Client: Downtown Redevelopment Authority

Overview

Brooklyn-based artists Chiaozza created five unique sculptures for their artwork titled Whale Bone Dinner Party, an imaginative permanent playscape composed of hand-painted fiberglass that exhibits a variety of playful colors and patterns. The sculptures evoke a feeling that one has just discovered themselves washed ashore after being lost at sea.

Weingarten Art Group partnered with the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and renowned local, national, and international artists to create an art program at Trebly Park. The park and its art, including Chiaozza’s Whale Bone Dinner Party as its centerpiece, debuted in early 2023 on a ¾ block in Downtown Houston and, within this small footprint, features both permanent and temporary artworks that welcome park visitors to a space of immersive play with an emphasis on color and pattern.

Goals

The goal for the program was to weave art into this downtown park in a way that transforms it into a neighborhood oasis. Chiaozza’s sculptures invite curiosity and open-ended play. Designed for durability and safety, the sculptures -- and the rubber flooring surrounding them -- ensure that people of all ages can interact, climb, and enjoy.