Building the Outdoor Sculpture Park of their Dreams: Tamara Johnson + Trey Burns, Founders, Sweet Pass Sculpture Park

Artroverted

Leaving New York is a tough choice for many artists, but it was a no-brainer for this week's guests. Returning to Texas allowed Tamara and Trey to realize their dream exhibition space, an outdoor sculpture park. Founded in 2018, Sweet Pass Sculpture Park is located on a one-acre lot in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of West Dallas, TX. Their program highlights emerging and mid-career artists from around the world.

In our conversation, they talk about how they've built a pandemic-friendly art venue that has become a refuge for many and how "The Great Postponing" affected their exhibition program. These projects include Black Power Naps (Navild Acosta & Fannie Sosa), Ssalute (Marina Rosenfeld) for the 10th Aurora Biennial, The Staff of Aslecpias (Erik DeLuca) The Philosophy of Goo, their first collaboration that received an NEA grant in association with Wassaic Projects, and Tamara's solo exhibition How to Fold a Fitted Sheet all of which opened during the pandemic.

Their ability to balance their vision for a "Socrates of the South" with their artistic practice and teaching positions is inspiring. In a post-COVID-19 age, when viewing art safely is not guaranteed, the need for more spaces like Sweet Pass will continue to grow. These two are true leaders and changemakers in the art world, and what Artroverted is dedicated to showcasing.

This episode was recorded on October 30, 2020

Find out more about Sweet Pass here: sweetpasssculpturepark.com
On Instagram @sweetpasssculpturpark @tamarajohnson @treyburns @ourmutt

Visit www.ourmutt.com to purchase the Duchamp inspired dog bowl for the contemporary art lover who has everything.

Music credit: Maurice Ravel's String Quartet in F major - II. Assez vif, très rythmé produced by the Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum (issued under a Creative Commons License).