The New York sculptor behind those new splashy welcome signs on JFK Blvd. outside IAH passed away over the weekend after a short bout with liver cancer. Dennis Oppenheim explained the inspiration behind the Radiant Fountains sculpture and light show to the Chronicle‘s Douglas Britt last August: It was a sign he had seen as a child from the Bayshore Freeway in Oakland, California, which featured an animated version of the famous Sherwin-Williams “Cover the Earth” logo.
It was the world globe and then a bucket of paint dripping on top of it, and this captivated me. I told them [the Houston Arts Alliance] quite frankly that I would be extremely satisfied if I accomplished something like that, because it really did capture the ongoing traffic. I also said that it would be nice if these works were so … whatever … that people would turn around and come back to see them again.
- Dennis Oppenheim, creator of Bush airport sculpture, dies [29-95]
- Artist Oppenheim to create splash with light fountains [Houston Chronicle]
- Previously on Swamplot: Here’s Your Splashy New Welcome Sign, Houston, IAH’s New Welcome to Houston Sign: We Hope Your Splashdown Was Pleasant
Video: Andrew Vrana
Who here is old enough to remember the spectacular revolving neon eagle atop the Anheiser Busch brewery on I-10? THAT was an amazing display of lights, animation, and motion.
(meekly raising hand) Agree
PWEETY PWEEETY LIGHTS… ME LOVE THEMS BEFORE ME GO ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM IN THE SKY