Friday, February 3, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

A museum of art like no other

Karen Gavis by Karen Gavis
June 28, 2019
in Design and Interiors
0 0
0
A museum of art like no other

Phil Whitfield is the ambassador of the 59-piece art collection at AT&T Stadium.

0
SHARES
547
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Phil Whitfield is the ambassador of the 59-piece art collection at AT&T Stadium.

As crews worked to remove remnants from the three-day KAABOO arts and music festival at AT&T Stadium, Phil Whitfield was busy touting the venue’s permanent art collection.

“We’ll have more,” Whitfield says of the 59-piece collection. “Every place that the Dallas Cowboys have, we’re putting artwork in it.”

Related posts

February 2, 2023

January 18, 2023

A quarter-of-a-century ago, the 58-year-old, who stands about 6-feet, 5-inches tall, began working as security for the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. But his life changed 10 years ago. That’s when Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, told Whitfield that his wife, Gene Jones, wanted to talk with him. Whitfield recalls thinking he must be in some sort of trouble. Instead, he was asked to become ambassador of the Cowboys’ art collection.

“I didn’t think I was going to be doing the artwork, I tell you that,” he says. “I was scared to death. It was the first time in my life I was doing something I didn’t know anything about.”

Shortly after he took the job, an arts council was formed, and he started visiting galleries and museums and meeting with curators and docents to learn everything he could.

“I learned from them you’ve got to do this in your own style,” he says about the guided, customized tours, which cost $26.

The collection at AT&T Stadium showcases the work of more than 40 artists whom Whitfield says he learned a lot about as well. “Passion,” he says. “It’s what they all have. They’re not trying to fit in. They do their own thing.”

The criteria for artists was that their creations couldn’t have any political or religious backing or portray “anything that would offend a normal person,” says Whitfield, walking past some premium seats and gesturing toward the standing room only section and then pointing out that the artwork is visible from various locations and above concession stands.

“We wanted people to come here, and, no matter whether they paid a little bit or a lot of money, that has nothing to do with the artwork,” he says. “The artwork is 100 percent, no matter where you go in this building.”

In one section of the stadium, Whitfield talks about “Two Minds,” a red and white work of art created by British artist Terry Haggerty.

“Some say it is a flag waving in the wind, or peppermint candy,” he says. Later, Whitfield highlights the reflective, outdoor “Sky Mirror” by Anish Kapoor and “Blue Field Explosions” by New York artist Gary Simmons, whose work can resurrect memories of early Batman brawls.

The vibrant “Coming Home” and “(Meet me) at the Waterfall” by German artist Franz Ackermann, “Win!,” a wordy work of art by Mel Bochner, and “Coin Toss” by University of North Texas art professor Annette Lawrence are also among the large-scale works.

“Starfield,” by Teresita Fernandez, encourages people to slow down and look up, Whitfield says.

“The black background shows a reflection of you,” he says of the work’s mirror-like aspect. “So you get to be a part of her “Starfield.”

Whitfield notes that the artwork was created hands-on at the stadium and each is accompanied by its own plaque. Cost was not revealed, he says, “because it’s not about money,” but about passion.

“Art gives you opportunities,” he says. “All those mixture of artists makes no difference. Art brings out the best in all of us.”

 

Related Posts

  • Art For Our Sake

    Various works scattered about town have given the city a new look - and a…

  • Art for Artists' Sake

  • Home SWEET Home!

      From practically any vantage point – inside or outside – Roger and Del Iker’s…

Tags: artAT&T Stadium
72Sold March 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add