Galveston Historical Foundation opens the doors of 1859 St. Josephs Church for art exhibition

Galveston Historical Foundation will open the doors to the 1859 St. Josephs Church for a special exhibition of artist Ann Woods TOWER installation.

The exhibit will open on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 6-9 p.m. for a special History on Tap wine tasting. Tickets are $15 per person and available at http://www.galvestonhistory.org. The installation will also be open, free of charge, Nov. 29 during the Galveston Artwalk from 6-9 p.m.

Woods work generally incorporates two and three-dimensional pieces into dramatic installations.

These environments have a Rococo visual appeal that vividly reference topiaries, bouquets, and desserts, while also acknowledging historical paintings and sculptures.

The large-scale work twist the idea of the traditionally male-made monument into a feminine, animal-shaped super-cake that simultaneously reminds the viewer of the discordant ideas of nurture and humiliation.

Tower is an installation created specifically for St. Josephs Church in Galveston, explains Ann. Being site-specific, it is first and foremost inspired by the churchs impressive Gothic revival altar and other decorations. Secondary inspiration includes Byzantine mosaics of Jesus as a shepherd surrounded by his flock and monumental Baroque sculptures commonly found in Cathedrals.

Tower is created out of manipulated taxidermy sheep forms, frosting-like poured foam, and craft store items such as artificial flowers, glitter, pom-poms, and push pins. It mimics wooden hunting towers that historically were hastily built on-site by hunters in need of a birds-eye view of their prey, while simultaneously referencing a tiered cake stand.

Conceptually, Tower plays loosely with the story of the Tower of Babel as well as the Gothic ideal of tall buildings and spires meant to direct your eyes up to heaven. Also important is the religious idea of sheep and lambs as the symbol of innocence and sacrifice (the sacrificial lamb) and the obvious association of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

The oldest German Catholic Church in Texas and the oldest wooden church building in Galveston, St. Josephs was built by German immigrants in 1859-60.

The building is a simple wooden gothic revival structure, rectangular with a square bell tower with trefoil window. The softly painted interior features a coffered ceiling with painted quatrefoils and other gothic symbols, plaster of Paris Stations of the Cross with German inscriptions dating from the early years of the 20th century and the original, elaborate main and side altars with reredos as well as many of the original statues and altar furnishings.

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Galveston Historical Foundation opens the doors of 1859 St. Josephs Church for art exhibition