbor is also a law mandating that "children accused of crimes related to being trafficked have their charges paused while they receive services, including a guardian ad litem to advocate on their behalf." (ncjw.org) This law is sometimes ignored by the juvenile justice system and children whose lives have already been a nightmare serve sentences for crimes of survival.
"Azazel and the Goat"
about:
In the Bible, both Christian and Hebrew versions, there exists a story where the sins of all the people were loaded onto the unlucky one of two chosen goats who was then sent into the wilderness. This is the origin of the term 'Scapegoat'.
Survivors of psychological scapegoating have often suffered lifetimes of dangerous people who have loaded all of their emotional baggage onto the back of this person as a way to rid themselves of their own guilt and unhappiness. Protection and recovery for the unlucky chosen person may only come in the form of escape to isolation.
This painting is now the property of Coast Modern Gallery on North St. Rockport TX
"The Hurricane, the Phoenix and the Big Blue Crab"
about:
Rockport TX has been home to the iconic 'Big Blue Crab' from 1957-1983 (when it fell apart) and then again from 2012-2017 (when Hurricane Harvey took it out). This year, 2021, the Blue Crab will rise again from the proverbial ashes as the newest version gets installed in the latter half of the year.
"The Returning"
about:
Those of us born and raised with salt water in our veins have a hard time living far from the water that nourishes our souls. Most of us will still dream of the cooling balm of watery silky smoothness floating across our skin and lilt of feathery seabreeze on those hot still nights of summer or the blustery chill of north winds whisking the wave foam high off the water as it renews and invigorates our dampfilled spirits. Even the minerals and grains of far off life in the mountains spend a lifetime heading back to the sea on the river drifts. We all return whence we came; but maybe we should consider why we left in the first place?
This painting is now owned by The Rockport Daily Grind.
"Rosie and the Blue Woman"
about:
The fabric of our society is destroyed by the divisions of our beliefs which are sometimes just the presentation of two sides of the same coin muddied by illusions created by those who seek to divide us.
This painting is located in Cove Harbor at the Bird viewing station next to Paradise Key Restaurant.
