Sculptor David Adickes is almost ready to plant this giant concrete-on-steel sign on property he owns along Chester St. on the south side of I-10, just east of Patterson. You’ll be able to get your best view of it when traffic comes to a standstill on your way downtown. Just needs a few more finishing touches, like a figurine or 2 or 8 to accompany that little guitar player hanging out between the O and the U. And hey, you’re right! If the Hollywood sign were 15 feet shorter, came down from the hillside, grew an ego, and stood by the freeway, it would kinda look like this.
- Sculptor David Adickes Loves Houston [Houston Modern Luxury, via HAIF]
- Sculptor Brings a Little Hollywood to Houston [MyFox Houston]
- David Adickes coverage [Swamplot]
Photo: Imelda Bettinger [license]
Yet another piece of crap foisted on the city by Adickes. The guy has been an artistic hack from day one. His fawning supporters only encourage the pollution of public places by this garbage. God knows how many more colossal concrete turds he will drop on his way to retirement in Huntsville.
Bitterman party of one. Your table is ready.
Don’t like it one bit. I gather that the artist is held in some esteem, but this strikes me as a cross between crayons and the lee brown sign that used to welcome visitors at iah.
Bet he totally had this scrawled on his Trapper-Keeper from home room in 6th grade. Also, I’ve noticed his statues have managed to avoid being “tagged” (as the kids say)… Any insight? It seems like something that would be hit pretty often and easily…
Embarrassing.
i like most of his stuff but this looks a bit childish and slightly illiterate. i love folk art and art cars… but this doesn’t really represent hosuton.
if i was in traffic i would just find it mocking and irritating.
i misspelled houston, i know… maybe it’s a bad influence!
One thing that might ensure a second term for Annise Parker would be an ordinance banning anything by David Adickes.
I really don’t see why folks are so upset with it. I guess the endless billboards for mattresses, lawyers and lap-band surgeries are more visually appealing. Sheesh.
You know, for reasons I can’t accurately articulate, I kind of like it.
Billboards are advertising and we expect the tackiness. Adickes’ derivative, shallow, childish work is supposed to be art. In such public places it reflects very poorly on Houston’s serious art community. If I had the money I’d buy every piece of land his oeuvre sits on, remove the concrete goo-goo and commission public works from serious local artists.
Geez, Addicks it’s not the 1960’s in Greenwich Village!
It’s 2011 – HEART – is now <3
ohh… not the serious art community mafia… wow they are up in arms now?
or just p.o’ed that he caught some funding they didn’t…
Oh Miz(ery):
Houston’s serious art community is MIA.
Craig
Call me crazy, but I like it. It’s more visually appealing than the hundreds of tear-down-and-rebuild houses and condos that are taking over the Heights, Rice Military, and Montrose.
“Reflects poorly on Houston’s serious art community”? As someone who is involved with that community, I’m not too worried about them. They’re big boys and girls.
In any case, he’s building this nonsense on his own property–he could have sold that property to a townhouse developer or a billboard company or Tilman Fertitta. (That said, I wish he’d do a giant Lightnin’ Hopkins head there instead. That or Donald Barthelme. That’d be some Houston love I could really get behind.)
Find it totally fun and as long as its on property he owns and within Houston’s stringent deed restrictions, I think it mirrors the city… colorful, over the top and not one to take itself too serious.
“Adickes is almost ready to plant this giant concrete-on-steel sign on property he owns along Chester St. on the south side of I-10, just east of Patterson.”
So everyone heading to the Heights Wal-Mart via I-10 east will get a nice close-up view of it. There’s just something right about that.
I’m with Robert. I don’t admire this sculpture, but I admire Adickes’ desire to support Houston. Let he who has given Houston such a big Valentine’s Day present cast the first stone.
The intent of art is to engage in lively discussion as each piece of work is interpreted differently by each individual. Some may like it, some may hate it. But the fact that you’re discussing it means the artists objective has been achieved.
Adickes’ art is perfect for Houston. Big, obvious, intrusive, big, commercial, free of nuance, unoriginal, except that it is so big. Do you really expect the next Alexander Calder or Juan Miro to emerge from Houston? Adickes is what you get when you are surrounded by a City that loves strip malls, planned communities, highways, chain stores and restaurants and a Walmart supercenter on every corner. Houstonians would consider anything short of Adickes’ oversized and uninspired work communistical and bordering on homoerotic satanism. Suburbanites will be able to enter Houston’s inner core with a little less trepidation than when they see Bernar Venet’s installations at Hermann Park and cry out to one another “it just looks like the pipe yard at the refinery.” I just hope Adickes knows about the sound wall. But the work would probably be just as effective on either side.
I am so glad I don’t live in Houston. But y’all are welcome to come to my city and shop. O yeah, and we still have red light cameras in operation. Feel free to donate any time.
Thanks for using my photo! :D Yay Houston!
Gee and Miz Brooke Smith usually jumps others bones for being too harsh! I think this is utterly stupid so it will fit in perfectly with everything else in our landscape.
Old School and JT, you are so right in every way (she said, exhaling a long drag from her Sobranie Gold).
Wow, Miz, you sure do sound snotty …. a little jealousy, maybe, that your work doesn’t get this kind of attention?
I think ANY artwork in place of a row of 3-story townhomes is good.
And Robert — I agree, he needs to do a Lightnin’ Hopkins — and maybe an SRV also!
Hey Old School, since you love Houston (in all its glory) so much, why don’t you move?
From Texas Bob:
“Call me crazy, but I like it. It’s more visually appealing than the hundreds of tear-down-and-rebuild houses and condos that are taking over the Heights, Rice Military, and Montrose.”
I dont know what people see in the Heights..it looks like a shithole now but before it looked even worse..no curbs?shitty looking bungalows? it honestly looked like 5th ward except for the white people of course..
and this sign that adickes is making looks so dallashish or disneyish..either way its a good idea to have sculptures along the freeway but this looks corny…his presidential busts were ALOT better since the water-lights district is a no-go why doesn’t he just put those busts along the highway instead of this ‘sign” that looks like it belongs in Dallas or Orlando..2 craptacular cities
Old School can’t move, his irrational fear of the suburbs has him trapped inside the loop.
Cashadena Jones:
That sign wouldn’t make it in Dallas–maybe in Arlington or Mesquite but not Dallas.
I do agree with everything else you said though.
Jimbo: It is not a fear. Fear is the reason you lock your doors when you exit the the highway to go to an Astros game, leaving the protective facade of your planned community. I hate the suburbs. Big difference.
Libby: You might want to read your posts before you hit “post comment”. And to answer your question, I do love Houston too much to leave it.
Old School, the only thing more exaggerated than your impression of your own superiority is your impression of the inferiority of everyone else.
Where are all those painted cows we had years ago?? Now they spoke to Houston Texas!
” …Houston’s serious art community.”
Now that is fucking hilarious.
I can’t believe people are complaining about a piece that says “We Love Houston”. Have you seen the welcome signs of other cities and states? You complain about this when Houston is infamous for it’s ugly billboards along I-45 and other places. Give me a break and lighten up already!
Not a fan of Brooke Smith, nor people with very shallow and closed minds when it comes to art. Sorry you feel the incessant need to poop on anything you don’t like, and calling it Juvenile only reflects negatively on you. I wouldn’t expect everyone to like it, but then again what have you done to improve Houston short of rig a swamplot most improved neighborhood vote?
cm (“closed mind?”), I’ve done more for this city than you can imagine.
I love it. I think it looks happy and cheery. But I AM a big fan of David’s. I don’t love his president heads (they just bore me as far as art goes), but I love that he’s making art every day and sharing it with the rest of us. He’s an amazingly creative person and he’s always growing and experimenting as an artist. And he makes more art in a week than most people do in a lifetime. What else are the people bitching and moaning doing with *their* lives?
Please tell me those are frogs playing musical instruments. That would be sooo ironical.
On a more serious note, I have lived in Houston for over 40 years and David Adickes is part of my collective memory of this town. To me, his public art personifies Houston, for better or worse. I’m pretty ambivalent toward most of his work. But, my wife and the kids love his ginormous Sam Houston outside of Huntsville. It makes us laugh and stupidly giddy every time we know it is around the bend. Of course, if it was a giant pig eating a wheel of cheese it might have the same effect. Ah, art.
Wow, even eyesores are bigger in Texas!
this is advertising not art, why the harsh feelings.
i don’t like it, but it’s his property and it’s a great form of self-promotion so more power to him.
At least it’s not those goddamn cows that kept popping up in various cities.
Amen. At least the cows are relatively small (and tippable).
cashadenajones, If you have driven around the heights (specifically woodland heights, like on Bayland) and you still feel the way of your previous post, I believe the neighborhood would be glad you don’t see the appeal.
…it could be worse. At least it’s not the Billie Lawless Sculpture Green Lightning that was erected (pardon the pun) in Buffalo, NY in 1984. (There is a HUGE art community there.)
Most important thing to know about Houston’s self-proclaimed “Serious Art Community” is that they’re hardshell Southern Talibaptist. Pretty much everything you need to know.
“Most important thing to know about Houston’s self-proclaimed “Serious Art Community†is that they’re hardshell Southern Talibaptist. Pretty much everything you need to know.”
Huh? Wha-?
From Caneco:
cashadenajones, If you have driven around the heights (specifically woodland heights, like on Bayland) and you still feel the way of your previous post, I believe the neighborhood would be glad you don’t see the appeal.
Ditto Caneco, Maybe divirsity isnt for everyone.
So far the only “serious art community” in this city that I have ever seen was Dominique de Menil. Her collections are also the only serious collections in this city.
“From Matt Mystery:
So far the only “serious art community†in this city that I have ever seen was Dominique de Menil. Her collections are also the only serious collections in this city.”
Matt: I don’t want to hijack the conversation here, but this is just wrong. The MFAH has a collection of amazing quality and unusual breadth. In terms of collectors, there are many in Houston who have outstanding art collections–they just haven’t built public museums dedicated to themselves the way the Menils did. But you can see many “gift of…” or “loaned from the collection of…” tags on work at the MFAH that indicates the breadth and depth of collecting in Houston.
And when I think of the phrase “serious art community,” I also think of actual producing artists–there are many in Houston, quite a few of whom are very good IMHO. They show their work in any of numerous galleries in Houston and in the various non-profit art spaces here like Lawndale, Box 13, and Diverse Works (among others). (And many also show work in galleries in NYC–I just saw a Joseph Havel show in Chelsea, for example–and elsewhere.) And Houston hosts one of the biggest photography festivals in the world, FotoFest, every two years. And I might add that any regular reader of Swamplot knows we have a pretty vital street art scene.
I realize this stuff is not on lots of people’s radar, but that’s fairly universal, not just a case of Houston not appreciating its art scene. But I write about Houston’s art every week, I collect art by Houston artists (on a modest scale), and I’m continually astounded by how much art is happening in Houston.
@ Robert Boyd – so true! Check out M2M Gallery in the Heights Theatre for confirmation! Neutral about the sign; maybe because I know it’s just a matter of time before some tagger sprays a picture of a screw on the heart.
‘Scuse me – M2 Gallery! Confusing the name with men’s stores of the past….
Be honest. Has anyone in the car ever uttered a really positive comment when you drive by one of Adickes’ pieces?
I do think this would get a better response if it said… “WE H8 DALLAS”
From Robert Boyd:
In terms of collectors, there are many in Houston who have outstanding art collections–they just haven’t built public museums dedicated to themselves the way the Menils did.
________________________________
There are no collectors in Houston whose collections can be compared to the collections of the de Menils. But if you wish to believe there are, that is your right. The de Menils were also more than just collectors. They were also patrons on a level which no others, again, can be compared. The Menil is more than just a collection. It is a community of people and organizations who “caught Dominique’s eye” and who have continued to catch the eyes of those who followed her at The Menil and have to come to know what did and did not “catch her eye.”
The first exhibition by Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin, the exhibition that perhaps started what would become FotoFest, was at Rice. Under the patronage of Dominique de Menil.
The Museum of Fine Arts does indeed have some spectaclar pieces. Many donated by the de Menils. The Museum of Fine Arts wanted the collections. As did others. And as did others the Museum of Fine Arts sniffed when rebuffed. The reality is the only possible museum for the Menil collections was The Menil. Which casuse some to sniff even more at collections that few others can be compared to. None of them in Houston. The collections were not so much the result of the money but simply the passion of Dominque de Menil. A passion absolutely no one in Houston shared. Had things turned out differently after World War II and the Schlumberger money disappeared, she would have found a way to pursue the passion. And we would have still had The Menil.
What some today call art, she would have simply ignored. As she always did.
@Caneco “WE H8 DALLAS”
LMAO!!
Matt:
Yeah, OK. The Menils were great. I fully agree. But to dismiss everything else in Houston, especially what is happening with Houston art now, strikes me as arrogant and silly.
Love when people speak in absolutes yet give nary a single example. Pardon me whilst I doubt your philanthropy, and tendency towards self agrandizing. Seriously you don’t see me calling myself Mr. Alden Place. :)
From Robert Boyd:
Matt:
Yeah, OK. The Menils were great. I fully agree. But to dismiss everything else in Houston, especially what is happening with Houston art now, strikes me as arrogant and silly.
_____________________________
I’m not dismissing everything else. Just most everything else. Definitely dismissing David Adickes.
But the Adickes stuff is fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Maybe there should be a “frivolous art community” here in Houston.
There you go.
Frankly – I think it’s cool that Houston is getting funkier. So what if it’s too primary-colored or elementary for some folks. I like the thought of roadside art (especially the type that boasts about our city) – and if you don’t, then make some of your own & show us how its done.
And yes – I have heard people comment about Adickes President heads and how different and funky they are.
Take an out-of-towner for a drive by Adickes studio and look at those president busts from the ground-up – they’re pretty incredible, if for no other reason than their massive size. And the GINORMOUS Beatles statues behind them are awesome. Looking forward to seeing where Adickes puts those.
We Houston. Yes, we do.
Matt:
Sorry. I misinterpreted “So far the only “serious art community†in this city that I have ever seen was Dominique de Menil” as you dismissing everything else. I also misread “Her collections are also the only serious collections in this city” as meaning that you thought her collections are the only serious collections in this city.
oh my GOD, someone PLEASE PAY DAVID ADICKES TO GO RUIN SOMEONE ELSE’S CITY. Chicago gets the bean at Millenium Park, we get craptastic armless cello players downtown and this junk.
What a bunch of pretentious negative bastards most of you are. Sorry it’s not haute design by your favorite unknown artist, fucking cry me a river. It’s different, it’s fun, and it’s NOT a strip mall. I like it.
#63
LOL
i like it but still think our city slogan should be, “houston it’s worth it.”
If this post can get enough commentd to make the most popular all-time posts list….then David Adickes wins.
Let’s do it for Houston (and art)!!!!!
Wow…so much negative verbal diarrhea from a bunch of self-proclaiming “serious artists” who are so concerned about a sign that says “We Love Houston” in an area that was a former industrial wasteland. Did the industrial wasteland look better to you? What is so wrong with one unserious message that says “We Love Houston.” Maybe some of you need to start thinking positively, really analyze where these hateful comments are coming from and why one however giant sign/piece of art/Andy Warhol-esque commercial/Hollywood sign in some industrial back corner off I-10 is causing you so much hate and rage. I LOVE HOUSTON…I’m not asking that you do either; however I think you should get off of it and spread some of the love yourselves. Thank you, David Adickes for one pure, heartfelt, and lighthearted advertisement for the city of Houston.
There are over 600+ SQUARE MILES in the city of Houston. Now go out there and start filling up our blocks with some of your beautiful and amazing artwork and I will do the same! The more the better!
From RWBoyd:
Sorry. I misinterpreted “So far the only “serious art community†in this city that I have ever seen was Dominique de Menil†as you dismissing everything else. I also misread “Her collections are also the only serious collections in this city†as meaning that you thought her collections are the only serious collections in this city.
______________________________
You misunderstood nothing. Most still judge art by the $$$ instead of the art itself. There is some very expensive but nonetheless insignificant art on walls and on pedestals and in gardens all over town. The auction houses in particular love Houstonians. As do gallery owners. Provenance is a word few understand. Among other things it indicates the period in which the artist created the particular piece of art. Dominique tended to buy periods rather than pieces. Some would say she created periods. She probably did. She had “the eye” for art. She knew which artists would become part of serious collections. And which would not.
Serious art, if you want to call it that, has sort of moved out of the price range for most just the same. It is now the domain of Arab sheiks and Russian oligarchs. Most of it hanging on walls and sitting on pedestals and displayed in gardens along the French Riviera. And saying that I realize that one of them may decide he wants his own presidents’ park, at least the presidents he’s bought, at which point, well, I guess David Adickes will have arrived as they say. But I doubt he will ever arrive at The Menil. Any more than many of the artists hanging in galleries all over town will.
Artistic expression takes many forms. The expression itself does not make it art.
I like it! It’s quirky and nothing can possibly annoy me more while driving than panhandlers when I get off the freeway. I vote FOR if anyone is counting.
“Serious art, if you want to call it that, has sort of moved out of the price range for most just the same. It is now the domain of Arab sheiks and Russian oligarchs.”
You are defining “serious art” as expensive art. I define it differently–art done by people who are serious about art, and which other artists appreciate (as well as curators and critics). You can buy pieces of “serious art” in Houston for prices that range from the $100 directly from the artist’s studio to tens of thousands for Art Guys pieces bought at McClain Gallery. People do this all the time, and not just Arab Sheiks and Russian Oligarchs. It’s just that no one writes news articles about people who buy a $2000 piece of art. (That said, see the movie “Herb and Dorothy”, about a school librarian and a postal worker who built a huge, world-class collection of mostly post-minimal artworks–by many of the same artists you can see at the Menil collection. They’re my collector heroes.)
With a few notable exceptions, I don’t tend to personally like David Addicks’ expressions. I think that they’re often lacking context or substance. But hey, that’s just my personal taste. (And what does ANYBODY know objectively about art, anyway!?) What I do like about him is that he expresses himself frequently and unabashedly. Whether obnoxious or not, I think that self-expression is something that more people ought to embrace and celebrate. And that’s very Houston.
Now, to practice what I preach: I think that people who whine about the presence of something that they think looks ugly are a festering sore upon our society, the nation, and humanity at large. Enforced austerity and order are the natural consequence of such mindsets, but such such suppressive tendencies are a rebellion against what it means to be human; they are a mass abdication of willpower. It is very nearly a criminal pathology, in my opinion.
I give it another “for.”
I love Pop Art, especially when it does what it’s suppose to do…get adults talking and children interested in picking up a crayon. It’s suppose to be quirky and fun for the masses. Adickes is very good at that.
Of course, this is coming from someone who painted a few of the over-sized fiberglass cowboy boots displayed at the rodeo a few years back and has a bit of love and a career in pop, folk and commercial art.
Art is as diverse as the people who make it and the people who view it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
*high fives Miz Brooke*
Heights weirdo said, “Art is as diverse as the people who make it and the people who view it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chin Chin!
From another weirdo
I forsee it making the list of About Town Cutaway shots for major sports broadcasts coming from Houston.