The ribbon cutting for Deedee Morrison’s Lighthouse, a 17-foot steel and Plexiglas sculpture, will take place May 23 at 3:30 p.m. at The Orange Beach Art Center.

This event is open to the public and the community is encouraged to come meet the artist and see her work.

Morrison arranged the installation of Lighthouse to coincide with the Art Center’s After School Arts Program (ASAP). On Mondays ASAP students study ‘Public Art and Creative Writing’ and “Deedee was so kind to speak with the children about public art, explaining the process from site location and design to installation” Juli Jordan, ASAP Director.  “That is a rare opportunity for our students and, accordingly, the ribbon cutting is scheduled so that those students can be a part of that aspect of public art as well.”

This public art sculpture was made possible by a generous donation to Friends of the Arts, Inc. the support organization for the Orange Beach Arts Center.  Art on the historic grounds of the Orange Beach Arts Center is charged with an essential mission: re-new and re-imagine a familiar space for a new era.

“With Lighthouse I seek to re-think the shape of the recognizable creating a contemporary motif from traditional lighthouse and lantern designs,”  Morrison said.

Lighthouse is a 17-foot sculpture constructed with four elements: a 17-foot Corten steel pipe, 32 laser cut Corten steel panels, Plexiglas and electricity. 

“This piece is both representational and symbolic, based on the continuous interplay of nature, humanity and technology and the effect each plays on the other,” Morrison said.  Lighthouse brings art into the daily lives of the community and is set to become the landmark for the Orange Beach Arts Center.

The sculpture took its cues from a traditional “lighthouse” that is a beacon for safety to passing ships. The material used to fabricate the sculpture is industrial grade steel which with age acquires a natural patina of the colors of the earth, natural warm browns and golden tones, developing an appeal of depth and permanence. The sculpture has an interior light, a welcoming beacon, that casts a warm glow at night for all who pass by to see.

“We are thrilled to have the Lighthouse for the City of Orange Beach and for all of our art enthusiasts at the Orange Beach Arts Center,” said Wanda Price, Art Center Coordinator. “The Art Center’s landscape overlooking Wolf Bay provides the perfect backdrop to reveal the structures’ complexity and scale.”

“This is an historic occasion for us and it symbolizes a revitalized interest and continued support and development of the Arts in the Panhandle region,” Price said.

Deedee Morrison was born in New Orleans.  She received her BA from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. After spending several years in London, Morrison studied welding at Bessemer State College and began to work as a sculptor. During the years, Morrison has expanded her spatial scope and currently focuses on large-scale work, including site-specific works created for architectural, urban or landscape settings.

The Orange Beach Art Center’s mission is to provide a venue for inspiration, education, promotion and enjoyment of the arts for the resident and visitors to the Gulf Coast.