JOHN BENNETT
John Bennett was designated Texas State Artist by the 81st Legislature of Texas in 2010. A fourth-generation Texan and current resident of Fredericksburg with his wife Cathy since 2006, he began figural sculpting thirty five years ago and started having his work cast in bronze in 1985. Since then he has continued to develop his God-given talent as an artist, exhibiting in juried art shows, galleries, and museums.
“My most significant exposure to art as a child was in Dallas at Fair Park (renovated in 1936 for the Texas Centennial), which houses numerous Art Deco sculptures, reliefs and murals of Texas imagery. Each year there, I attended the State Fair of Texas, went on field trips to the museums, and to family gatherings, and am still impressed and influenced by the art and style of the 1930’s.”
“I love action and excitement in a sculpture but I’m most happy if the finished piece can outwardly project its own moving emotion and soul – something far beyond merely an image frozen in time and space.”
Purchasers include the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, and the Women’s Museum in Dallas for exhibit in the White House in 1999, as part of the federal “Save America’s Treasures” project. Served as Judge for various art events, including “An Artistic Discovery”, the Congressional Art Competition for High School Students in 2010.
“Acclaimed for his sculptures of women, he has created works depicting women from all walks of life, from Old West legend Annie Oakley to 98-year-old Alice Reeves, a former schoolteacher and granddaughter of a slave; one of his pieces was selected by the Women’s Museum for display at the White House in 1999” – joint resolution of the Texas Legislature, 2009.
BRONZE, Edition of 2 Life Size "Annie Oakley and her dog, Dave. This was a commission for the Leesburg, Florida Library. Annie would spend the winters at a Leesburg hotel with her husband Frank Butler, between the Buffalo Bill Wild West Shows she performed in." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 26" H x 26" W x 8" D "This was based on a wild west show performer after finishing her act. It has a distinctive art-deco feel to the design. The name Lilly of the West I got from a Bob Dylan song – “Still I love my faithless Flora, the Lily of the West.”" ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 25" H x 14" W x 18" D "Belle Starr was only the name I borrowed from the lady outlaw. My piece is based on the wild west show performers I can only imagine what were like – larger than life, attractive and talented. Just what a young cowboy wants to watch." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 25" H x 18" W x 9" D "San Antonio Rose was my first wild west show cowgirl. There was a song by Bob Wills with that name, and several WWII bombers shared the name, but no real person. This was exhibited at the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 16" H x 7" W x 7" D
BRONZE, Edition of 9 36" H x 13" W x 14" D
BRONZE, Edition of 15 36" H x 31" W x 17" D Winner of Two Best of Show awards: 2010 – Museum of Western Art “Round Up 2010″ in Kerrville, Texas. 2013 – Texas Hill Country Invitational Art Show and Sale in Boerne, Texas
BRONZE, Edition of 15 19" H x 13" W x 9" D "This was a departure from the cowgirls I was sculpting. I was inspired by Julieta Venegas, a delightful Mexican pop singer/songwriter. She plays the accordian and other instruments, all with skill. I really love her music! The polished bracelets are loose on her wrist and move around a little." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 15 28" H x 22" W x 12" D "This bronze followed Fiesta Song. I really liked the music-in-motion concept and imagined this. I created a working study to get the composition close and then used it for my model. It’s easier to twist and bend clay than a model. My favorite thing about this piece is the total abandon she has to her music – the sheer passion and commitment." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 9 27" H x 12" W x 8" D Best of Show Winner, American Plains Artists Art of the Plains 2011 Juried Exhibit
BRONZE ~ High Polished, Edition of 25 29" H x 11" W x 11" D "A young barrel racer posed for this piece. I love the romantic feel of it. The little moon phase icons on the base and the West Texas scene on her boots are polished back to the bronze. The base has a 1930’s feel with dude ranch icons – arrows, horseshoes, and moon phases. The boot tops are sculpted with a heart, prickley pear cactus, arrows, a sunburst, bluebirds, saguaro cactus, and clouds." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 25 16" H x 12" W x 12" D "Blue Bird gets her name from the pattern of her boots, made famous by Gene Autry. I used photos of Maude Fealy for the face, who was a stage actress from the early 1900’s. The little Blue Birds on her boots are polished back to the bronze." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 30 22" H x 15" W x 8" D "This cowboy on a bucking horse over cactus is hoping he stays on for longer than a measly 8 seconds." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 18" H x 22" W x 10" D "This a a train wreck about to happen. Somebody’s going to get hurt. I’ve had more than one cowboy tell me they lived a similar experience. Not me." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 20 22" H x 37" W x 10" D "The horse was named Jake, the two-time bucking horse of the year in the 1960’s." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 15, 26" High
Life Size Clay ~ Work In Progress (From photos taken in 1941)
Clay Bust ~ Work In Progress "Clay sculpture in progress of Dale Evans when she was younger. Dale was born in Uvalde, Texas, and was really pretty!" ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 15 26" H x 18" W x 19" D "Vera McGinnis was an amazing trick rider in the 1920’s. I did this from photos in the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, and purchased by them for their permanent collection. Vera is a member of the Cowgirl hall of fame and also the Rodeo Hall of Fame." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 25 19" H x 15" W x 19" D "This is a nostalgic bronze sculpture of a gallant ranger who lived to protect and serve. The lady is from photos of Jean Harlow. The ranger is loosely based on Gary Cooper." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 18" H x 9" W x 5" D "This was based on photos of Jimmie Rodgers, known as “The Singing Brakeman”, “The Blue Yodeler”, and “The Father of Country Music”. He built a house in Kerrville for his family, and died too young from tuberculosis." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 25 23" H x 21" W x 13" D "These two bad apples are stealing from their neighbor’s apple tree. The boy on the fence is the really bad one with a slingshot in his pocket, alert for trouble with one leg already over the fence, a comforting hand on his hapless chum’s back, right before the orchard owner shows up." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 12 25" H x 14" W x 9" D "Bronze sculpture of little girl pulling a feather through the air, dreaming of a distant voyage in the clouds. My model was one of two twin 9-year old girls. Her toes curl up because she thinks it helps her fly better." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 12 25" H x 9" W x 11" D "She wants to help the little wounded bird, but how? Her right hand is both a shelter and her means to heal. Her toes curl up on one foot, down on the other, showing her conflicted thoughts on what exactly to do for the little creature in dire straits." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 12 20" H x 12" W x 10" D
BRONZE w/ Mixed Media, Edition of 25 14" H x 7" W x 7" D
BRONZE, Edition of 9 29" H x 13" W x 10" D
BRONZE, Edition of 40 33" H x 7" W x 14" D
BRONZE, Edition of 25 11" H x 5" W x 10" D "Art deco bronze sculpture of a mounted Indian warrior." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 25 19" H x 29" W x 11" D "Leaving Sand Creek is my tribute to the Cheyenne peace chief Black Kettle, and his people. The Sand Creek Massacre occurred on November 29, 1864, when Colorado Territory militia attacked and destroyed many of those in a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapaho." ~John Bennett
BRONZE, Edition of 40 10" H x 8" W x 4" D
BRONZE, Edition of 100 7" H x 5" W x 5" D
BRONZE, Edition of 50 7" H x 14" W x 6" D
BRONZE, Edition of 40 18" H x 13" W x 11" D