City Place, north Houston’s sustainable, forward-thinking and dynamic hub for business, leisure and living, is set to embark on an exciting new chapter in its evolution, fueled by the transformational powers of public art.
Master developer CDC Houston, along with Harris County Improvement District 18, is developing a long-term plan, created by highly respected, Houston-based Weingarten Art Group, to incorporate a mix of iconic permanent pieces and must-see temporary installations throughout the 2,000-acre community, which is situated at the axis of the Grand Parkway, Hardy Toll Road and Interstate 45.
The goal is to bring engaging, thought-provoking and sometimes amusing public works to the City Place mixed-use urban core and across a lush topography of green spaces, waterways and nature trails that connect its office campuses, multifamily properties, hotels, retail clusters and residential enclaves.
Weingarten Art Group’s relationships with world-class artists and expertise in public projects across the country, and closer to home in award-winning environments like Houston’s Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park and Hermann Park, is building towards a comprehensive vision for weaving dynamic elements into the fabric of City Place in a way that enhances life for its workers and residents, in addition to serving as a compelling draw for visitors.
According to Weingarten Art Group principal Lea Weingarten, “The City Place team is inspired by the simple premise that some of the most intriguing art may be experienced in everyday life, outside the confines of a museum or gallery. The beauty of this sustainable community has created an incredible canvas to curate a unique vision that complements its multi-dimensional character and vibrancy.”
The inaugural effort is being unveiled on March 9 – an immersive, site-specific piece entitled “Periwinkle” from Dallas and Austin-based creators The Color Condition. Working with a vivid color palette, pattern and movement, The Color Condition has designed “Periwinkle” as a series of fantastical realms inspired by childhood games (Candyland), characters (Peter Pan) and literature (“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”). Intertwining the extraordinary and the everyday, it seeks to bring a new dimension of wonder to the urban core’s waterfront Plaza abutting the Houston City Place Marriott and adjoining City Place Park, spanning its main bridge.
Open to the public and free of charge daily from 7 am until 10 pm through June, “Periwinkle” is the first of what is anticipated to be a series of temporary installations for 2024.
