Small Houses of Great Artists Will Be Featured at The Dallas Arboretum
During Dallas Blooms Festival
Building around the theme, ‘It’s A Work of Art’, five local architects have partnered with Hoebeke Builders to create the Small Houses of Great Artists exhibit of playhouses among the 66-acre garden of the Dallas Arboretum. Appealing to both children and adults, these houses reflect the location and work of well-known artists Georgia O’Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet. Scheduled to open with the first day of the Arboretum’s nationally-acclaimed festival, Dallas Blooms, on March 3, the Small Houses of Great Artists exhibit will remain on display through December 31, 2012.
“We want children and their families to feel as if they’ve actually walked into a painting,” explained Maria Conroy, Vice-President of Education.
Fun facts, biographical information, and information of each artist’s work will be provided to parents and classroom teachers so that children and students get maximum value from their visits. The Hoffman Family Gift Store will also stock children’s books about each artist and other items connected with their work.
“Each year our playhouses reflect an educational theme that makes learning come alive for young visitors and their parents,” said Brian Shivers, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “I’m amazed at the creativity of the architects in that each playhouse is so different from the others, but all accurately reflect the assigned theme.”
Hoebeke Builders will construct four of the five houses that will be nestled among the various gardens. The Arboretum’s cottage, loved by many little ones over the years, will also be refurbished to resemble Vincent Van Gogh’s home. Architects include Clint Pearson, Symmetry Architects (Georgia O’Keefe); Paul L. Turney, Turney & Associates (Georges Seurat); J. Wilson Fuqua, Fuqua & Associates (Pablo Picasso); and Robbie Fusch, Fusch Architects, Inc. (Claude Monet).
“This project is a labor of love for me; my business partner, Phillip McCloud; and Mona Crider of La Foofaraw,” stated Bob Hoebeke. “It makes our heart sing when we think about all those kids who will enjoy these cottages. Who knows, the next great Monet, or world-class architect may be running and laughing in our Arboretum Small Houses.”
Small Houses of Great Artists is brought to you in part by Mary Kay, Southwest Data Systems, Valley Crest Landscape, H&S Production, Hill & Wilkinson and BancTec, Inc.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX, 75218. The Arboretum is open daily from 9am until 5pm. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $9 for children 3-12, and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. On-site parking is $10. The Arboretum is wheelchair accessible and tram service is available for the mobility impaired. For more information and other events, call (214) 515-6500 or visit the Arboretum’s website at www.dallasarboretum.org.
The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Capital One Bank is the official sponsor of Dallas Blooms.
Thanks for picking up this article! Your viewers kids will love running and playing in the “Small Houses of Great Artists!” For a quick preview of the “Houses” check out my blog at http://www.dallasbuilder.blogspot.com
-Bob Hoebeke