Centenary unveils new "Meadows Outdoors" sculpture series
SHREVEPORT, LA — Internationally exhibited sculptor George Tobolowsky’s large found object steel structures are the first installation in a new outdoor sculpture series sponsored by Centenary’s Meadows Museum of Art. The Meadows Outdoors series is a rotating, temporary art exhibit that exists throughout the Centenary campus. Tobolowsky’s sculptures will be on display through May 2018.
“Meadows Outdoors creates an environment that focuses on a well-rounded liberal arts experience,” says Sean FitzGibbons, director of the Meadows Museum. “Students who may not actively seek visual art will encounter sculpture throughout their daily routines. This visual art interruption in their schedules may also spark an opportunity for didactic dialogue in other courses. Meadows Outdoors expands the role of the Meadows Museum as more than a pedantic institution of academic visual art to one that engages in public discourse and democratizes the experience of art.”
Each year, the new Meadows Outdoors series will invite a new artist or art collective to showcase sculptures of various dimensions from early in the fall semester to late in the spring semester. The artists, or art collective representatives, will also participate in Centenary coursework through the college. In August, Tobolowsky presented a lecture to Jessica Hawkins’ Public Art class, detailing what it means to create artwork for public spaces. He also spoke about what it takes to be a professional artist as well as the business side of creating artwork. Bruce Allen’s sculpture class worked on locating the sites for Tobolowsky’s sculptures and participated in the installation process of the artwork, providing invaluable real-world experience in a professional capacity.
Tobolowsky’s large-scale found object steel sculptures are beautifully fabricated and currently located in over 40 national and international museums, university collections, and public art collections, including the Library of Congress, the City of New Orleans, The Museum of Biblical Arts in Dallas, The International Sculpture Center in New Jersey, and numerous other institutions. The Dallas native just returned from exhibiting at the Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art. More information about Tobolowsky and his art is available at georgetobolowsky.com.
In addition to the sculptures placed on the Centenary campus, Tobolowsky also fashioned a sculptural menorah that will be temporarily housed at the Agudath Achim congregation in Shreveport. Cantor Neil Schwartz blessed the sculpture when it was installed at the Agudath Achim synagogue campus.
Tobolowsky will be on hand for a reception to formally open Meadows Outdoors on Thursday, November 9 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Visitors will enjoy light refreshments, receive a map to tour the exhibit throughout the Centenary campus, and have a chance to talk to the artist. The reception is free and open to the public.
About the Meadows Museum of Art
The Meadows Museum of Art is located on the campus of Centenary College of Louisiana at 2911 Centenary Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Museum is free and open to the public Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Sundays and during all school holidays. For more information or to schedule field trips, call the Museum at 318.869.5040 or visit centenary.edu/meadows.