Soaring In The Clouds

Photo Credit: Nash Baker

Houston artist Ed Wilson’s Soaring In The Clouds, an artwork commissioned for the interior of the George R. Brown Convention Center, is complete. On Thursday, November 10, the new installation was dedicated in a gathering of dignitaries representing Houston First Corporation and Houston Arts Alliance.

Soaring In The Clouds is a 67-foot mobile of bird and cloud forms made of perforated stainless steel, suspended from the ceiling and dramatically lit with colorful, changing LED theater lights. More than 200 individual forms, each molded and shaped by hand using a pneumatic press designed by the artist, hang from cables on the ceiling and move with the airflow in the building.

Last spring, Houston Arts Alliance awarded Wilson $830,000 to produce a large-scale work of art as part of the convention center’s major renovation.  Wilson collaborated with renowned theatrical lighting designer Christina Gianelli. Engineering was provided by Kelly O’Brien.

“When Houston First set out to create a new, long-term plan for the George R. Brown, public art was an integral part of that re-envisioning effort,” said David Mincberg, chairman of Houston First. “The goal was to incorporate dramatic pieces of art that would help tell the story of Houston and bring character and life to this building.

“We believe the incredibly vibrant sculpture that Ed Wilson has created will do just that. Soaring In The Clouds will be visible from the Avenida, Discovery Green and around the entire Avenida Houston district, serving as a centerpiece and inviting people into this building like never before.”