LMFA Perspective Magazine – Vol. 2 Issue 2

Art Around Town

Derek Frazier

Curator of Collection & Preparator

A number of years ago I was fortunate enough to spend a little time studying Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture in Italy. I saw all the have-to’s, of course Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, even Giotto’s Scrovengi Chapel – but I also reveled in the local art. Each city had its own brand of creativity; the five-hundred-year-old apartments of Florence, the concrete and stone sidewalks of Venice, and the ever-present Roman graffiti that covers anything that doesn’t move are examples.

As Curator of Collections at the LMFA, it is my job to track art as it moves in and out of the museum. When I started here, a little less than a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised at how much art we have installed all around Longview and surrounding areas. And not just whatever was available at the time; we have good, solid artwork from Texas artists on display, many of them native to or hailing from Longview. In this way, we’re like the great Italian cities I visited.

"Eureka III"

Melinda Buie

If you go to the Belcher Center at LeTourneau University, you can see nearly 40 works of art that are on loan from the LMFA. Most of those are paintings by the late 20th century illustrator and Texas native Charles Shaw, but the one that really grabs my attention is Eureka III by an East Texas artist named Melinda Buie. It’s a simple painting of a cow’s face, done in a style that resembles a graphic illustration, or stained glass. The reason I like it is that my extended family ranches here in East Texas, and I’ve had many face-to-face moments with cows just like the one portrayed by Buie. Good stuff.

"Abandoned Building, Church Street in Winona, TX"

Hank O’Neal

If you visit Maude Cobb Convention Center, you will undoubtedly notice the 43 photos by Hank O’Neal hanging in the lobby. O’Neal was born in Kilgore and has been a prolific photographer and author for the last sixty years. The photos on display at Maude Cobb are scenes from around East Texas and just beyond. It’s worth visiting the Convention Center just to see his work.

Untitled

Anup Bhandari

If you go just outside the Longview city limits to the Gregg County Airport, you’ll find another collection of outstanding art made by Texans. Perhaps the one with the most intriguing backstory is simply called Untitled. It was made by Kilgore artist, Anup Bhandari. He was born in the mountainous nation of Nepal and moved to the United States when he was 19. He eventually settled in Kilgore. He became a vital part of his adopted community, helping non-profits and charity organizations. He died much too early at the age of 40. His work at the airport celebrates his adopted home, featuring the image of a Texas longhorn surrounded by shapes and colors. If you look closely you will notice a familiar flag decorating the center of the painting.

This is part of the LMFA art you can find around town. Keep your eyes openas you run errands, visit friends, and conduct business. We’ll explore more artdestinations in later issues. Until then, happy hunting!