Corpus Christi has a thriving arts community and the downtown is the heart of that growing movement. With ArtWalk, our tour of galleries, outdoor showings and "Meet the Artist" events held bi-monthly and a host of art spaces around our bayside streets, this area will be the starting point for your art related enjoyment.

Our local galleries include the K-Space Art Gallery at 415-D Starr Street (top floor) off of Water Street, West Light Studio at 508 Mesquite St., Studio 421 at 421 Peoples St., the Wilhelmi/Holland Gallery at 300 Chapparal, the Art Center of Corpus Christi and South Texas Institute for the Arts both of which are located on Shoreline Boulevard. There are many beautiful sculptures placed throughout the downtown area including the beautiful and ethereal, "It Is I", by Kent Ullberg, "Orion's Belt" by Robert Perless, the much-visited Selena statue and numerous others.

Studios and Galleries are listed below and some have links to their works. Further below is a listing, with photos, of much of the public and private art in the downtown area.

DOWNTOWN STUDIOS and GALLERIES

The Art Center of Corpus Christi
100 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
(361) 884-6406

West Light Studio
508 N. Mesquite Street
Contact: Brenda Miles
(361) 888-5249

K Space Studio
415 Starr St.
Contact: Michelle Symthe
(361) 887-6834 / 790-8354

Wilhelmi-Holland Gallery
300 S. Chaparral Street
(361) 882-3523

Aloe Tile Works
301 Kinney St.
(361) 888-8119

Photo Art Studio
418 Peoples St. Suite 402
(361) 881-8384



Downtown Map Showing Locations of all Public and Private Art
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC & PRIVATE ART

It Is I (bronze sculpture)
First United Methodist Church
Shoreline Blvd.
Artist: Kent Ullberg








El Circo De Mar (bronze sculpture)
Shoreline Blvd. @ Twigg St.
Artist:H. W. "Buddy" Tatum
Warren and Sue Rees gave this sculpture of brown pelicans to the City.
The design depicts two birds - one diving into the crest of a wave while the other perches on a nearby piling. One of the birds has a 6-1/2' wingspan. The larger of the birds is diving into a full wave of fish. The birds are brown pelicans. The post is covered with barnacles.









The Friendship Monument (bronze sculpture)
Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon
Shoreline Blvd. @ Lawrence St.
Artist: Sherman Coleman, M.D.
The Westside Business Association sponsored this statue. The statue pays tribute to Falcon, an empressario credited with founding the first Spanish settlement north of the Rio Grande, near Petronila in 1764. In 1762, Falcon was commissioned to explore the Nueces River area by Don Jose de Escandon, the Governor of Nuevo Santander, a Spanish Territory extending from the San Antonio River to the Punuco River near Vera Cruz, Mexico. He later brought the first longhorn cattle to South Texas when he established a ranch in the area.



Wind in the Sails (bronze sculpture)
Shoreline Blvd. @ Schatzell St.
Artist: Kent Ulberg
In celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times gave this piece to the City. It was awarded the National Sculpture Society's Gold Medal in 1983. Two sailfish in abstract not as two sailfish, but of two linked triangular forms; possibly a spiral form.



Selena Memorial (bronze)
Shoreline Blvd. @ Peoples St.
Artist: H. W. "Buddy" Tatum
Every day, visitors can be seen at Selena's seawall statue, one of Corpus Christi's most prominent tourist attractions. Selena Quintanilla-Perez was an acclaimed Tejano singer and Corpus Christi resident who was on the verge of achieving international stardom when she was shot to death on March 31, 1995 by her former fan club president Yolanda Saldivar. Selena was 23 years old. Her death sparked a wide outpouring of grief and prompted the writing of several books and a movie. Saldivar was convicted of murdering the singer and is serving a life prison sentence.







Blooming Cranes (cooper, red brick fountain)
Water Street Market
309 N. Water Street
Artist: Charles White
Blooming Cranes is composed of 4 birds. Their beaks point upward; wings form petal shapes; and legs of a slender nature support the structure. It sits on a square base below the surface of the water.













On Corpus Christi Bay (ceramic tile mural)
Municipal Court Building - Police Station
120 N. Chaparral St.
Artist: Malou Flato
This site-spsecific mural is appraoximately 24' x 9', and was funded by the 1986 Bond Fund.





Aztec Wheel (cor-ten steel sculpture)
Coopers Alley St. @ Mesquite St.
Artist: Craig Gibbs
The Arts and Cultural Commission sponsored a competition with public monies to finance the Aztec Wheel.
Aztec Wheel is a Pre-Columbian styled, 6' metal disc cut in from Corten steel, designed to be exposed to corrosive climates. Disc sits on two cylinders of concrete.




Jonah & the Fish (mural)
Ramada Bayfront
Peoples St. @ Chaparral St.
Artist Glenn Francis













Roosters (mural)
300 block of Mesquite St.
Artist: Lisa Duck-Fuentes








Queen of the Sea (bas-relief stone sculpture)
Confederate Memorial Fountain
Lower Broadway @ Peoples St. & Schatzell St.
Artist: Pompeo Coppini
Queen of the Sea was commissioned in 1914 by the Daughters of the Confederacy as a memorial "To the noble Texans who gave their lives for the South during the Civil War." Ironically, the sculpture theme is one of peace reflecting Coppini's abhorance of war. The sculpture depicts Corpus Christi as a maiden (center) being crowned by Neptune and Mother Earth both looking at the maiden. Coppini's sculpture was modeled in the classical tradition. To quote Coppini, "The fountain (sculpture)portrays allegorical figures which tell in the true artistic language of the meeting of the two elements (land & sea) and the rich gifts which they bring to the city lying between. An ancient oak tree again spears the olden days of Mother Earth, while nearer the foreground are harvests and emblems of the newer era and the prophecies of progress. A stream of clear water springs from a rocky cliff." Neptune has a hand positioned on his hip with the other hand holding a crown. Mother Earth is holding her hand out with palm facing up and open. Her other hand is holding the crown. Harvest symbol is depicted by a man with a plow pulled by a horse.

In 1999,a public art project to beautify the downtown area was funded by the Coastal Bend Workforce Development Board. The 7 week program teamed 15-20 disadvantaged youth, ages 14 - 15 with two visual art teachers. The program's goal was to research and develop mural designs for the traffic control boxes in the downtown area. The teachers were hired to introduce and guide the youths through the program, teaching them the progressive problem solving that is involved in creating a finished public art project. Each youth took on the responsibility of developing and implementing each phase of the project. They created their own designs either depicting a cultural, historical or environmental scene. In doing so, they learned to think critically, analyze information, communicate ideas and work as part of a team. The program was based out of the City Receation Center and travel between the center and a studio downtown. The project will include field trips to artist studios, exhibits and museums. The DMD has again partnered with Work-Force 1 for the summer of 2005, and students will be creating and painting the 12 remaining traffic control boxes in the Downtown area.

	The box above is entitled "Dreaming Renaissance" by Thomas Hames Location: Corner of Mesquite and Starr Streets The box to the left is entitled "Picnic" and designed by Yvette Ybarra; assisted by Percy Davis and Pete Garza. Location: Corner of Chaparral and Schatzell Streets
The box to the right is untitled and designed by Thomas Hames. Location: Corner of Chaparral and Lawrence Streets
	. The box to the left is entitled "Cowboy" and is designed by Lisa Colunga; assisted by Jesse Hernandez. Location: Corner of Chaparral and Starr Streets
The box to the right is entitled "Fiesta" and designed by Patricia Leyva; assisted by Ashley Lugo. Location: Corner of Chaparral & Peoples Streets
	This box is entitled "Lost Indians" and designed by Frank Medina; assisted by Morris Bueno & Joanna Gonzales Location: Corner of Chaparral and Taylor Streets

	"African Masks" is located at the corner of Water and Starr Streets.
"Abstract" is located at the corner of Twigg St. and Chaparral St .
	On the left is "Flora," located at the corner of Chaparral & Sartain Streets.

On the right is "Loteria," located at the corner of Water and Peoples Streets

"Artist's Tool Box" is located at the corner of Mesquite & Peoples Streets
	"Chinese Take Out" is located at the corner of Mesquite St. and Schatzell St .
On the right is "Surf Boards," located at the corner of Water & Schatzell Streets.
	On the left is "Movement Is Beat," located at the corner of Mesquite & William Streets.
On the right is "Picasso People," located at the corner of Mesquite & Lawrence Streets.
	On the left is "Dancing Palms," located at the corner of Water & Taylor Streets.
On the right is "Sea Monsters," located at the corner of Mesquite & Sartain Streets.

3 More Traffic Control Boxes


A fourth grader from St. James Episcopal School determined she wanted to do something constructive and creative for her birthday party. Instead of presents, she wanted to come downtown and bring her friends from school to participate in an art project.
They contacted the DMD and submitted renderings for three traffic control boxes. These were submitted to City Council and approved. Under the guidance of Jill Pankey, local artist, Hannah Hicks and her friends, painted these three boxes.


Boxes are located at the following intersections:
Water & Lawrence
Water & William
Water & Sartain

Orion's Belt
Artist: Robert Perless
This work is comprised of 3 sculptures, each 55' long, 27' high and 14' wide. Also, included in the work are 14 pavers, each 12" round. They complete the constellation of Orion's Belt. The pavers are positioned in the sidewalks of the surrounding area. Orion's Belt is constructed of stainless steel and is wind interactive.



Below is a map showing placement of the pavers representing the complete constellation.

Skyline(bas-relief mural/wall sculpture)
Corpus Christi Fire Station No. 1
514 Belden St.
Artist: Susan Furini
A Bas-relief mural/wall sculpture, Skyline is a continuous narrative work. This mural would be a collage of integrated images referring to fire and water and growth. The images will be abstracted in style and will allude to the purpose of the first atation. The mural is composed of three elements dealing with powerful images of roaring fire, dousing water and thriving growth. Water douses the flames using similiarly powerful shapes but flowing in a smooth and swirling fashion and using calmer colors ranging in blues, greens, and turquoise. On the other side of the water is growth; greens, olive-green, yellow-green, symbolize and create tendril and flame-like forms.


The Sea Bird (plastic resin & copper sculpture)
Harbor Playhouse - Bayfront Plaza
Artist: Fernando Turegano
The Sea Bird was a sponsored competition with public monies from the Arts and Cultural Commission.











Untitled Mural
Bayfront Plaza Lobby
Artist: Rush Cole














Ulalu
Watergarden
Artist: Mark di Suvero


1933 - American sculptor was born in Shanghai. Di Suvero's major works are constructions of massive pieces of steel, huge weathered timbers, tires, chains and rope. They are remarkable for their large scale, their composition from common materials, and the effect of motion they produce. Di Suvero's work is represented in the Art Institute of Chicago, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Conn., and the Whitney Museum, New York City. Ulalu is on loan to the Art Museum of South Texas.


Christopher Columbus (bronze sculpture)
Port of Corpus Christi
James Storm Pavilion, Port of Corpus Christi
Artist: Roberto Garza
In honor of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the New World, the Quincentenary Commission commissioned this statue of Christopher Columbus. Christopher's first journey took just 33 days, but it was to change the outlook of the world forever. His exploration in 1492 led mankind on a path of discovery that has never ceased to challenge and surprise us. Facing eastward, larger than life image symblic of courage, determination, vision and faith. There are hints of French sculptor Auguste Rodin in the statue's impressionistic surfaces and oversized hands. The proper right points to the west and the proper left clutches a glove of the world.


Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (bronze sculpture)
Texas State Aquarium
2710 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Artist: Tom Tischler
Most sea turtles are threatened or endangered, but the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles are approaching extinction. Wise and conservative use of ocean resources can protect marine animals and the waters which they, and we, rely upon for survival. Sculpture is a gift from the Daniel A. Pedrotti Faimly - 1991.


Attach:blueheron.jpg? Spring Plumage - The Great Blue Heron (bronze sculpture)
The Texas State Aquarium
2710 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Artist: Kent Ulberg
Donated to the Texas State Aquarium by the T.S., and Virgie C. Scibenski Foundation.








Texas Stele (Texas pink granite sculpture)
City Hall Atrium
1201 Leopard St.
Artist: Jesus Moroles
Funding through the Permanent Art Trust Fund.





The Return (ceramic tile mural)
City Hall Atrium
Artists: Bill Wilhelmi & Greg Reuter
Executed in 1987-1988, this site-specific mural was funded by the Permanent Art Trust Fund. The mural is aproximately 129 sq. ft.




Sunseeker (ferrous concrete & tile sculpture)
Central Library
805 Comanche
Artist: Danny O'Dowdy
"Sunseeker" was part of a competition sponsored by the Arts and Cultural Commission with public monies financing the piece. "Sunseekers" is a 15-1/2' in height, 5' in width and 5' in depth. It is constructed of concrete and mosaic tile and represents a "mother-in-law's tongue" cactus.


Juarez (oil, oil stick,straw, pencil on canvas)
Central Library, 2nd floor
805 Comanche
Artist: Benito Huerta

Empty Empty: empty centers (10 serigraphs)
Central Library
805 Comanche St.
Artist: Thomas Seawell

Two Paths #1 & Two Paths #2 (gouache on pondicherry paper)
Central Library
805 Comanche St.
Artist: Dee Wolff

Mural at Corpus Christi Beach
Timon Blvd.
Artists: Carroll High School students