In a nod to both Galveston and Texas, the Galveston Beach Trio sculpture, designed by Texas-based Brad Oldham Sculpture, will welcome passengers as they embark at the facility, opening Nov. 9.
'Showcasing the history and culture of Galveston was our top priority in establishing this art installation in our new terminal, and we're thrilled to partner with Brad Oldham Sculpture to bring this vision to life,' said Joshua Carroll, VP destination development, Royal Caribbean Group.
Inspired by Galveston's musical heritage
Forged in stainless steel and lost-wax bronze, the Galveston Beach Trio is inspired by the rich musical heritage of the historic port city. That heritage includes musicians like Galveston-native and Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone singer and songwriter Barry White, as well as local artists like Joyce Fields, who played piano for nearly 20 years at Sunday brunch at the historic Hotel Galvez, and Joe Pena, the guitarist known as the Granddaddy of Galveston rock 'n' roll.
Royal Caribbean tapped Houston-based Piper Faust Public Art to assemble a selection of Texas artists to consider for this opportunity. A concept by the husband-and-wife team of Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin of Brad Oldham Sculpture was selected. They specialize in narrative-based sculpture and site-specific installations designed to evoke the spirit and heart of unique places.
Backdrop for family photos
'When we started working on the design concepts for a placemaking sculpture at Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston, we first talked about our favorite family vacations,' Brad Oldham said. 'Some of our best memories are from traveling together. We are honored to create a permanent installation that cultivates the vacation vibe with an approachable music theme using native animals to make up the band. It is exciting to think that the Galveston Beach Trio may make it into family vacation pictures to capture the special time together.'
'Galveston is particularly meaningful to me because my grandfather was a 1925 graduate of Ball High School before attending Texas A&M University,' Christy Coltrin said. 'He had a private architecture practice in Galveston in the 1940s. I think that he would like to know that his granddaughter helped create a sculpture celebrating his hometown.'
$125m, zero-energy cruise terminal
Royal Caribbean's $125m terminal will be home to Allure of the Seas, the line's first Oasis-class ship to sail from Texas. It is designed as a world-first zero-energy cruise facility.
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