Craig Hall (00:02):
We’re at, uh, the hall arts area right now, and we have a collection of, uh, particularly sculptures in the outdoor areas. We have a, an area that’s designated for Texas sculptors, and then we have areas that are other parts of, uh, the United States as well as outside the United States. John Henry, the artist, uh, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, does phenomenal, uh, beautiful works and big sculptures. We’re, uh, very fortunate to have this one right in the middle of, uh, the Dallas Arts District. It’s a real source of pride for the public to Joy in Dallas.
Patricia B Meadows (00:38):
So, It’s 101 feet tall. That’s, that’s a big piece, but it is perfect for an urban environment. It’s bright, it’s yellow. It makes you happy. It’s, it’s like the sunshine, you know, it’s, it’s a happy piece and I think that it’s gonna bring some joy to people who come down the street and see it. And you can see it from various parts of, of the downtown area.
John Henry (01:02):
The name of the sculpture is Tatlin’s Sentinel, and the name comes from the early 1900’s sculptor from Russia by the name of Vladimir Tatlin. All artists, I think, uh, are inspired by or influenced to do certain things for different reasons. I mean, for some it, uh, the creative process really kicks in at the last inch in a bottle of whiskey and <laugh>. And then for others it’s, um, it’s the love of a woman. And, uh, and for some of us it’s art history. And the reason why Tatlin is so important is because he was one of the first to really deal in monumental sculpture. Sculpture is very real, and especially when you start dealing with works that are human scale or larger. And, uh, that was always important to me.
Patricia B Meadows (02:02):
I really like sculptors. I really admire what they do. This is a knowledge of materials and engineering and geometry and physics and how things go together, or not <laugh> and can be installed or not. And I just, I think they’re all geniuses.
John Henry (02:25):
My background was in construction, so it became very easy for me to make a transition. The physicality of sculpture really was attractive to me, and, um, I enjoyed doing it.
Craig Hall (02:37):
John is somebody who has things in his mind that he wants to put out there in a physical manner that can be shared with people. And I, I really admire that. So I, I have the greatest, uh, admiration and respect for, for artists and what they do really does make a difference in the lives of everybody. It touches us, and it’s a great thing.
John Henry (02:57):
People always ask, well, what is it? What does it mean? Those are important questions, but they’re not the most important question. The most important question is what sculpture does and how it affects people and what they bring to it themselves and what they go away with. Once they become familiar with the work and, um, sculpture becomes landmark, it becomes a point of place, uh, it becomes a influence on other things that happen around it. I’m very excited to be apart of that, and I think it’s a major responsibility.
Craig Hall (03:37):
Well, you should
(03:38):
be very proud, John. This is, this is awesome.
John Henry (03:43):
I’m very pleased with it. I’m very pleased with the setting and everything, what you plan to do.
Craig Hall (03:48):
I’m just honored to, to, to, to be the, the one to help let the public enjoy it. Cause that’s really what it’s all about here.