THE LAST STRAW

12" x 10" X 24' bronze and reinforced concrete 2014

photo by Will Michels

THE LAST STRAW

12" X 10" X 24' bronze and reinforced concrete detail 2014

photo by Will Michels

SUFFRAGE

10" X 20" X 30" bronze and distressed gold leaf 2014

photo by Will Michels

SUFFRAGE - Riding aside historically represents oppression of women's rights.

his is one of my favorite pieces from my 2014 work. It first resonated with me purely from an aesthetic point of view, as I knew the aged leather would reproduce beautifully in bronze. What I did not realize, however, was that this sculpture would represent more than a stereotypical Texas western symbol.

SUFFRAGE - detail

photo by Will Michels

HERITAGE II

4" X 13.5 X 12" bronze 2014

HERITAGE II

detail

HERITAGE

4" X 13.5" X 12" bronze 2013

Heritage – ( Robert Fleming Travis)

George Bush International Airport Permanent Collection 2014

One of my favorite treasures is the Stetson Open Road hat I inherited from my grandfather Bob-pa, Robert Fleming Travis. This well-worn hat quietly mirrors my grandfather’s life and character. Shaped by growing up in the Depression, he knew hard times as he later farmed cotton and raised cattle in the harsh West Texas desert near El Paso.

Bob-pa married Imogene Young while they were still in high school. Two years later during their senior year my father was born. Family lore has it that they never spent a night apart during their 70-year marriage.

As a teen I shaped hats in my father's western wear store, and I began to understand that old hats are reflections of their owners, that they keep a bit of the spirit of the person who wore them. Bob-pa's hat still resonates with his determination, his strong work ethic, and his fidelity. These are the very treasures that I work hard to ensure that my own children will inherit.