Salon Wall

I'm Tim Hurst. My partner Jay Shinn and I have been collecting art together for over the past 20 years or so. We're very happy to be able to share with you some of the works we have collected during your stay at The Lancaster, particularly with what we call all the salon wall in front of you, above the staircase. Works on this wall represent the depth and variety of Texas artists with different approaches into the way art is made. Paintings, drawings, photographs and prints are some of the ways these artists have chosen to express themselves. By hanging these selected works together, we felt it's a good way to view and recognize this variety. I would like to highlight today just a few of these for you. It is interesting to note these works are by artists of older and younger generations. One of the older and most respected artists here in the upper left corner is Rackstraw Downes with the charcoal drawing made from his observations in Marfa, Texas of an interior Donald Judd's army barracks at the Chinati Compound. Near the center of the wall, one of the younger artists, Matt Kleberg of San Antonio, is represented with the vivid, almost minimalistic architectural painting on canvas. Even though this painting is small, I very much like the way the imagery makes it seem almost monumental in scale. Another canvas, the round painting top center is by the Houston artist, Joe Mancuso. And on the lower center, another Houston artist, David Aylsworth, is represented by his loosely painted, geometric abstract work. Near the top is an expressionistic pastel on paper by Dallas artist, Andrea Rosenberg. Notice how Rosenberg's mark-making is both playful and elegant at the same time. Certain themes, of course, align certain works together, bringing out, for instance, our love of animals. The somewhat formal and classic photograph of Bog Dog by Beaumont photographer Keith Carter is juxtaposed with Fort Worth artist Helen Altman's unique drawing of a coyote made from smoldering flames on damp paper. Look closely at this piece. Another one of our favorites on the far left is the watercolor by the artist Stephen Mueller. To me, the ephemeral quality in this work relates in many ways to the two small paintings on panels just above the handrail by Carl Palazzola. Stephen Mueller and now Houston artist Palazzola were longtime friends in Texas and New York. They spent many shared summers painting watercolors together in Maine. I will end with a few words on the minimal and direct pencil drawing Beauty by artist Bale Creek Allen. The simplicity of the word beauty, perhaps to me pretty much says it all. I hope you will take time to enjoy and learn all the works on our salon wall. There is a schematic handout near the registration desk if you would like. Hopefully, you will see things that broaden your curiosity, make you think, but most of all, feed your senses. Thank you again for visiting The Lancaster Collection.