UPDATED: Which are our favorite six pieces of art on Henderson Avenue?

by Alexandra Olivia

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Several members of the media were asked to select their favorite pieces in the Henderson Art Project. Here are ours.

DALLAS — Henderson Avenue east of Central Expressway has long been popular for its restaurants, eclectic boutiques, and antique shops. It attracts a steady flow of both automotive and pedestrian traffic most days and nights of the week.

For the past two years, visitors to the area have been treated to an additional attraction in the form of outdoor art installations scattered along its busiest blocks. Earlier this year, 24 new pieces sprang up, all due to the public art effort known as the Henderson Art Project, which has been touted as a collaboration between local businesses and artists for the benefit of the community at large. According to the project's website, organizer Scott Trent believes the "community benefits when the arts are supported and artists are able to pursue their passions."

Six judges from local media outlets, of which I am one, were asked to evaluate the current crop based on which ones best fit the criteria of "good public art." I chose my favorite six out of the remaining finalists.

The top three six artists that receive the most media votes will be monetarily rewarded: $3,000 for first place; $2,000 for second; and $1,000 for third $1,000 each.

Narrowing down the list to a mere six was a challenging task, but a fun one -- even if it was slightly dangerous at times! Traffic on Henderson at peak times is unsafe, and so is any attempt to pause and take notice of the art during rush hour. Henderson Art patrons beware -- and enjoy.

The following are my selections for the top six:

"Spirit of Henderson": Artist George Toblowsky is a local favorite, having shown his art in many galleries across town. He prefers to work with found objects and says that the rejuvenated Henderson area is a good fit for his art. The title of this piece is appropriate in that it is located in one of the busiest parking lots on the street, a spot teeming with the hustle and bustle of patrons and valets driving in and out. Nothing embodies the spirit of Henderson more than that. "Spirit" sits at the forefront of the lot, watching over the fast-paced choreography with a bemused and slightly shocked expression as if to say, One false move and you'll end up as twisted as me.

"Blue Majesty": My first impression was "Ooh, sparkly!" Covered in hundreds of mirrored slivers like stacked up disco balls, rather, disco squares, this one catches the light as well as the eye of anyone passing by. It's almost impossible to miss it, even though it blends nicely with the surrounding architecture and the sky as its backdrop, with beautiful hues of blue in the mosaics adorning each block. I visited it on a sunny day when the mirrored sections reflected a clear blue sky. As I drove by, it almost seemed to be dancing. This one will probably be viewed mostly by residents of the apartment complexes.

"Cool Art": I'll admit that I didn't take to the concept of paintings set on easels in an outdoor setting. The idea seemed odd to me, but I tried to keep an open mind until I could see them in person. The project includes four such paintings, two of which are positioned close together in an empty lot midway between Central and Ross Avenue. My favorite of these is "Cool Art," which is a pop art painting depicting a couple whizzing by in a car with a word balloon containing the title of the piece -- very much a parody in the true pop art tradition. This piece fits the definition of good public art because it's bound to produce conversation with real people in real cars. I can envision thousands of people driving past and uttering those same words as they fly by. In that sense, this piece is a classic example of art imitating life.

"Snake on Henderson": By far the largest piece in the collection, "Snake" is enormous and appears to be wrapped around an entire section of fence located next to the Sunflower Market. The scales on the massive wooden sculpture are painted in muted tones of orange, yellow, red, and purple, lending a Southwestern feel. Incorporated in the design is the project's logo, the word "art" with a plus sign substituted in place of the "t." Also incorporated is the artist's website address, which is rolling out of the snake's month. A cheesy attempt at self-promotion by the artist or a practical sign of the times? It is best viewed driving west on Henderson from Ross Avenue.

"Look Inside": This is my favorite piece of the collection for its uniqueness of location and form. This piece is the most thought provoking. You wouldn't expect to see art in a grocery store parking lot, but it seems to fit well in the area. The outline of a nude woman with arms folded around her legs floats transparently across the sky due to the angle of the bent pole on which it stands. While the figure herself is physically sensual, the title of the piece suggests looking past the physical and into the inner person.

"Wind No. 8": I visited this piece on a windy day, which made it seem that much more a part of the environment. The setting and the art complement each other nicely. Set at the base of a large tree, it seems to swirl gracefully along with every sway of limbs and rustle of leaves. "No. 8" is full of movement, like a playful tangle of ribbon rippling in a soft breeze.

To see all the finalists, click here.

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