Join DiverseWorks and the Locke Surls Center for Art and Nature (LSCAN) on Earth Day Weekend, April 22 -23 for the opening festivities of A Gift From The Bower.

 

Conceived by nationally-renowned artist James Surls, A Gift From The Bower an outdoor, multi-disciplinary exhibition that takes place in natural galleries formed by small clearings in the woods of the Locke Surls Center for Art and Nature (LSCAN) in Southeast Texas. Originally conceived by artists James Surls and Charmaine Locke, the project is co-curated by Jack Massing and Xandra Eden to include newly commissioned works by fourteen artists and artist teams. Each of the artworks is being created in collaboration with musicians, performers, and writers to create a unique experience in nature.

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The opening of A Gift From The Bower also marks James Surls’ 80th birthday and DiverseWorks 40th anniversary. Surls played a significant role in the early days of DiverseWorks and the overall development of artists and the arts scene in Houston. Opening festivities include live performances, artist talks, and special tours that will take place on Earth Day Weekend, April 22-23, 2023, from 11am-7pm each day. Parking, accessibility information and a full schedule of performances will be available in March.

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As implied by its title, A Gift From The Bower has its starting point as a view of nature as a restorative, benevolent source. As the world experiences the unprecedented impacts of climate change, aspects of the flora and fauna of the grounds of LSCAN take a central role in a number of the artists’ works, while others focus on community, the environment, and relationships to nature and land.

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A Gift From The Bower will feature new work created by multiple generations of artists, including Leticia Bajuyo (Oklahoma), John Calaway (Texas/Mexico), Carlos Canul (Texas) and Rachel Gardner (Texas), Alton DuLaney (Texas), Lina Dib (Texas), Ronald L. Jones (Texas), Sharon Kopriva (Texas/Idaho), Charmaine Locke (Colorado), Jack Massing (Texas), Sherry Owens (Texas) and Art Shirer (Texas), Patrick Renner (Texas), Kaneem Smith (Texas), James Surls (Colorado), and George Tobolowsky (Texas) and Susan Budge (Texas).

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For more information about DiverseWorks, please visit www.diverseworks.org.