Public Art Commissions

Standing Ovation

The highly published Standing Ovation is a generous sculpture filled with almost 2,000 cast hands posed in applause. Over 550 citizens in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Houston areas participated in the making of this living memorial. Standing Ovation is a celebration for travelers symbolizing good will, asking the visitors to "bring it with you when you come and take it with you when you go."

Sipping from the Wetland

Sipping from the Wetland is a landmark that symbolizes variety, joy and vibrancy while promoting the patterns of organisms and the ecosystem of the special watershed. The form is a giant hummingbird, the tiniest bird with the largest heart proportionally in the animal kingdom. This is just like the park visitors who are represented by various cultural perspectives bringing to the park their hearts and permanent footprints.

"If you've passed by Alliance Park lately, you might've spotted something shiny and new amidst the greenery. The park, located at 3800 Litsey Road, is now home to a striking 23-foot-tall sculpture, 'Sipping From the Wetland', courtesy of Fort Worth's own Anitra Blayton. Constructed mainly from mirrored stainless steel, this piece of public art doesn't just stand there looking pretty—it stands for something, namely the importance of wetland environments.

As reported by the Fort Worth Texas government website, this installation celebrates the role of wetlands by depicting a hummingbird, a creature often associated with energy and resilience. Blayton's work isn't all symbolism and no substance—it actually involved locals in its creation with four shoe-tread collection events.

The result is a pair of wings bedecked with the prints of over 200 community members, each stainless-steel wing sandblasted with these patterns; and this bird's wingspan is no joke—it's over 24 feet wide. It's a physical and visual feat that encapsulates the connection between the human community and natural habitats.

The City of Fort Worth commissioned this metallic avian under its 2018 Bond Program. Blayton told the Fort Worth Texas government website that "Sipping From the Wetland" is a "culmination of patterns both natural and man-made," and that the sculpture narrates "playfulness and vitality."

So next time you're in the area, take a moment to meander through Alliance Park and stand beneath the outstretched wings of Sipping From the Wetland—it's one of those experiences where you're humbled and uplifted by a statue of the smallest bird with the biggest reputation for gusto."

— Sofia Vasquez, Hoodline Publication

Kidd 24/7: The Game

Kidd 24/7 is noted for its playful community-focus design. Considerations of the sculpture include understanding the narrative established by the Kessler neighbors and a common denominator within that voice. The focus was on play, place and discovery. The Kidd Springs Park visitor is invited on a treasure hunt to find 24 things they see in the park any time on any day of the week. Real objects were donated by members of the Kessler community, young and old.

The Endangered

The Endangered was created to raise awareness and emphasize the growing extinction of the Indochinese and Sumatran Tigers. One baby cub playing on top of a boulder emotes concern and compassion. Surrounding the industrial steel cone are granite slabs with an engraved running sentence, "Attention there is a crisis crying for Attention there is a crisis crying for Attention…" Children are invited to walk on these slabs while reading the words.

Camp Wisdom Station

The site-specific design was created for the DART commuter. Ideally, the Camp Wisdom Station represents South Oak Cliff as a vista of nature and educational corridor, which extends from Paul Quinn College to the University of North Texas, Dallas Campus. The Camp Wisdom Station closely examines and heightens the values and sensibilities of the South Oak Cliff community.