City of Southlake
Four pieces of art (three donkeys, two pioneers, one bridge and a tree) all help make up the story of Southlake. Residents will be able to see some of that story come to life later this fall.
The city of Southlake Community Services Department recently unveiled an update to the city’s Public Art Program, which includes four new pieces to be installed at North White Chapel, Zena Rucker Road and Southlake Boulevard. Mayor Laura Hill says the pieces are part of the city’s 2035 Public Arts Master Plan, and they aimed to create public spaces that educate others on Southlake’s history and encourage conversation between residents.
“It’s morphed into the ability to tell the story of our city through art,” Hill says. “We want the art to stimulate discussion.”
Each of the new pieces scheduled for completion through this fall and next spring shows what Southlake is to some extent, and Hill says she hopes the next generation will take those lessons to heart.
“I want our children engaged in our history,” she expresses. “We want to celebrate the community and tell our story.”
"Southlake Burro Trio"
Three donkeys roamed about off of 201 Southlake Blvd., just a few feet away from Bicentennial Park. Now a bronze sculpture named "Southlake Burro Trio" will stand in their place. The installation will serve as a tribute to the three donkeys that used to live on the property: Tex, Bob and Blaze.
“It’s a cute part of our history,” Hill states. “We had donkeys on that land for years. Now it’s going to be a development.”
Just because the Southlake Commons is being built on the property doesn’t mean the trio's memory will be erased. The bronze statue, developed by sculptor Jane DeDecker, will reside near the commons’ Southlake Boulevard entrance.
“They won’t ever be forgotten,” Hill expresses. “Whether you lived here for 20 years or six months, you’ll know that we had donkeys on that property.”
The "Southlake Burro Trio" is being funded by the City’s Public Art Fund and is anticipated for late 2019 completion.
City of Southlake
"Prairie Winds"
The first settlers came into Southlake in the 1840s before it was incorporated in 1956, according to the Southlake Historical Society. The "Prairie Winds" statue, which is being developed near the Southlake Log House at 400 North White Chapel Blvd., serves as an homage to those settlers.
“They’re the pioneers that came to this area,” Hill explains. “It’s some old history, but it’s making sure that we don’t forget anybody along the way.”
The statue shows the image of a prairie mother holding her child in front of a wagon wheel, grasping a gardening scythe as they look out at the prairie fields. Hill states this image of a parent leading their child is a common theme throughout Southlake’s Public Art Investments, including their "Saluting A Hero" statue near Southlake DPS and "The Ties That Bind" statue near the family park.
“I love how our art tends to be family-centric,” she states. “You generally see an adult teaching a child something.”
"Prairie Winds" is funded through the Public Art Fund and will debut in early 2020.
City of Southlake
"Be The Bridge"
The "Be The Bridge" piece wasn’t originally supposed to be installed at the roundabout on North White Chapel and Highland Street. That space was formerly reserved for the "Prairie Winds" statue. But after both the mayor and the school district started two groups this past spring to recognize and promote Southlake's diversity, Hill suggested they opt for the "Be The Bridge" statue instead to symbolize the community's unity through its differences.
“'Be the Bridge' reflects the different cultures, different skin colors, different backgrounds and the different histories of the people that live in Southlake,” Hill expresses. “The city has really changed over the last 20 years. We want our art to reflect that.”
The sculpture shows the image of four figures walking across a bridge together, each of them in different shades of gray, bronze, gold and orange. The piece is funded through the Strategic Initiatives Fund through the Capital Improvements Program and is expected to debut in late 2019.
City of Southlake
"Mockingbird Tree"
The last public art piece to debut next year is the "Mockingbird Tree," which will be located at the roundabout of Zena Rucker Road and Tower Boulevard. The concept shows a metal tree growing out of the ground with its branches extending into four globe frames, with three of them housing yellow mockingbirds inside of them.
Similar to "Be The Bridge," Hill says the "Mockingbird Tree" signifies the community coming together under one trunk – a “tree of life,” so to speak.
“It’s a reflection of all the people in Southlake coming together,” Hill says. “We are one tree that is growing and extending its branches out. As our children graduate, leave and go off, we hope they will be a positive impact to all of the people they come into touch with.”
"Mockingbird Tree" is also being funded through the city’s Capital Improvements Program in the Strategic Initiatives Fund. It is scheduled for debut in spring 2020.