Orly Genger’s Hurlyburly, a commission for Austin’s Waller Creek, opened March 5, 2016. Image via Austin360.
While Houston and San Antonio have had a rough start to the year for public art, Austin had a bit of good news this week: it was announced that the Dallas-based Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation has donated $1.1 million to The Contemporary Austin for public art projects. In collaboration with the Waller Creek Conservancy, The Contemporary will use the money to commission projects along a 1.5 mile stretch of Waller Creek in downtown Austin. The first installation was unveiled yesterday—created by New York-based artist Orly Genger, the interactive sculpture is comprised of painted re-purposed lobster ropes.
The Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation and The Contemporary Austin have a history together—in 2013, the foundation gave The Contemporary $9 million to transform Laguna Gloria into a sculpture park.
1 comment
I’m very happy for/with the Contemporary, Waller Creek Conservancy, Austin, and public art.
But I wonder how much of a difference in reportage does it make that Houston & San Antonio were dealing with public art using public money?