As part of ClayHouston and Sculpture Month Houston, artists, students, and art enthusiasts gathered on the esplanade of Heights Boulevard on October 10 for talks by TRUE NORTH 2019 artists Jeffrey Forster and Damon Thomas. Both Mr. Thomas’s “Home Fire,” in the 900 block, and Mr. Forster’s “North Space Ruin,” in the 1800 block, are the first ceramic sculptures to be included in the Art on the Boulevard project since it began in 2014.

Beginning the discussion, Chris Silkwood—co-curator and one of the founders for TRUE NORTH—spoke about the sculpture project which consists, each year, of eight works by prominent regional artists. Funded entirely by private donations from individuals and businesses, and organized by an all-volunteer team, 2019 is the project’s sixth installation, and plans are already well underway for TRUE NORTH 2020.

As we gathered around “Home Fire,” Mr. Thomas explained his methodology, materials, and inspiration behind his sculpture—a glazed ceramic and steel depiction of campfire logs and flames. A 20-year Houston Heights resident with an MA from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Certificate of Achievement in Ceramics from Glassell, Mr. Thomas says, “The campfire has long been a powerful image for humans, starting as a source of warmth, tribal belonging and survival. . .The very image of a campfire can transport us back to a less stressful time, or inspire the idea to escape, if only to the backyard fire pit.”

Next, in the long shadow of his towering installation in the 1800 block of the boulevard, Mr. Forster told the group that he was immediately drawn to ceramics’ rich history—objects that document cultures that are now completely extinct. Mr. Forster grew up in rural Minnesota and received his MFA (Ceramics) from Southern Illinois University. He is now the Department Head of Ceramics at The Glassell School of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Mostly using discarded Styrofoam packing for his negative molds, Mr. Forster says that “North Space Ruin” is indicative of a Stonehenge of sorts—a series of columns and other smaller objects that speak to industrial and architectural ruin.

ClayHouston supports the ceramic community by sponsoring exhibits, symposia, programs and workshops in the Greater Houston area. Going on now, Sculpture Month Houston is a citywide event celebrating and showcasing sculpture throughout Houston.

TRUE NORTH 2019, a Heights Boulevard sculpture project, will remain in place through mid-December, and TRUE NORTH 2020 will be installed in early March. You can learn more about all of the 2019 artists and their works at TRUE NORTH. All sculptures are for sale by the artists, who will donate 20% of any sales to TRUE NORTH’s designated fund for future exhibitions.