Anchors Aweigh To All My Friends
by Nic Noblique, Clyde, TX

Location:  Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX 

Artist Statement

I designed this piece to be as organic as possible and let the lines and rolled curves take over to create something resembling the rolling hills and landscape at my ranch in west Texas. Boerne is situated in such a beautiful part of Texas and I’ve been there many times, admiring the contrast to my own land. I believe this sculpture will highlight that amazing landscape and greenery Boerne has.

 

I would describe my sculpture as categorically abstract with an emphasis on applying the idea of 3/5/8 mathematical beauty (the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio) to each composition. Fabrication happens on site in my home-based studio situated on 70 acres West of Dallas, Texas.  I use mild steel, cor-ten steel, stainless steel and salvaged steel to create large, site-specific public and private sculptures that often incorporate rolled shapes, concave and convex transitions, and boxed in elements that add dimension and complexity.

 

I have fabricated some of my own machinery that allows me to push the limits. Most notably, my 60-ton cold roll / 3-bar pinch rolling machine that is built from entirely recycled parts including a 50-year-old transmission from an oil jack-pump.  I do love to play with color in juxtaposition to the environment and surroundings, often making use of how color can elicit physical reactions and emotional responses. I am drawn to rusted patinas and stainless steel for their ability to stand out and sustainability is always at the forefront of my process.

 

Bio

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1976, Nic Noblique is a Texas-based sculptor whose preferred medium is steel. Asked to kindly leave the Colorado Institute of Art after only a few short weeks of class, he has gone on to harness a rebellious and tenacious need to succeed on his own terms.

 

Growing up immersed in the punk rock, skateboard and snowboard culture of the Midwest, Nic developed a passion that led to owning skate and snow retail shops in Wisconsin, California, and the Pacific Northwest. He placed in the X-Games (1995) for snowboarding and after studying pliable materials engineering, patented a new ‘center point concave’ skate deck that remains the industry standard today. He continued to apply creative insight with an understanding of physics to design and produce indoor and outdoor skate and snow parks. In his early twenties, with much of his body broken twice over, he left the skate and snow industry to pursue his other passion, a career in fine art.

 

During a visit to the family acreage in West Texas in 2000, he picked up an old stick welder and has never looked back. Nic has participated in many sculpture competitions, solo and group exhibitions with respected galleries and art centers nationally and works with numerous charities and arts initiatives to improve our communities and lives through art. Nic has enjoyed teaching graduate level 3D art at Hardin Simmons University and continues to foster the growth of young talent through apprenticeships via McMurry University. Nic has owned two retail galleries, both highly regarded in their respective communities and even garnering a ‘best art gallery’ award in 2008 for his successful alternative art space and studio concept in Galveston, Texas.

 

Nic has commissioned hundreds of works both privately and publicly and been honored with awards in sculpture including the prestigious international Navy Pier Walk Competition in 2003 (Juror, David Pagel), a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant recipient in 2008 and First Place Recognition for “Even Your Emotions Have an Echo” in cooperation with Henderson Art Project.

 

For more about Nic and his work visit www.nobliquestudios.com

 

Unicorn (I Do What I Want)
by Jeffie Brewer, Nacogdoches, TX

Location:  Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX

Artist Statement

“Unicorn (I do what I want)”.  While I try not to let fashion or the market dictate my creative process, sometimes I find myself staring at the dichotomy of eating and free-will art making. When faced with similar existential crises I tend to do the contrary. Someone says I can’t do pink - I do pink. Cliches? I got your cliches.

 

We are born... schools... jobs... We spend endless amounts of time and energy going from one thing to the next with the carrot dangling ‘til the end. I don’t have time for carrots. I do what I want. Everything is a self-portrait. I am a unicorn.” Unicorn is painted steel.

 

I make things.

I show people how to make things.

I have an insatiable desire to create, to explore, to understand.

I work with my hands.

I work with my head.

 

My works intention is to provide just enough information, allowing for a narrative without delving into total non-representationalism. Leaving room for interpretation as well as a little mystery, I hope, adds to the viewing experience. My work in graphic design and general fascination with pop culture are heavy influences on my work.

 

 

Bio

I grew up in a small, rural town in East Texas. The son of an eccentric junk yard owner, learning to spot beauty in the mundane, developing an array of industrial skills and discovered I had a knack for drawing. Those early revelations have influenced my artistic trajectory ever since.

 

In 2000 I earned an MFA in sculpture and metals and in 1998 a MA in sculpture and painting from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. I also earned a BFA in drawing, printmaking and jewelry making from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. I have taught a wide range of art classes, from sculpture to typography to expressive drawing, at Stephen F. Austin State University, Angelina College and University of Texas at Tyler.

 

Since my first exhibition in 1998, my work has appeared in both solo and group shows across America and in Mexico and Japan.

 

Jeffie is currently an Assistant Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas.  He teaches Sculpture, 3-D Design and Graphic Design.

 

 

 

Skittles
by GiGi Miller, Austin, TX

Location:  Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX

 

 

 

 

Artist Statement

Skittles is a large reinforced concrete and mosaic sculpture created completely by hand from steel, concrete and handmade ceramic tiles. This sculpture is the second in a series of what I call "Whimsical Chimeras” and continues my theme of making "Art For a Beautiful, Happy and Playful World". Like "Leap of Faith" (series first sculpture), it was designed with the simple objectives of stimulating creativity in children, being fun and inducing positive emotions.

 

In 2013, I began creating public art because I believe that happy, uplifting art has a positive impact on the mental-health and well-being of communities. I believe that if public art fails to create a smile and sense of wonder to passersby, it is a missed opportunity. I think a lot about the science and psychology of interacting with art. I hope my art brings whimsy to the world.

 

My motto is "Art for a Beautiful, Happy and Playful World". I am especially passionate about stimulating children’s imaginations and helping them to develop a love of the arts. Therefore, I love to create vibrant, colorful and intricate mosaic sculptures that provide visual highs that engage the audience whether they are viewing from near or far. Those who engage my sculptures up close will discover small hidden surprises, which turn the entire sculpture into a giant I-spy game.

 

I believe my bright, colorful pieces are a good fit for municipal sculpture initiatives that seek eye-catching tourist attractions which can potentially become iconic landmarks, and with which locals would enjoy engaging on a regular basis. My fun and whimsical style tends to warm the hearts of onlookers of all ages.

 

Bio

GiGi Miller is a mixed media artist, mother, and nature lover who has lived in Austin, Texas for more than 20 years. GiGi seeks to bring happiness and beauty to the world by creating aesthetically pleasing art that is inspired by the classics, and by creating playful and whimsical art that feeds the imagination. Some of her greatest classical influences include Raphael, Botticelli, Bernini, Canova, Gerome, and Bouguereau. She also finds inspiration from surrealist artists like Bosch, Dali and Magritte. Her favorite architectural style is Modernism, especially the works of Gaudi.

 

Throughout her life, GiGi has spent countless hours enjoying and observing nature, which is a constant source of inspiration for her themes. From a young age, her parents' love of travel exposed her to many interesting cultures and to fine art museums around the world. Though she has been painting since she was a young girl, she is not bound to any one media. GiGi loves the creative process in general, whether she is painting, sculpting, working with mosaics, producing a multimedia installation, or taking photographs. At this point in her life, as a mother of young children, GiGi has decided to focus primarily on mosaic sculpture installations because it invites hands-on participation from the entire family.

 

GiGi received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 2003. Since then, GiGi has continued to develop her art skills by studying with respected artists. Beginning in 2010, GiGi spent over a year studying under famed realist painter Graydon Parrish in the classic atelier method. In 2011, GiGi completed a mosaic installation workshop with community art visionary Isaiah Zagar in the Bay Area.

 

GiGi is an active member of the Bee Cave Art Foundation, the Austin Mosaic Guild, the Cuernavaca Arts Cooperative, the Society of American Mosaic Artists, and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

 

GiGi produces art out of her commercial studio (FrogTree Studios), located just outside of Bee Cave, TX.

 

For more about GiGi and her work visit www.gigimiller.com

Tanzanian Torpedo
by Sun McColgin, Austin, TX

Location:  Boerne Visitors Center, 282 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX

 

Artist Statement

Inspiration?

 

My current series of sculptures is a metaphor for the fragility of what we often take for granted as being solid and indestructible. Much like a single drop of water can find its way into the smallest crevice of a rock and freeze – slowly the crack grows until the rock explodes and shears away. Repeated over time, the once monolithic rock becomes something new and beautiful and more fragile. I am attempting to recreate this process in my work – to celebrate the passage of time and lost memories and the promise and beauty of what will be shaped by the unseen forces of the future.

 

Bio

Sun McColgin is a sculptor and metal worker residing in Austin, Texas. He moved to Austin in 1989 to attend the University of Texas where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology. Along the way, Sun studied Art Metals at Austin Community College and began working for Austin sculptor John Christensen in 1995.

 

Since 2005 Sun has maintained his own studio practice. He has shown his work regularly and completed many private commissions. “In 2011, I completed my first public commission for the city of Austin, entitled Urban Canyon, located at the corner of 2nd and Colorado. I am currently working on my next Art in Public Places project for the city of Austin with Austin artist Ryah Christensen. In the meantime, I continue to create sculpture that challenges me to reinvent how I see the world and my place in it.”

 

For more about Sun and his work visit www.1180pandora.com

 

Tortolitos (The Love Birds)
by Brian Wedgworth, San Antonio, TX

Location:  Cibolo Trailhead, near The Kendall, 128 Blanco Rd.

 

Artist Statement

“This piece is called Tortolitos or Lovebirds. It is made of welded steel and is a portrait of my wife and me.”

 

Bio

Brian Wedgworth was born in San Antonio, Texas, and currently resides in the Rio Grande Valley located along the Texas-Mexico border. He attended the University of Texas-Pan American where studied sculpture under Richard Hyslin. Wedgworth’s geometric based large-scale abstract steel sculptures can be found in several private collections around the U.S. and Mexico. He also works with local developers to incorporate his work in their projects including homes, apartment complexes, and business centers.

 

Brian Wedgworth’s work has been exhibited internationally. The solo exhibit Solar Fusion was installed at the Contemporary Art Museum of Tamaulipas, in Matamoros, Mexico in early 2012. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and has participated in over fifty group shows throughout Texas and Northern Mexico. Recently, Wedgworth was invited to participate in Sculpture on Campus, at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, and in Art on the Green at the Kemp Center in Wichita Falls. He has also participated in Texas Uprising a contemporary sculpture exhibition organized by Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio.

 

In the academic arena, Wedgworth was invited to participate in residency programs at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and Texas A&M University at Kingsville. He assisted the sculpture programs in setting up their welding studios and worked with graduate and undergraduate students. In the Fall Semester of 2012, at UTPA, he worked with Belgian Fulbright Scholar, Mark Cloet. Wedgworth assisted Cloet to create the sculpture component of the C. Stone Project, a multi-faceted collaborative endeavor that involved interdisciplinary creative processes. Together they also created a collaborative sculpture that was included in the exhibition and is now part of the Permanent Collection of the International Museum of Art & Science in McAllen, Texas.

 

For more about Brian and his work visit www.instagram.com/brianwedgworthart/

 

 

Dragonfly

 by Luis “Chispas” Guerrero, San Antonio, TX

Location:  Cibolo Trailhead near Ye Kendall Inn, 128 W. Blanco Road, Boerne, TX

Artist Statement

Dragonfly is a larger than life sculpture, standing 10’ tall with an 8’ wingspan and is constructed powder-coated steel.  Dragonflies represent change, transformation, adaptability and self-realization. It is also considered a source of emotional maturity. The sculpture will give people an opportunity to smile, dream and reflect on realities in life.

 

 

 

Bio

Luis Guerrero, also known as, El Chup or Chispas! is a San Antonio, Texas born and raised native who has a unique understanding of the Mexican-American community and a talent to breathe life into scrap metal, transforming thoughts, myths and memories into original art sculptures.

Metalworking runs in Chispas’ blood. As a young child, he was so enchanted by the sparks that shimmered in the night as his grandfather put fire to and grind on metal, hence the name, “Ay Chispas!” for his studio, which means, “Ouch, sparks!” in Spanish.

 

In 1996, Chispas converted his 13 years of welding experience into a metal art form. Chispas can fuse and transform pieces of metal, diesel engine parts and junkyard scraps into symbolic, meaningful sculptures that truly capture the evolving, Mexican- American culture, its ongoing struggle, present day myths and musical legends. As do most Chicano artists nationwide, Chispas’ artwork represents the struggle of being accepted into the Anglo-dominated society of the United States, while maintaining the cultural sense developed as a Latino-cultured, US-born Mexican child.

 

For more about Luis “Chispas” and his work visit www.aychispas.com.

 

Martin on the Prairie
by Rollin Karg, Kechi, KS

Location:  Currey Creek Trailhead @ Northside Neighborhood Park, 1037 Adler Road, Boerne, TX

 

Artist Statement

The world in which we live is filled with color. Texture, scale, and a myriad of many other facets, that bring us together, inspire us, give us joy, provide opportunities to think in new ways and places to ponder our thoughts. I believe my sculpture is just that. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., I wanted to create a sculpture that would commemorate him, something solid and uplifting. Art is a coming together of all that provides us with history and meaning. I love being a part of all that.

 

I have been working in glass and metal for over thirty years. About thirteen years ago I started making Public Art. A sculpture has a profound amount of spiritual content in it. Creating and designing for special locations is exciting but physically seeing my work in the outdoor setting really makes me feel like I have made an impact in the world. My work is a bridge to communicate the spirit of man to the world in which we live. Seeing the stunning effect that glass and metal has on the landscape is pure joy. Glass is so durable that people forget it has been out of doors since the beginning of its creation. History tells the story of glass. Art is like a rocket full of our hopes, dreams, and history that shoots into the future for all generations to come. My work is in all different types of climates in the USA having been received in many states like California, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and Chicago.

 

Bio

I was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1944 and raised in Miami, Fl. Being the grandson of a contractor and the son of a carpenter, working with my hands is in my blood. I studied business administration at Wichita State University in Ks and worked for various companies including Cessna as an Industrial Engineer. I have tried many different forms of art and glass was the most fascinating to me. I made my first paperweight and that was the beginning of a wonderful passion and vocation. The challenge of glass is never ending and as my imagination grew, so did the size of the glass. Metal stands were added about 20 years ago and again as the glass grew so did my imagination and public art became a reality. It is pure pleasure to be able to take the inspiration and imagination, turn it into art and make a living doing it.

 

For more about Rollin and his work visit www.rollinkarg.com

 

 

Rosalita
by Russ Connell, Dallas, TX, in collaboration with Mick Burson

Location:  Boerne City Park, 106 City Park Road, Boerne, TX

Artist Statement

Rosalita is painted steel and is a collaboration with Mick Burson.

 

“This piece was part of a collaborative series I produced with Mick Burson, a muralist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm a big fan of Mick's mural works and paintings and thought stylistically we could complement each other well. I fabricated geometric forms working in a style I'm comfortable in and gave Mick complete creative control of color scheme and layout. I think we both played to our strengths throughout developing this body of work and it was extremely fun working with a painter who I have so much respect for.”

 

“My interest in metalworking began as a challenge to manipulate something that seemed completely rigid. I view my working process as a physical conversation with the piece. Each time I hammer, the metal pushes back. I’ve come to find that this manipulation of such a firm material makes the result the most satisfying. Metal tends to read as something that will last hundreds and hundreds of years. Throughout history we can look back and see metal tools and objects created many years ago. This appreciation for the historical working of metal lead me to pursue the craft today.”

 

 

 

Bio

Russ Connell is a metal sculptor based in Dallas, Texas. His work is exhibited through public works, galleries, and private collections around Texas. Connell primarily works in steel, constructing large geometric abstract shapes to create forms that playfully interact with their surroundings.

 

For more about Russ and his work visit http://www.russconnell.com/

 

Boodle

by Art Fairchild, Dallas, TX

Location:  Boerne City Park, 106 City Park Road, Boerne, TX

Artist Statement

Boodle is made with over 6,000 potato chip size pieces of steel and finished with a rust patina. Inspiration

 

The driving force behind my work is the interaction and intricacies of shape, form and balance: contrasting simplicity with complexity. My sculptures begin with an idea in my mind’s eye that is transferred to the drawing board and then to scale maquettes used as study pieces leading to the completed piece. I have always been intrigued by the interplay of textures utilizing wood, metal, stone and glass to create dynamic and visually captivating works of art. My detail-oriented personality, coupled with a chronic fascination for construction and engineering, has proven to be well suited to explore my life-long dream of creating artwork that is not only pleasing to the eye, but whose accuracy and form can be engaging.”

 

 

Bio

Wonder. Intuition. Realization. Joy. These are the hallmarks of Art Fairchild’s sculptural visions. A poet starts with the intangible but succumbs to words to convey his intuition. Conversely, an engineer realizes a problem with the tangible. Art unifies the dichotomy of the engineer and the poet. He strives for the singularity, the space where wonder leads to realization through intuition using engineering to express sculptural poetry.

 

For more about Art and his work visit www.artfairchild.com

 

Adventure Tales & Fairy Tales
by Marianne Caroselli, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Location:  Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX
Bronze 2015, Donated by Majestic Ranch Arts Foundation 2016

About the Sculptures

Adventure Tales and Fairy Tales are two bronze sculptures by Hill Country artist, Marianne Caroselli.  The sculptures were a gift from the Majestic Ranch Arts Foundation to the City of Boerne in 2016 and are located at the Patrick Heath Public Library.

 

Bio

Marianne Caroselli has been sculpting and painting for more than 30 years.  While many of her sculptures depict children, her works also include wildlife, horses, Native Americans, and other themes.  Marianne's work is in the collections of many notables including Burt Reynolds and Red McCombs.

 

 

 

Wild Bill Hickok
by Erik Christianson, Bulverde, TX

Location:  Main Plaza, 100 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX
Funding Partners: City of Boerne, Hill Country Council for the Arts,  Texas Treasures Fine Arts

About the Sculpture

Wild Bill Hickok is a bronze sculpture by local artist Erik Christianson. Wild Bill greets visitors along Boerne’s Main Street at Main Plaza. Visitors and locals are often seen posing with Wild Bill for a memorable photograph.

 

Bio

Artist Erik Christianson grew up on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, where he first developed an interest in sculpture.  In 1979 he moved to San Antonio, Texas where he received two scholarships to study sculpture at the McNay Art Institute and enrolled into the Artists Alliance.

 

Erik’s work reflects a deep interest in creating historically accurate figures.   During his career he has studied every aspect of creating and manufacturing bronze sculptures. While working in an art foundry for 10 years, he learned all aspects of the foundry process to insure maximum quality in his work.

 

Over the years Erik has received many notable commissions from prestigious organizations such as the United States Horse Cavalry, the Vaqueros Association, the First Cavalry Division, the United States Naval Academy, The United States Air Force Academy, and Brooks Army Medical Center. The scope of these sculptures has ranged from bas-reliefs, portraits, and full-length figures, to 150% life size figures.

 

 Erik lives in the Texas Hill Country with his wife, Elena and son, Kai.

 

 

Lucky Ducks
by Marianne Caroselli, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Location:  Main Plaze 100 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX

Bronze 2015 , Donated by Majestic Arts Foundation 2016

About the Sculpture

Nestled near the Main Plaza fountain in historic downtown Boerne, Lucky Ducks is one of the most recent additions to the City’s permanent art collection and was generously donated by the Majestic Ranch Arts Foundation.  Artist Marianne Caroselli, who has been sculpting and painting for more than 30 years, created the original sculpture in clay, then had it cast in bronze so it can be enjoyed by all for decades to come. Caroselli was inspired to create the sculpture in 2010 after seeing children feeding ducks at the river in Boerne. She says her main objective is "to bring  smiles to people’s faces and make them feel good inside, and children will do that.

 

Bio

Caroselli's work ranges from table size to life size with subjects from children, wildlife, horses, westerns and native Americans. All executed with feeling and warmth, Caroselli believes her art work should be peaceful, loving and relaxing, so that it can be enjoyed for a lifetime. A Texas resident since 1972, Caroselli established herself as a professional career artist in small Texas Hill Country town of San Marcos. Her sculptures can be found in the home of many notables, including Burt Reynolds, Byron Nelson, Red McCombs and Wayne Newton.

 

Land of the Cheyenne
by Jonathan Bronson

Location:  Cibolo Trail behind Boerne City Center, Boerne, TX

Donated by Brenda Shaddox, 2014

 

About the Sculpture

Land of the Cheyenne was donated to the citizens of Boerne in 2014 by Brenda Shaddox of Boerne.    The sculpture was originally a gift that Charlie and Brenda Shaddox gave to one another as a wedding anniversary.

 

Land of the Cheyenne is an abstract bronze created by renowned wildlife sculptor, Jonathan Bronson (1952-2009).    It is approximately 7’ in length and more than 5’ high and is located along the Heart of Boerne Trail behind City Center.

 

Bio

Jonathan Bronson was a self-taught sculptor who formulated his own direction early in life.  His love of nature, sensitivity and natural talent propelled him to prominence as a wildlife sculptor.  A native of Utah, Jonathan created “Going for Gold” for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.  His works also are in public and private collections throughout the world.  Among his other works, he designed the “Official Eagle” scout award presented by the Boy Scouts of America to many notable world leaders.

 

Comet & Raven: Messenger from Afar
by Joe Barrington, throckmorton, TX

Location:  Cibolo Trailhead at Newton's Alley, Boerne, TX 
Welded Steel, 2015

About the Sculpture

Comet and Raven: Messenger from Afar, is made of welded steel. Barrington has received several awards for his work including the Purchase Award at the “Seven-State Exhibition,” 1st Place and People’s Choice for “Leon County Arts Trail” and he was a finalist in the “Salmon Sculpture Competition.”

 

 

Father Gander

 by Larry Stevens, Bulverde, TX

Location:  River Road Park, 415 River Road, Boerne, TX

Donated by Larry Stevens 2012

About the Sculpture

Father Gander is a bronze sculpture that was created by Larry Stevens and gifted to the City in 2012 by Larry Stevens, sculptor and owner of Stevens Art Foundry in Bulverde. .

 

According to the Boerne Star “The Hill Country Council for the Arts assisted Stevens in facilitating development, donation and placement of the piece, and the city’s Public Art Review Committee reviewed the gift and recommended its acceptance to the council.

 

The sculpture pays tribute to the father Chinese goose that perished while protecting its nest near the Dodging Duck restaurant in 2010. It depicts a goose with a wing outstretched over three goslings.

 

The goose family’s saga captured the hearts of Boerne residents, with dozens often gathering to watch the little group cross River Road from the Dodging Duck to Cibolo Creek. Despite a traffic cone placed at the crossing spot, the father goose was ultimately struck by a car.”

 

Father Gander is located in River Road Park near the intersections of River Road and Mesquite.

 

 

Dancer
by Jerry Daniel, Sanger, TX

Location:  River Road Park, 415 River Road Road, Boerne, TX

Welded Steel, 2015

 

 

About the Sculpture

Artist Jerry Daniel created his welded steel sculpture in 2015. Dancer is a major theme in Daniel’s work and he aims to reduce the human form to simple works in order to convey joy and celebration of life through these themes.

 

 

Veterans Memorial
by Jay Hester, Boerne, TX

Location:  Veterans Plaza, 801 S. Main Street, Boerne, TX

Bronze 1992

About the Sculpture

Veterans Memorial is the centerpiece of Veterans Plaza on Main Street and depicts warriors from various branches of the armed services. The original War Memorial was a stone monument dedicated in 1923 by the H.J. Graham family in honor of Kendall County soldiers who died in combat during World War I. In 1992 a bronze sculpture by renowned artist  Jay Hester was added to the top of the original monument. Plaques were added to recognize those that were killed in combat during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

When Veteran’s Plaza was redesigned in 2014, the sculpture was renovated and placed as the centerpiece of the new plaza.   As part of that renovation, plaques were added recognizing those killed in combat during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

 

 

Bio

A southerner by birth and a westerner by heart, is how Jay Hester describes himself.

 

Jay’s passion for Western culture is evident in his work as a Native American and Western artist. His ability to capture the rustic beauty and depth of the people and places that define the American West has gained him many honors and awards at national juried exhibitions. Although this subject matter is his passion, it by no means encompasses the spectrum of his talent.

 

 Jay has resided in the beautiful Hill Country town of Boerne, Texas for over twenty years and has been an active leader in the arts community of Boerne.

 

Tilt

by Wesley Stolusky

Location:  Old No. 9 Trail at Blanco Road, Boerne, TX

 

Artist Statement

“Steel is heavy, quick to tip and twist when poorly constructed. Hard to grasp, load bearing, but impossible to balance. Steel is like the mind. Both able to be manipulated by man. I control everything with my own two hands. My job as the maker is to display illusions and depict the utopian idea of perfect balance by leaving room for the viewers mind to live, in three-dimensional space. In other words, forcing organization, and accomplishing a visual representation of balance through mental, and physical exercise of the process and material. With my hands and mind always in sync with the material, the relationship between material and mind are strongest.

 

Bio

Wesley Stolusky was born in Dallas, Texas on June 27, 1992 and grew up in the small town of Kaufman, Texas. After graduating from Kaufman High School, Wesley went on to pursue his BFA at the University of Texas at Tyler. Wesley now has a sculpture studio in Kaufman, Texas.

 

Foundation of the Doo Dah
by Dewane Hughes, Troup, TX

Location:  Currey Trail at North Trailhead, 1017 Adler Road, Boerne, TX

Steel 2017

Artist Statement

“Foundation of the Doo Dah is the steel creation of Dewane Hughes of Troup, TX and is located on the Old No. 9 Trail at 607 East Blanco.

 

“My work has always dealt with language. Influenced heavily by the poets of the Beat Generation, as well as subsequent linguistic scholars, I try to create a formal reality that speaks to the essence of communication.  It is from this perspective that I try to create sculpture that is a manifestation of the space between language, and how we perceive a message. The method of delivery is as important as the message that is delivered, and it is this concept that directs my many creative decisions, such as material, compositional considerations, etc.”

 

Bio

Hughes is an Associate Professor of Sculpture at the University of Texas at Tyler.   
Website:  http://dewanehughesart.com

 

Bull
by Jeffrie Brewer, Nacogdoches, TX

Location:  Hwy 46 at Esser Road, near Longhorn Cafe, Boerne, TX

Painted Steel, 2014

Artist Statement

 

“I make things. I show people how to make things. I have an insatiable desire to create, to explore, to understand. I work with my hands. I work with my head.  My works’ intention is to provide just enough information, allowing for a narrative without delving into total non-representationalism. Leaving room for interpretation as well as a little mystery, I hope, adds to the viewing experience. My work in graphic design and general fascination with pop culture are heavy influences on my work.”

 

Bio

 

Artist Jeffie Brewer is the creator of Bull; this is his second year to be featured in the Art al Fresco Public Art Competition. This sculpture is located at Boerne’s gateway on Highway 46 at Esser Road near the Longhorn Café. In addition to creating art, Brewer has taught a wide range of university courses, from sculpture to typography to expressive drawing at Stephen F. Austin State University, Angelina College and University of Texas at Tyler.

 

Website:  http://www.jeffiebrewer.com/cv  
Facebook:  Follow Jeffie and his whimsical sense of humor on Facebook at Jeffie Brewer.

 

 

Solar Wind
by Patricia Vader, Martinex CA

Location:  City park at Hwy 46 near Corten Steel Bridge, 106 City park Road, Boerne, TX

Steel & Aluminum, 2015

About the Sculpture

Patricia Vader’s Solar Wind is constructed of steel and aluminum.  The sculpture is located adjacent to Highway 46 at the Cibolo Trail Pedestrian Bridge close to the Agricultural Heritage Museum in City Park.  Vader says of her work, “Art is the outlet for my imagination and my preferred means of communication. I love all forms of expression, be it music, dance, architecture, movies, writing, cooking or many others. My own mode of expression is distinctly visual. I live as an attentive observer of the treasures around me. There is always something to see and appreciate that fills me with joy and wonder and feeds the urge to create a vision of my own. I strive to make art that is fun and exciting and filled with motion and light, the kind that people stop to look at and then pause to think about. My message is that art is there to be enjoyed. An often repeated comment is that my work brings joy to the viewer, or a smile, or a moment of levity. The positive feedback from the general public is as stimulating to me as the applause for a live performer.”

 

 

 

Traction
by Art Fairchild

 Location:  Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX

About the Sculptures

“Traction is made from over 300 individual pieces. Stainless steel rods and acorn nuts are used to attach the individual pieces adding an interesting functional design element.

 

The driving force behind my work is the interaction and intricacies of shape, form and balance: contrasting simplicity with complexity. My sculptures begin with an idea in my mind’s eye that is transferred to the drawing board and then to scale maquettes used as study pieces leading to the completed piece. I have always been intrigued by the interplay of textures utilizing wood, metal, stone and glass to create dynamic and visually captivating works of art. My detail oriented personality, coupled with a chronic fascination for construction and engineering, has proven to be well suited to explore my life-long dream of creating artwork that is not only pleasing to the eye, but whose accuracy and form can be engaging.”

 

 

Bio

Wonder. Intuition. Realization. Joy. These are the hallmarks of Art Fairchild’s sculptural visions. A poet starts with the intangible but succumbs to words to convey his intuition. Conversely, an engineer realizes a problem with the tangible. Art unifies the dichotomy of the engineer and the poet. He strives for the singularity, the space where wonder leads to realization through intuition using engineering to express sculptural poetry.

For more about Art and his work visit www.artfairchild.com