Welcome new readers!

As this blog is about to turn its 40,000th  page, and I note a brisk increase in activity, I want to say a big Texas HOWDY to "Y'all" out there.

I am a Texas artist and historian.. and writer I guess, and love to share my projects and hometown with the world. Below is my current project, a seven foot tall statue to be cast in bronze and placed in front of the Navasota City Hall.

This is my clay interpretation of Marshal Frank hamer, a famous Texas Ranger who served this City from 1908 to 1911. I will take him to the foundry soon. He will return in the spring, made of bronze, and aiming to greet all those who visit our City Hall.

 

Today I enjoyed a visit from the County Sheriff Don Sowell and his friend, Texas Ranger (retired) Bob Connell. Frank is getting high marks... People seem to like his expression, and the lawmen appreciate the historical authenticity. Hamer was 6 foot five, so this sculpture is made life size.

 

 

Frank is packing a replica of a 1895 Winchester lever action 30.06, a rifle he posed with. The sculpture was built on an armature welded to a dolly for ease of transport. Eventually, the wheels will come off!

 

MORE AT:

 

http://russellcushmanart.blogspot.com/

 

The view from a Navasota fireplug...

The Blues Alley fireplug, in front of our store, wants to thank every one who worked so hard to make the new City Hall visible for her.

No this is not a war zone. It is what is left of the old Navasota City Hall, may she rest in piece, being raized as the new one looks on, flags blowing in the wind and singing Blind Willie Johnson's standard, "If I had my way, I tear this building down!"

And thanks to Bill Gaston for suggesting that I take these pics!

The Navasota Miracle

Navasota Mayor Pro-tem Peter Canney explained years ago that our town was at a crossroads, and that he saw two stories developing... and one would prevail.

One was named the "Navasota Miracle" and the other "The Death of a Texas Town."

About the same time, I ran this ad while running for City Council. Yesterday we enjoyed the grand opening of our new City Hall. In a brief moment we recognized the leaps and bounds this town has made in the past few years, under the leadership of this stellar Council. Someday the Chronicle will eat its words. Meanwhile, we have a lot to do to firmly establish our new era of "grandeur." Let's go!

a peek... at our future

I got a chance to tour the new City Hall in all its raw, unfinished glory. There is a beauty in seeing the inner skeleton of such a magnificent structure. It will be something to behold, and is already breathtaking, and quite fascinating in its present state of incompletion. The project is right on schedule, and we see marked progress every week.

It is hard to explain what a pleasure it has been to help conceive such an integral landmark for our town... and actually see it go up within sight of my house. I remember one day, a decade ago, when I told the Mayor then to try to buy that lot, that someday we would want to make a park out of it, or even build a new city hall.

Every thing worthwhile that men construct, starts out as some guy's brain fart. And if he is lucky, he doesn't make too big a stink in the process. Here are a few fleeting views of my dream under construction... Thanks to City Manager Brad Stafford and the other City employees that made the tour so enjoyable.

feel like complaining about your job?