The project’s twelfth exhibition is now open! We are extremely proud of this year’s show
featuring eight established and emerging—and very gifted—Texas artists.
With her second installation for the project, Elizabeth Akamatsu’s “Sattie” is made of a
familiar material often seen alongside road construction; bright orange conduit used for
underground communications cabling is woven into a stainless steel hub—reminding us
of an otherworldly flower. Susan Budge also returns to the project with “Cosmic
Kachinas,” made of cast stainless steel and bronze, with carvings of mystical symbols,
the sculptural pair represent “Koyemsi” and “Koshare”—spiritual beings who helped
ancient Pueblo cultures learn and survive. Amanda Barry Jones delights young and old
alike with her intricate sculpture of fire-glazed clay, depicting an unearthed, decaying
tree trunk that has become safe haven for an amalgamation of mammals, birds, reptiles,
and insects. “Nature Reclaims: Wood Pile” is a nod to the devastation caused by our
two extreme weather events in 2025 and the resilience of nature. With Dave Clark’s
“P.O.D.S.,” you may believe you have entered a dreamlike dystopian world—as though
cobbled together in the aftermath of destruction—where you are left to imagine your
own surreal story setting. Ben Woitena’s c. 2005 figurative sculpture “Mandatory Dogs,”
made of welded, painted steel and depicting a mother dog and her pup, was previously
exhibited at Navy Pier Walk, Chicago, Illinois; a solo exhibition, Ben Woitena: A
Retrospective 1963—2008, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum, Austin; and Tyler
Museum of Art. Another True North alumnus, Tim Glover’s whimsical “Margy’s
Menagerie” is titled for his late mother-in-law, Margy Doyle, who, during the work’s early
conceptual process, suggested the elephant form which further inspired a carousel full
of Margy’s favorite fantastical characters to occupy the sculpture’s found tubular glass
center—originally used for holding industrial chemical compounds. Felicia Schneider’s
“On Your Mark” is a figurative sculpture of welded and painted steel—a detailed work of
fine lines and geometry—which she conceptualized as a female archer protagonist from
a fantasy-genre story—modern, strong, and vigilant. Taking inspiration from traditional
West African textile weaving as a tool of communication and statement, Nigerian born
artist Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH’s “Bright Days Ahead #1” resulted from the artist’s
own investigation into homelessness—the painted laser cut steel geometric patterns
meant to represent the number of homeless persons in Texas.
Be sure to scan the QR codes at each site, or download the “Otocast” app remotely, to
listen to the artists’ statements on their works—in their own words. Please visit our
website at www.truenorthheightsblvd.com for the artists’ bios and statements and more
information about the sculpture project. This year’s sculpture photography is once again
provided by the amazing team of Kim and Greg Kolanowski of “Kolanowski Studio”—the
full portfolio is available on our website.
We couldn’t do this without our True North 2025 underwriters who drive this project
forward with their generous financial support and to the Houston Heights Association,
the project’s non-profit sponsor and partner. We hope you enjoy this year’s exhibition!
