“Arms of God.” That’s the original Spanish name for the Brazos River. Today we are standing before the Brazos Trace Sculpture. This artwork visually embraces viewers with encircling “arms” of imagery.
The Brazos Trace is located at the University of Houston at Sugar Land in the George Building. This sculpture was created in 2007 by Liz Ward. She collaborated with Rob Ziebell and Anthony Thompson Shumate. These artists were inspired by the Brazos River. It is a major geographical feature near the campus.
The Brazos Trace mimics the Brazos River’s contours. It highlights the importance of sugar and cotton. Wildlife migration is also featured as abstracted patterns. The curving panels create a visual effect. They make it seem like a river is descending through the architectural space.
Look closely at the panels. They are patterned with images. These images relate to the cultural and natural history of the Brazos. The production and transport of cotton and sugar drove the region’s economic development.
Notice the sugar cane plant image on the first level. The Lower Brazos was sugar cane country. The image is overlaid with a linear system. This suggests water or air currents. You can also see an historic map of the Brazos River. Silhouette shapes of flying birds reference the river’s importance. It is a migratory corridor for wildlife.
The second level features imagery inspired by the cotton plant. Cotton was a major crop of central Texas. The panel shows magnified images of cotton leaf cells. They also suggest the surface of water. Cotton plant blossoms are in various stages of development. You can see the historic Brazos map again. Shadows of migratory geese overlay this panel.
The upper panel reflects the canyon country of the Upper Brazos. The linear pattern suggests river currents. Abstract pool and stone shapes suggest rushing water. They evoke whirlpools. As the panel ascends, the images transition to air currents. You can also see islands from above. Migratory hawks punctuate this upper panel. They create patterns of shadow and light.
The imagery was scanned from original watercolors. Then it was digitally printed on flexible aluminum panels. This material allows elements to be cut out. They pull away from the surface. This creates ever-shifting shadows. The sculpture takes full advantage of the rotunda’s natural lighting.
The Brazos Trace is designed to visually embrace the viewer. It references migration and agricultural cycles. It reflects the changing seasons. The sculpture marks the earth’s rotation through shadow play. The descending bands trace the Brazos’ course through Texas. They celebrate the river’s role in pioneer settlement and economic development. It is a fitting tribute to the “River of the Arms of God.”