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WELCOME!
We are very proud to present True North 2025—the project’s twelfth installation of eight sculptures on the esplanade of Heights Boulevard.
This year’s lineup of extraordinary Texas artists will carry on the tradition of bringing joy, wonder, humor, and imagination through their works to our community and the many visitors who pass through. We are thankful to these fine artists for their talent, time, resources, and dedication.
We are also very grateful to the generous individuals, businesses, and professionals in this community who come together to drive the project forward with their financial support. We can’t do it without you.
Public art can be a risky business, and 2024 was a year full of ups and downs when the boulevard was hit hard by two extreme weather events—the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl—losing one beloved sculpture in the first storm. Our thanks go out to the City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation, Forestry, and Solid Waste Departments and Houston Heights Association’s Boulevard Beautification, Urban Forestry, and Garden Club volunteers for their hard work (still continuing today) to return the boulevard to its previous glory. We also give a special shout out to Bartlett Tree Experts who stepped in to remediate a nasty invasion of artillery fungi within the mulched sculpture sites—another unwanted gift from the storms.
It continues to be our pleasure and an honor to serve on this sculpture project. We hope you enjoy this year’s exhibition!
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Donna Bennett, Dean Ruck, Gus Kopriva
Chris Silkwood and Kelly Simmons
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Stay tuned for all the latest by following us on Facebook and Instagram!
True North 2025
"Sattie" by Elizabeth Akamatsu
"Sattie" by Elizabeth Akamatsu
"BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD #1" by Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH
"Sattie" by Elizabeth Akamatsu
Kolanowski Studio
Elizabeth Akamatsu
NACOGDOCHES TX
"Sattie"
Elizabeth Akamatsu’s work is often inspired by the intersection of nature with technology. She says, “My interest in forms found in nature—combined with an awareness that I am dependent on technology—has inspired the creation of this sculpture. Its spherical form, made of two different hexagon shapes, is combined with orange conduit bent to refer to the petals of a flower. This conduit is often seen on the side of the road—used to protect underground communications wire. ‘Sattie’ represents nature’s natural seed dispersement similar to the way the internet spreads information around the world.”
Akamatsu was born in Yokosuka, Japan, and grew up in California. She earned a BA in painting from California State University, Fullerton, and an MFA from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She ran the sculpture and metals program at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, and headed the sculpture program at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville. Now living and working in Nacogdoches as a full-time artist, her work has been shown extensively throughout the United States and internationally, including Art League Houston; Baytown Sculpture Trail; Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene; Centro per l'arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato, Tuscany, Italy; Redbud Arts Center, Houston, for Texas Sculpture Group; San Angelo Museum of Fine Art; San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum; and Site Gallery, The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Houston. Akamatsu’s works are in the permanent collections of Art in Public Places, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Bonnie Brae Roundabout, Denton; Diamond Hill Community Center, Fort Worth; Eldridge Park, Sugar Land; The Waterway, The Woodlands; and True North featured her dreamy cloud sculpture, “Cumulus,” in 2022.
Elizabeth Akamatsu's "Sattie"
Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH
PFLUGERVILLE TX
"BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD #1"
Taking inspiration from traditional West African textile weaving as a tool of communication and statement, Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH’s “Bright Days Ahead” sculpture series resulted from the artist’s own investigation into homelessness—sitting with individuals on the streets willing to speak with him about their journeys and their experiences of devastating circumstances and dangerous conditions. AKIRASH says, “You can’t judge a book by its cover. The answers differ from one individual to another—loss of income, debt, natural disaster, illness and injury, and many suffering from mental health issues.” He created “BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD #1” with multitudes of laser cut geometric patterns meant to represent the number of homeless persons in Texas.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, AKIRASH earned a BSC in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and went on to study Fine and Applied Arts at the Institute of Textile Technology, Arts and Design, Lagos. Now living and creating art in Pflugerville, Texas, AKIRASH has permanent works in the collections of Austin Bergstrom International Airport; Howson Library, Austin; Pflugerville Public Library; Roy Orr Trail, Desoto; and Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, Austin. His works have been widely exhibited, including ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, Bloomington, Indiana; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft; Kemp Center for the Arts, Wichita Falls; Redbud Arts Center, Houston; Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Site Gallery, The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Houston. AKIRASH has received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships that include the Commonwealth Connection Award, United Kingdom; Mid-America Arts Alliance (through National Endowment for the Arts); Pollock Krasner Foundation, New York City; and Santo Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri.
Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH's "BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD #1"
Amanda Barry Jones
HOUSTON TX
"Nature Reclaims: Wood Pile"
Amanda Barry Jones says, “The 2024 storms—the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl—left profound marks on our communities, especially hard-hit Garden Oaks where I live and the Greater Heights where I once lived. Uprooting ancient oaks and pines—which served as namesakes and guardians of our neighborhoods—the storms left landscapes littered with massive piles of wood and debris.” At first glance, “Nature Reclaims: Wood Pile” is reminiscent of these storms’ destructive aftermaths, however, a closer inspection reveals the magical transformation taking place within the unearthed root ball and nooks and crannies of the tree’s broken stump. Here, Barry Jones has crafted insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals, giving new life to the planet through the decaying wood; turning a symbol of destruction into a celebration of nature’s resilience and the beauty hidden within the chaos.
Barry Jones is a multidisciplinary artist with a foundation in ceramics and nearly 20 years’ experience working with clay. She received a BFA in Ceramics from Lamar University, Beaumont, where she was born, and a full scholarship to the graduate program at Houston Christian University earning an MFA in sculpture and ceramics. A co-founder of the Empty Bowls of Southeast Texas project, Barry Jones runs the Art Department and Art Gallery at Galveston College and lives and works as a professional artist in Houston. Her work has been widely exhibited, including shows at Site Gallery, The Silos at Sawyer Yards, for ClayHouston; Dishman Art Museum, Beaumont; Galveston College Fine Arts Gallery; Iron Gate Studios, Beaumont; Redbud Arts Center, Houston; Rockport Center for the Arts; The Art Studio, Inc., Beaumont; and Williams Tower Gallery, Houston.
Amanda Barry Jones "Nature Reclaims: Wood Pile"
Susan Budge
PATTISON TX
"Cosmic Kachinas"
The Native American aesthetic that surrounded Susan Budge in her formative years reveals itself in her work to varying degrees. She says, “My creative process is spontaneous and the influences I draw from are not always intentional but rather guided by my subconscious. According to the Natural History Museum of Utah, Kachina figures represent the spiritual beings who help Pueblo culture survive. They are used to provide guidance as spirits or personification of ele-ments in the real world. ‘Koyemsi,’ also known as the ‘Mudhead,’ is the holy clown of the Kachinas. They may engage in games with the children during breaks in dance. ‘Koshare’ represents spirits in ceremonies invoking rain and fertility, often seen with a watermelon, as glutinous, and acting out as an unacceptable trickster to remind the community of acceptable and harmonious standards of behavior. I hope these ‘Cosmic Kachinas’ help people connect to the spiritual and physical worlds with an understanding of the importance of every culture and all life. May they remind us to respect even that which we may not understand.”
Budge works in clay, bronze, and stainless steel sculpture with influences from biomorphism and surrealism. She holds a BFA from Texas Tech University, Lubbock; an MA from University of Houston-Clear Lake; and an MFA from The University of Texas at San Antonio. With a long career in arts education, including San Jacinto College, Houston; Angelo State College, San Angelo; and The Glassell School of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Budge has also served on the board of Texas Sculpture Group since 2014. Her works have been in hundreds of exhibitions, including solo shows at Art League Houston; Dock Space, San Antonio; Galeria Ortiz Contemporary, San Antonio; Heidi Vaughn Fine Art, Houston; Redbud Arts Center, Houston; and The Nave Museum, Victoria. Budge’s sculptures are in the permanent collections of Art Museum of South Texas, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Clara M. Lovett Art Museum, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, Missouri; Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts; Honolulu Museum of Art, Hawaii; New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana; San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts; San Antonio Museum of Art; and Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
Susan Budge's "Cosmic Kachinas"
Dave Clark
TOMBALL TX
"P.O.D.S."
“Life is unpredictable, fascinating, and chaotic—all ideas reflected in my work. Approaching life with a touch of sarcasm and humor allows me to engage with these realities and keep a somewhat level head. All my work is a record of my own personal perceptions translated into objects and images. My sculpture often reflects those experiences through forms from a dreamlike dystopian world. The viewer is invited to experience the narrative of each piece, which is intended to pose questions rather than provide answers—encouraging viewers to decipher the story or try to make sense of the object for themselves. Though the works often reflect a sarcastic darkness, they are not intended to present a fatalistic view. Instead, they are meant to express life’s complexities, challenge our societal priorities, and consider potential outcomes. Within each sculpture lies a hidden hope often representing our resilience.” Dave Clark
Upon earning his BFA from Oklahoma State University, Clark returned to his home base in Southern California to carve out a career as an artist in the entertainment field. After 20 years in that industry, he moved to Texas in 2010 to teach and spend more time creating his own works. Drawing from his experience as a fine artist and his work in the entertainment world, Clark creates unusual combinations of landscapes, suggestive of dystopian objects—as though cobbled together in the aftermath of destruction—and surreal story settings. With shows throughout the country, including a solo exhibition at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University, School of Art, Nacogdoches, he has received awards for his sculptural works at the 20th Annual Sculpture Garden Exhibition, Houston Visual Arts Alliance 40th Juried Membership Exhibition, Redbud Arts Center; International Sculpture Center, Hamilton, New Jersey; San Angelo State University Graduate, Ceramic Juried Exhibition; Texas National Competition and Exhibition, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches; and The Kemp Center for the Arts, Arts Council Wichita Falls.
Dave Clark's "P.O.D.S."
Tim Glover
HOUSTON TX
"Margy's Menagerie"
Tim Glover’s spiraling sculpture “Whirlwind” adorned Heights Boulevard’s esplanade for the project’s early 2015 exhibition, and this year he presents the whimsically delightful “Margy’s Menagerie”—titled for his late mother-in-law, Margy Doyle, who, during the work’s early conceptual process, suggested the elephant form. Glover says, “The idea took hold” and further inspired a carousel of Margy’s favorite fantastical characters to occupy the sculpture’s found tubular glass center—originally used for holding industrial chemical compounds.
Glover’s artwork has been described as imagist in the tradition of the Hairy Who of 60s Chicago. Grounded in object making, some works reference social, political, environmental, and cultural issues—mixing in a little satire for good measure. With a studio practice in Houston since 1986, Glover also taught and mentored aspiring young artists at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts from 1987 until his recent retirement. During that time he received numerous grants and honors for his professional achievements, including the distinguished Pollack-Krasner Award and the Teacher Recognition Award, Presidential Scholars Program, U.S. Department of Education. His sculptural works have been shown in numerous galleries, museums, and municipalities, including Art Car Museum, Houston; Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University); Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Lubbock; and Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois. His works are in permanent collections that include the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, University of Houston; Children’s Museum Houston; Washington/Westcott roundabout, Houston; METRORail at Preston and Main Street Square, Houston; and Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston.
Tim Glover's "Margy's Menagerie"
Felicia Schneider
HOUSTON TX
"On Your Mark"
A multidisciplinary artist living and working in Houston, inspiration for “On Your Mark” arrived for Felicia Schneider while reading novels with female archer protagonists. Her figurative sculpture was conceptualized as a Houston version of this fantasy-genre character. Schneider says, “Like our city, in a lush setting, she is modern, strong, sometimes dangerous, and presents an image of fine lines and geometry. There is a reason archery so easily fits into this genre: it is precise and destructive, serves a function, and takes place in the natural world—characteristics which also happen to inspire my art.”
Born in rural Oregon, Schneider forewent a BFA scholarship at Eastern Oregon University to pursue a BS in Environmental Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Always passionate about art, cultures, and the outdoors—finding the oceans, mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, and rivers to be the truest forms of art—Schneider later set out to study at University of Ghana, Accra, farm in Florida and Puerto Rico, travel throughout South America and Mexico, and tour the U.S. by motorcycle. She moved to Houston in 2017 to join the U.S. Geological Survey team, instantly falling in love with the architecture and geometry of this city’s skylines, houses, buildings, and roads—all existing in a harsh and beautiful natural environment. Her time with USGS taught her the craft of and passion for welding—opening an exciting new medium and stirring her long-held love for making objects and creating art. Schneider now teaches and works at TXRX, a non-profit, multi-media makerspace and fabrication and prototyping facility.
Felicia Schneider's "On Your Mark"
Ben Woitena
HOUSTON TX
"Mandatory Dogs"
Houston Chronicle
Native Texan Ben Woitena received a BFA in sculpture from The University of Texas at Austin and an MFA from University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He has lived in Houston since 1971 and, for 27 years, was head of sculpture at Houston Museum School of Art—now Glassell School of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston—teaching figurative sculpture, life drawing, bronze casting, metal fabrication, and wood- and stone-carving. His large outdoor sculptures have been exhibited extensively around the country and are in the permanent collections of many museums and municipalities, including Amarillo Museum of Art; City of Texas City; Civic Center Grounds, Abilene; El Paso Museum of Art; “Kerouac Commemorative,” Eastern Canal Park, Lowell, Massachusetts; Memorial Park, Houston; Museum of the Southeast, Beaumont; Old Jail Art Center, Albany; San Antonio Museum of Art; Terminal “E,” George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Tyler Museum of Art; and Vassar Museum, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York. Exhibitions of his works have been held at Arts Council of Midland; Artspace111, Fort Worth; El Paso Museum of Art; Hooks-Epstein Galleries, Houston; Meadows Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler; Salmon Sculpture Garden, Sunken Garden Park, San Angelo; Site Gallery, The Silos at Sawyer Yards, for Sculpture Month Houston; The Arts Center Texas Gallery, College Station, for Texas Sculpture Group; and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Woitena’s c. 2005 figurative sculpture “Mandatory Dogs,” made of painted steel and depicting a mother dog and her pup, was previously exhibited at Navy Pier Walk, Chicago, Illinois; a solo exhibition, Ben Woitena: A Retrospective 1963—2008, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum, Austin; and Tyler Museum of Art.
Ben Woitena's "Mandatory Dogs"
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