This winter, Discovery Green presents Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bank, a temporary, site-specific public art exhibition, featuring Paloma by Pitaya and Here and Now by Lina Dib. Commissioned by the Discovery Green Conservancy’s Public Art Committee, the two-part exhibit brings an immersive light and sound experience to the park’s Brown Promenade. The installation will be on view daily during park hours from Nov. 22, 2019, to Feb. 24, 2020
Paloma consists of a playful flock of 200 “origami” birds made from powder-coated aluminum, which will be suspended from the canopy of century-old live oaks that line Discovery Green’s Brown Promenade. The colorful sculptures will be illuminated by dynamic LED lights after dusk, creating the illusion of flight.
“This art installation surrounds viewers with sounds, lights and the company of other parkgoers in an immersive experience of community—not unlike a flock of birds,” said Barry Mandel, president and park director. “Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bank will be colorful in the daytime and enchanting at night, and we hope our visitors will return to enjoy the installation all season long.”
Paloma was expertly conceived by Pitaya, a French creative studio founded in 2006 by David Lesort and Arnaud Giroud. Their lively presentations of form and light have been seen around the world, but thisis Pitaya’s first Texas installation.
“We are super proud to be able to exhibit our lighting birds in Discovery Green,” said the artists of Pitaya. “The gorgeous trees of the Brown Promenade with their specific canopy create a kind of vegetal tunnel which is perfect for the piece. We are also very happy to collaborate with Lina, whose sound piece will enhance the experience in a meaningful and immersive way.”
Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bank also includes Here and Now, a multi-channel sound installation by Montreal-born, Houston-based artist and anthropologist Lina Dib, whose work explores ecological change and global migration.
“I am excited to be showing Here and Now alongside Pitaya’s work in Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bank,” said Dib. “Together, we are creating a cross continental conversation about movement and about our relationship to other people, other species and our environment.”
The third part in a sonic tryptic, Here and Now focuses on the biological phenomenon of Zugunruhe, a word used to describe the restlessness that animals exhibit when they feel the compulsion to migrate. The work draws on bird and human sounds, which will dance along the Brown Promenade in conversation with Pitaya’s sculptures.
“PNC has a legacy of investing in the communities we serve through support of the arts, as we understand the economic, social and civic impacts that a thriving arts and culture community has on our city,” said Julie Sudduth, PNC regional president for Houston. “The opportunity to support such a unique and immersive art experience that’s accessible to all Houstonians is fundamental to our work in the arts community.”
Discovery Green invites park visitors to enjoy special activations at the park while Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bankis on view, including an Artist Talk(7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at Hess Deck) featuring Pitaya and Lina Dib in conversation about the installation, with images and sound from previous works.
Visitors are invited to share their experiences using the hashtags #paloma, #pncbank and #discoverygreen. More information is available at www.discoverygreen.com/paloma-pnc. A digital press kit with high-res images is available at bit.ly/DGPalomaPress.
Discovery Green’s art programming is made possible in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Professional services are provided by the Weingarten Art Group. Paloma Sponsored by PNC Bank is part of the Discovery Green Conservancy’s Public Art Program—overseen by the Public Art Committee, chaired by Judy Nyquist—which has, for more than 10 years, enriched visitor experience with numerous temporary exhibitions as well as several signature permanent pieces.
ABOUT PNC BANK
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
ABOUT DISCOVERY GREEN
Discovery Green is a highly acclaimed 12-acre park created by a public-private partnership between the City of Houston and the nonprofit Discovery Green Conservancy in downtown Houston, Texas. Since opening in April 2008, the park has welcomed more than 13.5 million visitors. Discovery Green features sprawling lawns, a one-acre lake, an interactive fountain, a playground, public art installations, gardens and an allée of century-old live oaks. The Discovery Green Conservancy works with hundreds of programming partners to present more than 700 artistic, musical, educational, family-friendly and health-focused events each year, most of which are presented free to the public. The park also features two on-site restaurants, the award-winning destination restaurant The Grove and the fast-casual Lakehouse Café, providing visitors with an array of dining options. As a nonprofit organization, the Conservancy raises all the funds needed for the programming that Houstonians enjoy through contributions from park users, foundations and sponsors. For more information, please visit www.discoverygreen.com.
