Mirage II , one of 42 pieces of public art in The Woodlands, has been moved to the median of Lake Woodlands Drive, just east of Lake Woodlands Bridge. The 4,000-pound, 10-foot tall sculpture was created by Ben Woitena and originally installed in 1995 in the median at Research Forest Drive just west of Gosling Road. The piece has also been restored to its original colors of orange and cream by the artist.

According to Dan Leverett, vice president of commercial for The Woodlands Development Compan y and member of the Company’s public art committee, the sculpture is more appropriate in the urban setting of Town Center because of its colors and geometry. “Mirage II is best experienced from a car, rather than a pedestrian perspective,” Leverett said. “It is also most appreciated when seen from two directions, since it is different on each side.

“We have moved several pieces recently to better display the sculpture in the way the artist intended, and to afford the best view to passersby,” Leverett said. Pieces have also been moved when they were in the path of a construction project, as in the case of “The Watch Owl” by Mark Bradford that was relocated from the path behind The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion during its expansion.

“We also relocated “Millennium Sculpture” by Bruce White, which was originally installed in the median on Woodloch Forest Drive,” Leverett said. “As we started constructing large office buildings around that area, the scale of that piece just wasn’t right for the location. It is also internally lit, and our art consultants thought it would be more appropriate as a ‘beacon’ on The Waterway.” The sculpture now overlooks The Waterway just behind The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
Source: The Woodlands Operating Company