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True North
  sculpture + heights blvd

Named for the compass bearing of Heights Boulevard, True North is a temporary outdoor public art installation on eight designated sites along the winding trails of that boulevard’s beautifully forested esplanade. Working in cooperation with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments and the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, True North is organized by an all-volunteer team, along with the Houston Heights Association—its nonprofit sponsor/partner and the long-time benefactor of that historic boulevard’s esplanade. The True North team chooses a range of sculptures for each project—based on media, theme, color and visibility—and works remain in place for a nine-month permitted period from March to December.

 

True North took root in 2013 when Gus Kopriva, founder of Redbud Arts Center and devoted arts advocate, met with Chris Silkwood, an artist and community leader, and other neighborhood luminaries to discuss Gus’s vision to expand the placement of public art pieces—representative of works by distinguished Texas artists—on sites throughout the City and particularly along the esplanade of Heights Boulevard. True North 2014 and 2023 sculpture artist and team member Dean Ruck says, “Temporary public sculpture brings vitality to communities and liberating opportunities to artists amongst us.”


True North has inspired many other public sculpture projects throughout Houston and other Texas cities and continues to thrive and grow thanks to the many community- and arts-minded individuals involved with the project along the way—from its planning days to now. Current team members are Donna Bennett, Gus Kopriva, Dean Ruck, Chris Silkwood and Kelly Simmons. We hope you'll visit the sculptures and stay for the day enjoying the many local restaurants, cafes and eclectic boutiques this wonderful neighborhood has to offer.

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photo TN

Paul Kittelson's "Wild Horses" for True North 2023

Mission Statement

True North’s mission is to organize and install a temporary public sculpture exhibition on the esplanade of Heights Boulevard – representative of works by prominent and emerging Texas artists – to advance the accessibility, understanding and enjoyment of contemporary art for the community and its visitors.

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Sculptural Works Are
Offered For Sale

by the artists, who have generously agreed to donate 20% of any sales back to True North for future sculpture projects.

Inquiries:

832.969.5345 or

truenorthheightsblvd@gmail.com

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photo by Katy Anderson

Dean Ruck's "Brancouchi" for True North 2023

Heights Boulevard, Houston Heights

Large enough in scale to be seen from passing vehicles and bicycles, with more intimate views along the winding trails of the esplanade, True North sculptures are seen by hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to the Houston Heights. Heights Boulevard’s esplanade is a designated City park which runs right through the heart of the Houston Heights. Patterned after Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, the boulevard’s 60-foot-wide esplanade was the site of Houston’s first electrified streetcar system, ferrying Houston Heights residents the “considerable distance” of four miles to the big city. Fast forward and thanks to the Houston Heights Association and extensive community activism and fundraising over the years, the esplanade is now home to show-stopping architectural gardens, pavilions, old-growth treescapes and one of the most popular foot trails in the City.

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