Fueling the Imagination:
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In February 2003, ALON USA and the City of Lubbock first met to review the possibility of launching a unique private and public sector initiative that would have a lasting impact on the Lubbock arts community in the years ahead. The result would be a major initiative to help support the construction of the city’s new performance venue, as well as start a new community and international fine arts invitational. This grand-scale project would put Lubbock in the spotlight as being the first American City to host such a phenomenal undertaking featuring local professional and amateur artists, as well as works from artists from around the world.
Over the course of the year, representatives from the local arts community joined business and civic leaders to solicit entries and judge submissions by Lubbock-area artists, writers and musicians for a special arts exhibition. Selected artwork will be turned into 120 street banners to be hung throughout Lubbock at selected venues in 2004 as part of a unique public arts display, sponsored by ALON USA/FINA 7-Eleven. The project’s theme is Fueling the Imagination: The Vortex of Creativity. The Buddy Holly Center and the Lubbock Regional Arts Center extended invitations to members of the local arts community to participate in this arts invitational and coordinated the selection process. The selection panel consisted of the project team, along with community representatives including: the City of Lubbock’s Cultural Arts Commission; Lubbock City Council members; Lubbock County Commissioners; Texas Tech University; regional graphic designers; and community and youth artists. The panel used selection criteria developed by the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock Regional Arts Center and ALON USA/FINA. Although the project is underwritten by ALON USA/FINA, the company has been working closely with members of the City Parks and Recreation Department, the Buddy Holly Center and the Lubbock Regional Arts Center on local logistics and execution. The artwork selected was unveiled for the first time at the New Year’s Eve Gala at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center on December 31, 2003. The selected artwork was also exhibited at the Lubbock Arts Festival in April 2004. They will then be put on special outdoor display during the 4th on Broadway Festival in the summer. “We are very pleased to sponsor a project that will not only feature works from international artists, but also highlight the talents of those right here in Lubbock and throughout the South Plains, including submissions by community groups, school children and civic organizations,” said Jeff Morris, ALON USA President and CEO. Morris also explained that the initiative is aligned with ALON’s efforts to support the arts in Lubbock on an ongoing basis. In June, ALON USA/FINA announced the company’s contribution of $150,000 to support the City of Lubbock’s sculpture garden and amphitheater project. The new facility in Mackenzie Park will provide world-class entertainment opportunities in a multi-dimensional performance venue. Because of this generous donation, Mayor Marc McDougal and Lubbock City Council named the sculpture garden, adjacent to the amphitheater, in honor of ALON USA/FINA. "This project forges an unprecedented partnership between corporate sponsorship and community involvement in the arts in Lubbock," said Kathryn Oler, Executive Director of the Lubbock Regional Arts Center. "It helps to create long-term ownership of and interest in public art in this community." According to Morris, the company’s support of this major community project proves to be mutually beneficial because the Lubbock market is key for ALON. “ALON USA is an integral part of the Lubbock community, through our Southwest Convenience Stores division we employ more than 100 people and operate nearly 25 FINA 7-Eleven’s throughout the Lubbock area,” Morris said. “By supporting the arts and the community, we are demonstrating our commitment to Lubbock and the customers we serve.” The ALON USA-sponsored fine arts invitational was derived from a similar community project titled Banners in Venice, Italy and Kassel, Germany, under the direction of the Sheetrit Media Group in Tel Aviv, Israel and international arts coordinators Doron Polak and Amir Cohen. This European initiative showcased the talents of international visual artists and writers by turning their submissions into street banners and placing them in highly visible thoroughfares for maximum public exposure. “Mr. Polak and Mr. Cohen are working on behalf of ALON USA with the local arts community to execute this project for the first time in the U.S.,” said Catherine Prose, Director of the Buddy Holly Center. “This is very exciting because Lubbock will serve as the first American city to host a community and international fine arts invitational of this kind that will literally bring the concept of a ‘museum without walls’ onto the streets for everyone to enjoy.”
About Alon USA:
Alon USA is headquartered in Dallas, TX and Southwest Convenience Stores is headquartered in Odessa, TX. Together, the group owns and operates 170 corporate stores under the name Southwest Convenience Stores. SCS represents 7-Eleven’s largest licensee with exclusive marketing rights in West TX, New Mexico, and most of Arizona. Alon USA also serves approximately 1,400 Distributor fuel sites branded with the name FINA in a five state area (TX, LA, OK, NM and AZ). For more information, please visit the ALON USA website at www.alonusa.com.
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