U.S. Group Calls ‘Cloud’ Among Top Public Art Pieces

Last Updated on July 10, 2017 at 12:00 AM

Originally published July 10, 2017

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

Americans for the Arts selected “The Cloud” sculpture that rises from the center of the Schuster Avenue roundabout on the southern edge of The University of Texas at El Paso as one of the nation’s outstanding public arts projects.

New York artist Donald Lipski stands in front of his public art piece, “The Cloud,” at the Schuster roundabout during installation in January 2016. Photo: Ivan Pierre Aguirre / UTEP Communications

“The Cloud” is an interactive piece created by award-wining New York artist Donald Lipski that involves three cloud-shaped panels covered by thousands of small, multicolored steel flaps that sway in the wind. The look changes depending on the time of day, the weather and the viewpoint of the observer.

Lipski said the piece, dedicated in February 2016, was inspired in part by UTEP’s Bhutanese architecture. Bhutan is sometimes called the Kingdom of the Clouds. It was part of the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department’s Public Art Program.

“The Cloud” was among 49 art projects recognized by the nonprofit national arts group, which promotes the arts and arts education. The selections are part of the 2016 Public Art Network Year in Review. The honors were announced recently at the group’s annual convention in San Francisco, California.