It Is Difficult To Remain Optimistic
Collection: Houston Airport System (HAS)
1984
Welded steel
Location:
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
2800 N Terminal Rd
Houston, TX 77032
About the Artwork:
It Is Difficult To Remain Optimistic (1984)
by Jim Love
Sculptor Jim Love was born in Amarillo, TX in 1927 and moved to Houston in the early-1950s where he died in 2005. Love’s other public sculptures can be found throughout the Civic Art Collection, including “Portable Trojan Bear” in Hermann Park and “Call Ernie” at William P. Hobby Airport. Here is a welded steel tableau that measures 10 inches high and over six inches wide. A tableau often refers to a painting or photograph where subjects are arranged for dramatic effect. Also, Love was known to use scrap metal he found in junkyards to create his artworks. It shows an anthropomorphic (having human characteristics) bear walking at a beach. Note how Love uses texture to create different layers on the steel, such as the polish of the bear, the coarseness of the sand, and the smoothness of the ocean wave. The back of the tableau features text that states the title of the piece and the context: “It is difficult to remain optimistic from Tomorrow is No Solution Series.” Love often uses humor in his artworks, and this piece contrasts the image of a walking teddy bear-like figure to convey a sad feeling.
Es Difícil Mantenerse Optimista (1984)
por Jim Love
It Is Difficult To Remain Optimistic (1984)
by Jim Love
Sculptor Jim Love was born in Amarillo, TX in 1927 and moved to Houston in the early-1950s where he died in 2005. Love’s other public sculptures can be found throughout the Civic Art Collection, including “Portable Trojan Bear” in Hermann Park and “Call Ernie” at William P. Hobby Airport. Here is a welded steel tableau that measures 10 inches high and over six inches wide. A tableau often refers to a painting or photograph where subjects are arranged for dramatic effect. Also, Love was known to use scrap metal he found in junkyards to create his artworks. It shows an anthropomorphic (having human characteristics) bear walking at a beach. Note how Love uses texture to create different layers on the steel, such as the polish of the bear, the coarseness of the sand, and the smoothness of the ocean wave. The back of the tableau features text that states the title of the piece and the context: “It is difficult to remain optimistic from Tomorrow is No Solution Series.” Love often uses humor in his artworks, and this piece contrasts the image of a walking teddy bear-like figure to convey a sad feeling.
Es Difícil Mantenerse Optimista (1984)
por Jim Love
El escultor Jim Love nació en Amarillo, Texas en 1927 y se mudó a Houston a principios de la década de 1950 donde falleció en 2005. Otras esculturas públicas de Love se encuentran en la Colección de Arte Cívico, incluyendo "Oso Troyano Portátil" en el Parque Hermann y "Llama a Ernie" en el Aeropuerto William P. Hobby. Aquí se presenta un cuadro de acero soldado que mide 25 cm de alto y más de 15 cm de ancho. Un cuadro suele referirse a una pintura o fotografía donde los sujetos se disponen para lograr un efecto dramático. Además, Love era conocido por usar chatarra que encontraba en desguaces para crear sus obras. Muestra un oso antropomórfico (con características humanas) caminando por una playa. Nota cómo Love usa la textura para crear diferentes capas sobre el acero, como el pulido del oso, la aspereza de la arena, y la suavidad de la ola del océano. El reverso del cuadro presenta un texto que indica el título de la pieza y el contexto: “Es difícil mantener el optimismo de la serie ‘El mañana no es una solución.’” Love suele usar el humor en sus obras, y esta obra contrasta la imagen de una figura parecida a un oso de peluche caminando para transmitir un sentimiento de tristeza.