The Woodlands Media Information
2201 Timberloch Place
The Woodlands, Texas 77380-1181

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE WOODLANDS TO DISPLAY POWERFUL EXHIBIT OF WORKS BY ARTISTS DISPLACED BY KATRINA

THE WOODLANDS, TX – (July 20, 2006) – As the Gulf Coast marks the first anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, The Woodlands will host a one-of-a-kind exhibit of works produced by artists displaced by the storm who found a refuge in New York.

"Katrina and the Waves of Its Diaspora" is a compelling combination of about 45 works of video, photography, sculpture, installation, painting and drawing by 14 artists selected by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for emergency residencies after they were forced to leave New Orleans last fall. The Council provided studio space in Tribeca, living stipends, funding and other support to help the artists start to build their portfolios anew as part of the six-month Gulf Coast Residency program.

"Those of us who live on the Gulf Coast know how quickly a storm can turn lives upside down," said Alex Sutton, president of The Woodlands Development Company. "We feel honored to be able to provide a forum for New Orleans artists to show their determination to persevere."

The works were first shown at the Bronx River Art Center in New York starting in May. The exhibit will be on display at 21 Waterway Avenue in The Woodlands from August 19 through September 10, encompassing the one-year mark of Katrina's landfall and the resulting evacuation of the greater New Orleans area. The exhibit will be open

Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m. and by appointment Monday through Thursday, excluding September 1-4 (Labor Day weekend). Admission is free. To schedule an appointment to see the exhibit, call 281-719-6389.

"We want this exhibit to have as large of an audience as possible, to help ensure that the voices of New Orleans will not be forgotten," said Aristides Logothetis, who curated the exhibit. "We look forward to hearing how visitors in the Houston area respond to these wonderful works."

21 Waterway Avenue is located along The Woodlands Waterway. From Houston, take I-45 to Woodlands Parkway, exit 76B. From Woodlands Parkway, turn right onto Woodloch Forest Drive, and then left onto Timberloch Place. Turn right onto Waterway Avenue. 21 Waterway Avenue is on the left. Parking will be available in The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel parking garage, located just north of the building.

The Woodlands has one of the most impressive collections of public art in the country, with over 36 pieces located throughout its villages and commercial centers. These outdoor sculptures provide a cultural counterpoint to the natural forested beauty of the community. For a complete list of the works and their creators and a locator map, visit the "Nature" section of http://www.thewoodlands.com.

The project is being overseen by Janet Phelps of MKG Art Management, LLC in Houston, which manages the public art collection and artistic projects for The Woodlands Development Company. MKG offers expert advice to private, corporate, and institutional clients. Client services include art acquisition and divestment, accredited art appraisals, art collection management, art leases, art education programs, and publication management and editing.

Today, three decades after its founding by David Rockefeller, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council remains at the forefront of Downtown New York’s cultural vision and serves as the creative hub for connecting residents, tourists, and workers to Lower Manhattan’s vast and vibrant arts community. The Council's Gulf Coast Residency took place in spaced donated by Trinity Real Estate and the program was made possible through a lead grant from American Express Company, with additional support from the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Sanford Smith and Jill Bokor, Surdna Foundation, Time Warner Inc., and Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. More information about the program can be found at http://www.lmcc.net/gulfcoast/.

The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.

For more information, contact: Susan Vreeland-Wendt, 281-719-6174, svreeland@thewoodlands.com, Lorrie Parise, 281-719-6344, lparise@thewoodlands.com, Marta Fredricks, Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations, 713-224-9115, marta@dpwpr.com, Janet Phelps, MKG Art Management, LLC, 713-526-4146, jsp@mkgart.com