Painted Aluminum
184 x 8 x 6 feet
2022
Beauty in Becoming is comprised of a series of five sculptures, each one representing a step in folding an origami Scissor-tailed Flycatcher bird. The five aluminum sculptures are each 8-feet high and painted in a white automotive paint to contrast with the colors of the sky, the levee, and nearby Trinity Park.
Cravens is a fine art photographer investigating autobiographical narratives through contemporary self- portraiture. She has long utilized elements of origami in her ongoing studio practice and was inspired by the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers she saw on an early visit to the site. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher’s habitat is specific to Texas, Oklahoma, parts of other southern states and Mexico and it can readily be found along the Trinity River during the spring and summer months. Known as the Texas Bird of Paradise, the imagery ties this artwork uniquely to its site and our region.
Conceived as an artwork to be primarily viewed by drivers along Forest Park Boulevard, the sculptures also act as a traffic calming device for commuters as they make their way in and out of downtown along this beautiful river corridor. The artwork is also visible to trail users in Trinity Park.
About ION Art Inc. Beauty in Becoming was fabricated by ION Art, Inc., which was founded in Austin, Texas in 1986 for the purpose of creating neon art. The company has since expanded into the design and custom fabrication of sculpture and architectural décor with more than 35 years of implementing creative projects of all sizes. For more information, please visit www.ionart.com.
About Fort Worth Public Art Fort Worth Public Art is a City of Fort Worth program created to enhance the visual environment, commemorate the city’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity, integrate artwork into the development of the City’s capital infrastructure improvements, and promote tourism and economic vitality. Established in 2001 and managed by the Arts Council of Fort Worth with oversight of the Fort Worth Art Commission, Fort Worth Public Art strives for artistic excellence and meaningful community engagement. For more information, please visit www.fwpublicart.org.
About Arts Fort Worth Founded in 1963 as the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, DBA Arts Fort Worth is a nonprofit organization with the mission to promote, nurture, and support the arts in Fort Worth. Arts Fort Worth administers a competitive grants program, manages the Fort Worth Public Art program, and operates the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, a dynamic arts complex with theaters, galleries, studios, and office suites, on behalf of the City of Fort Worth. Arts Fort Worth also provides educational programming and supports arts advocacy at all levels of government, rents the facilities for a wide range of private and public events and programs. Arts Fort Worth is supported in part by the City of Fort Worth and the Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information, please visit www.artsfortworth.org.