Project History

As part of the renovation of the ART building, Landmarks commissioned David Ellis to create the first video in the university’s public art collection. The result is Animal, a nine-and-a-half-minute video that inaugurates Landmarks Video and underscores the Department of Art & Art History’s commitment to emerging forms of visual expression.

Ellis was selected for the ways in which his work invites and celebrates collaborative processes. He undertook a residency in the Visual Arts Center (VAC) galleries for six weeks in Spring 2010 during which he engaged with faculty, students and the public, featuring a day-long celebration of his work at Co-Lab. Animal premiered at the opening of the VAC in September 2010.

This project was funded by the College of Fine Art’s Art building capital improvement project. The media station was designed by LakelFlato Architects and is located in the ART building atrium on the corner of East 23rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard.

Landmarks would like to thank:

Leadership

Andrée Bober and Landmarks
Pat Clubb and University Operations
Douglas Dempster and the College of Fine Arts
Kenneth Hale and the Department of Art & Art History
Landmarks Advisory Committee
William Powers and the Office of the President
Bob Rawski and the Office of Facilities Planning and Construction
David Rea and the Office of Campus Planning
Samuel Wilson and the Faculty Building Advisory Committee

Project Team

Andrée Bober, curator and director, Landmarks
David Ellis, artist
Chris Keohane, production manager
Roberto Lange, composer
Lewis McNeel, Bill Aylor, and LakelFlato Architects
Robert Mercado, Office of Facilities Planning and Construction
Nicole Vlado, project manager, Landmarks
Jade Walker, Visual Arts Center

Special Thanks

Dan Fergus and Russell Etchen, Domy Books
Kanitra Fletcher, curatorial contributor
Sean Gaulager, Co-Lab
Leah Griffin, education and external affairs, Landmarks
Alexis Lanman, event coordinator
Mark Silva, Visual Arts Center
Susan B.A. Somers-Willett, poet