Houstonians Embrace Art in Urban Setting

HOUSTON—Public art generates tangible and intangible benefits, and in the most successful instances, it becomes an integral and beloved part of the community. Enhancing its environment, art enriches residents’ lives, instills a sense of civic pride, creates a shared history, connects communities, and provides opportunities for dialogue, engagement and learning, according to Urban Land Institute.

With this type of engagement in mind, Skanska entered into new collaboration with creative community, Sawyer Yards, to bring rotating art installations to Understory. This space is the 35,000-square-foot community hub and culinary market at the Bank of America Tower office development.

“Our partnership with Sawyer Yards underscores Skanska’s commitment to reimagining Houston’s tunnel experience downtown. We are creating an engaging community destination that will reinvent the tunnel network in a way not seen before in its near 90-year history,” said Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston. “Houston’s world-class art scene is starting to rise to the same level of prominence as our globally renowned culinary scene and this trend of combining art and food will culminate in Understory at Bank of America Tower. Showcasing the work of artists from this vibrant local creative community will complement the unique flavors of Understory with an equally unique visual experience.”

Damborsky adds, like Sawyer Yards, Skanska is focused on creating dynamic destinations that offer a wide range of amenities and allow the community to share special experiences.

“It will be a prime example of how Skanska approaches place making for our communities. We look forward to the opening of this first installation and to continuing to program Understory with diverse offerings that reflect the vibrant cultural fabric of Houston,” he said.

Curated by Grace Zuñiga, Sawyer Yards creative director, the inaugural installation titled Natural Abstraction will feature eight women and include paintings, ceramics and a mural, all exploring the human connection to natural environments while deepening an understanding of home. Sawyer Yards artists participating in the inaugural exhibition include Celan Bouillet, Luisa Duarte, Leslie Gaworecki, Hedwige Jacobs, Ami Mehta and Falon Mihalic, as well as Houston-based ceramist Jessica Phillips and muralist Jessica Rice.

“This unique concentration of artists who create dynamic and inspirational pieces to share with the community is truly what makes Sawyer Yards the creative heart of Houston,” said Steve Gibson, one of the developers of Sawyer Yards.

Pieces will be on view from June 1 through December 30, 2019. Every six months, the 100-foot glass wall lining Milam Street known as the Milam Art Wall will feature work from Sawyer Yards artists curated by Zuñiga. Curated themes will vary with each installation.

“The Milam Art Wall was the perfect addition to this groundbreaking space because it offers a central location that is visible from almost every corner of the Understory market hall,” Damborsky tells GlobeSt.com. “This, along with an abundance of natural light and a signature gathering space like the Great Steps, has created a place where Houstonians of all backgrounds can gather for business or pleasure and experience the unique nuances that make Houston great. Amazing local art is one key piece of that experience and we look forward to cultivating this collaboration with Sawyer Yards to continue bringing engaging art to Understory.”

Located on more than 55 acres, Sawyer Yards is one of the largest creative communities in the nation, complemented by creative businesses, public galleries, unique dining and entertainment venues that are all brought to life through an active schedule of special events. The campus’ renovated industrial buildings including Sabine Street Studios, Winter Street Studios, Spring Street Studios, Silver Street Studios, The Silos at Sawyer Yards and Summer Street Studios. These studios provide creative workspaces for more than 350 local artists. On the second Saturday of every month, Sawyer Yards hosts open studios for visitors to explore and meet artists throughout the campus.

“Houstonians have long embraced our city’s diverse and vibrant arts community, however recent years have seen the arts scene rise to national prominence. We have seen examples of this not just at Sawyer Yards, but also in areas around downtown and Midtown Houston. The ongoing revitalization of these areas has prompted a resurgence in retail and accelerated development of multifamily housing to keep pace with demand for quality living in the city’s urban core,” Damborsky tells GlobeSt.com. “At the same time, residents want to feel connected to the vibrant cultural fabric of the city they live in. Incorporating local art installations whether as part of the built environment or as an added amenity has helped promote local art while creating a more engaging and aesthetically pleasing destination. We understood that arts and culture were important to our tenants at Bank of America Tower and our neighbors, so we have focused on creating a development that incorporates unique elements of Houston’s rich cultural life.”

By promoting cultural participation, public art stimulates cultural industries and the creative economy, and boosts the economy in a hyper-local way. The economic impacts benefit residents directly, driving spending to local businesses, and creating jobs and opportunities for artists and residents alike, says ULI.