Client: Shreveport Regional Arts Council

Overview

Art the Dalmatian is located at the Central ARTSTATION in Shreveport, LA. Art the Dalmatian guards the renovated and repurposed fire station from his post on Crockett Street, outside of the Engine Room doors of Central ARTSTATION. Art the Dalmatian stands 19.5’ tall and is designed as a tribute to the Dalmatian that has become iconic to Fire Fighters; With a nod to the performances that will emanate from the Engine Room in the Central ARTSTATION, Art the Dalmatian is solid white fiberglass and is covered in iconic “dots” that each light up when the “dot donor’s” name is selected from a key board. Art preforms a programmable “light show” each evening. “What a better way to celebrate SRAC’s new beginnings than with our new pal, Art the Dalmatian; but, you’ll soon learn that at night he is a brilliantly dotted Dalmatian. Our hope is that everyone will enjoy the fantastic light show before and after events at the new Central ARTSTATION, “said Brandon Oldenburg and William Joyce.

Goals

The goal for this project was to create an iconic work of art for the Central ARTSTATION that honors both the original function of the building as a fire station, and celebrates the future of the space as the home of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

Process

The sculpture is the brain child of the Academy Award Winning duo William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg of Moonbot Studios, who presented the design as a “commemorative housewarming” gift to the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Public Art Services oversaw the design coordination and fabrication of Art the Dalmatian through a generous gift from the national foundation, Educational Foundation of America, who awarded a grant to the Shreveport Regional Arts Council for the design that transformed the Central Fire Station to the Central ARTSTATION.