NEW PERMANENT ART INSTALLATIONS ADD TO NATURAL BEAUTY OF PRICE CENTER GARDEN

Seven new permanent works of art have recently been added to the front Garden of the Price Center by its Arts Committee. The colorful and whimsical pieces include a mosaic torso, a living chair, glass wind chimes, fanciful metal flowers, and naturally rendered twists on honey bees and elephant ear leaves. The new works compliment the Mermaid statue named Dianne that has anchored the corner of the downtown Garden since 2018.

“One of the goals of our Arts efforts is to engage and inspire visitors to the Center, and outdoor public art is accessible to everyone 24/7,” said Arts Committee Chair, Joan Nagel.

The Arts Committee held a special pop-up installation in honor of International Sculpture Day on April 24 and they used proceeds from ongoing art show entry fees and commissions earned on sales from previous shows to purchase 4 of the works and three more were donated by participating artists. The Committee hopes to keep adding to the outdoor installations as funds permit.

Artists with work on permanent display in the Garden are Clay DeStefano, Gerald Kurten, Jill Grossman, Addie Loper, Sheri Moore, Susan Warren, and Tracy Weinberg.

Dianne Wassenich is the volunteer responsible for designing and maintaining the Garden over the past 20 years. Earlier this year, she installed a path down the middle of the main front garden and she’s about to undertake a redesign of the Mermaid bed to include roses and more.

Community Art Shows like the pop-up that produced these new permanent works are conducted by the Price Center Art’s Committee and funded in part through a grant from the San Marcos Arts Commission. The art gallery venues are open to the public Wed – Fri, noon-5; Sat., 11-1. Occasionally, a private rental of a venue space may prevent access to some of the art during open hours.

For more information, please call 512-392-2900, stop by the Center at 222 W. San Antonio St., or visit price-center.org or Facebook @ Price Center & Garden.

Pictured are three of the new public installations. Top: Mi Jardin Mosaic by Susan Warren, Middle: Living Sculpture by Addie Loper, Essential Workers, low-fire clay by Clay DeStefano