Andy Brown East Park
Overlooking a hilly landscape and a glistening lake, big and bold statues interrupt the scene. The landscape is Andrew Brown Park East, one of several parks in the city of Coppell and a venue for a collection of public art. The Coppell Arts Council brought together these public sculptures to highlight Coppell’s regional artists and to create a trail for visitors to experience 11 different installations. Dandelions, bike rides, and conversations with friends are all immortalized in abstract form. Two abstract sculptures in particular captured my attention as they provoked thoughts about what we do in these municipal parks and how public art strengthens our emotional connection to these places.
When entering the park from the parking lot to the south, a pair of similar sculptures flank the pavilion. On the right is “Influx” and on the left is “Cobra,” both by Dallas-based artist Scott Shubin. “Cobra” is an animated figure created by rigid and brutalist shapes. A bright crimson red, the sculpture stands out amidst the natural green—even more so than its yellow cousin, “Influx.” Although abstract, I believe this piece is an allegory for how humans interact with nature. We take our massive geometric buildings and place them in areas where biodiversity once lived. Though a part of nature, we stand out boldly with our creativity, randomness, and uniqueness. We slither in, like a cobra, and establish our territory. “Cobra” also reminds me of a campfire flame, or a bonfire, symbolizing not only the community Andrew Brown Park creates, but also the diversity of people that visit.
According to the artist, this piece is intended to remind us of the delightful past. Shubin states, “‘Cobra’ is a contemporary sculpture with five elements interacting with each other. Growing up, my friends and I would play various games, one of which was pick-up sticks. So, I envisioned a sculpture more elevated in either more 3-D form.” As a Gen Zer, I was not familiar with pick-up sticks in the slightest, but after a tiny bit of research I learned that it is a dexterity game requiring players to stack sticks and then dismantle them tactfully, like Jenga. It’s a simple, low-tech game that players of all ages can enjoy—like a park. Likewise, a park is a place that people of all ages can enjoy—a place to play and a place to be yourself. For Shubin, “Cobra” evokes nostalgia and invites people to play games, like pick-up sticks, with their friends and family to create lifelong memories.
To the east sits “Sister #3” by Pascale Pryor. This piece gloriously matches the swirly sunset using the “dalle de verre” technique of colored glass and epoxy resin, contrasted with heavily rusted steel. “Sister #3” evokes the aesthetic experience of the park—visitors walk the trails, see the unique landscape, the glistening water, and the setting sun, and are immersed in nature. The use of “dalle de verre”, a practice similar to stained glass art and traditionally used in 20th-century churches, is especially relevant for this piece. It dignifies the park as a sanctuary, a place to leave the world and technology behind for peace. Pryor finds “the heavy rusted steel and the light, bursting glass enchanting.” She adds, “This is the third piece in a series called ‘Three Sisters.’ ‘Sister #1’ is in Keller until June 2027, and ‘Sister #2’ is in Georgetown until September…Even though the three sculptures are the same size, this one is the little sister—passionate and fiery. The concept comes from our tendency to assume a role and take an unclaimed space among siblings within a family. ‘Sister #3’ is the only one in which the glass is only partially chiseled, leaving some intact.”
Each piece in Andrew Brown Park East reflects an aspect of humans’ interaction with nature. The beauty of the park invites interaction, but the art within promotes movement and interest without generating unnecessary bustle. Here’s to hoping that parks in other suburban communities learn from Coppell’s example and enrich the outdoor experience for all their citizens with public art.