The Dallas Zoo’s giant 67-foot-tall giraffe statue (you know, the one that you can see about a mile away on I-35) soon will have company to share her limelight.
The Zoo is working with the city’s Public Art Program of the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Park and Recreation Department to add a new $262,000 piece of art next to the statue, at the corner of South Marsalis and RL Thornton Freeway access road.
A new piece of art will soon join Dallas Zoo’s iconic giraffe statue./Dallas Zoo
In July, the city put a call out to artists to submit designs, and more than 250 entries were submitted. Arts professionals and community representatives narrowed the entries down to five artists: Douwe Blumberg, Peter Busby, Barbara Grygutis, Donald Lipski, and Juanjo Novella.
This Monday, Nov. 3, one artist will be selected after all five present their conceptual design proposals with drawings, digital renderings, and/or a small scale model of the installation. The presentations will take place from 3-6 p.m. at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak, Dallas, TX 75204.
A design contract to finalize the concept will be issued in late November, and the project will be approved by the City Council in February.
We can’t wait to see what design the judges choose to join Texas’ tallest statue (she’s been a little lonely for the past 17 years!).
Maverick would be a great name for the new baby giraffe.
Nov. 21
So what is the up date? Will you be posting a picture soon.
I love to be in Dallas Zoo and the iconic figures makes me mesmerized for a while. The Giraffe is an absolute treat to watch and hopefully the new companion art piece will also have the same effect on everyone.