Building Community through Shared Spaces & Community Tables
Dallas artist Brad Goldberg sees his work as a fusion between sculpture, landscape, and the built environment. Sculptures are seen not as isolated objects, but rather as spirit-creating components of larger spatial experiences. That fusion is being realized as he creates a new space among towering trees in Crawford Park, a busy, 272-acre neighborhood park in the community of Pleasant Grove in Southeast Dallas.
“I looked at this site more than 15 years ago,” says Goldberg. “It’s a very important park in an underserved area. At the time, I envisioned a series of community tables and other sculptural elements to bring people together. The work is titled “Comunidad.” Whether it’s a small family picnic, a wedding, Quinceñara or community gathering, I want to create an environment that welcomes people to break bread and build community together.”
Dallas-based Dee Brown Inc. (DBI), a third-generation stone and masonry company, is helping Goldberg bring his concept to life.
“Brad is an amazing artist, and he knows exactly what he wants to accomplish,”said Rob V. Barnes III, CEO of DBI. “We’ve worked with him for more than two decades to help him realize his visions. Brad is very meticulous, as are our masons. We enjoy working together to achieve his dreams. We worked with Brad to create Sylvan Portals at Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson, which won a 2020 International NSI Pinnacle Award. We also collaborated on two 30-foot wide by 90-foot tall, hand-finished travertine walls titled “Coral Eden” at the Miami International Airport, which was awarded a 2008 Public Art Network Year in Review award from Americans for the Arts.”
At Crawford Park, Goldberg is creating a mini stage along with an 80-foot-long, elliptical, community table and a smaller 30-foot table, all fabricated in Minnesota by Coldspring, USA. The tables are made of Golden Brazil granite and set on large, ovoid-shaped pedestals of Black Mesabi granite. The community tables are surrounded by solid Kenoran Sage benches.
“Two people or 80 people could be gathered around the tables,” explained Goldberg. “I see it as an artwork that takes people to energize it. I hope this will be enjoyed for generations.”
The art installation was recently completed. The City of Dallas will begin work on landscaping and hardscape soon. A dedication ceremony will be held when all work is completed, projected to be Spring of 2024. Crawford Memorial Park is located at 8700 Elam Road in Dallas.
Goldberg and DBI are already working together on their next project, which will be the installation of another Goldberg art project at the new Canyon Branch Library in Palm Beach, Florida. The project will feature quotations from an array of authors and titles, combined with binary code, sandblasted into Carnelian granite panels on six columns around the library. Installation should be complete before the end of the year.
More info on Brad Goldberg is available at bradjgoldberg.com.
DBI is currently hiring men and women who are willing to work hard and have proper documentation. They are seeking experienced mason tenders, stone masons and bricklayers, as well as skilled and unskilled laborers. Apply athttps://bit.ly/DBIjobs, call 214-321-6443, or email info@deebrown.com.
Founded in Dallas circa 1955, Dee Brown, Inc. is responsible for the masonry and stonework on iconic projects, including the American Airlines Center; Nasher Sculpture Center; George W. Bush Presidential Center; Old Red Courthouse; The Getty Center in Los Angeles; Meyerson Symphony Center; Houston Museum of Natural Science; Dallas Country Club; Hunt Oil Headquarters; Trammel Crow Center; AT&T Stadium and many others. More information about the company can be found at deebrowncompanies.com.