Question 1: Legendary 94-year-old sculptor David Adickes made those giant statues of Sam Houston, U.S. presidents and that downtown cello player, but does he ever do anything that’s not that humongous?:

Answer: Yes! He created that abstract orange hearts thing, seen above, in 2018. It’s called “Love.”

Question 2: What’s whimsical public art in Houston doing outside Loop 610?

Answer: St. George Place Redevelopment Authority/ TIRZ 1 serves the area just southwest of the Galleria indoor mall, and part of its mission to beautify the area and promote economic development. So it did this. Again. Ten sculptures, including the three featured above, by 10 artists adorn the Richmond Avenue median between Hillcroft and South Rice. Which makes it a free, outdoor museum, sorta. This is the third set of works that St. George Place Redevelopment Authority/ TIRZ 1 has mounted on that corridor.

Question 3: Did that wizard of public art Gus Kopriva at Redbud Arts Center have anything to do with this project?

Answer: Gus, the same guy who put those eye-popping sculptures along the Heights Boulevard esplanade and Long Point Road in Spring Branch, was hired by St. George Place Redevelopment Authority/ TIRZ 1 to curate the three Galleria-area exhibit. And here in the city of Art Cars and myriad phantasmagorical murals, he may never stop decorating our town with images that are easy on the eyes.

Question 4: Where’s the catalog for the 10 pieces on display with info about the artists?

Answer: Here.

Question 5: Will the art pieces be for sale someday?

Answer: Yes.

Question 6: What else?

Answer:  Said St. George Place Redevelopment Authority/ TIRZ 1 Chairman Frank Donnelly III:

“(Our government entity) is pleased to present to the entire Houston community a third set of three dimensional, public art pieces, preserving the southwest side of town’s significant place among the visual art destinations for which our city is known far and wide.

“We hope the 10 pieces along a public trail will amuse, entertain and inspire residents, shoppers, visitors and workers alike in the same way that our city’s Art Cars, first-class art museums, murals and mini-murals do in other locations.

“Creating the Galleria area’s outdoor gallery is one of the many ways in which we are carrying our  mission as public agencies to use physical projects to improve the quality of life in our area and spur investment.”