Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10/22/2008 07:07:00 PM
The history of the United States has taken many paths on many fronts. The legend and lore of the “Old West,” a significant part of this heritage, is perhaps no more prevalent than in Texas, the Lone Star State. It is this land of American courage and pioneer dreams that was the inspiration for this work.
With the mission bells ringing in the air, the work opens with a bold fanfare. The fanfare gives way to the fast and furious Los Diablos Tejanos(Bar 19). Aptly titled, this section of the work is based upon the significant contributions and sacrifices of the Texas Rangers. The Mexican Army referred to these skilled and relentless lawmen as “The Texas Devils.”
The natural beauty of the state is often overlooked when one speaks of Texas. From the pristine shores on the Gulf of Mexico to the Hill Country, from the urban towers that seem to reach to the sky to the desert southwest, Texas is a land of geographic contrasts. Perhaps the visual image that ties together these various regions together is the annual appearance of the bluebonnets, the state flower. As one gazes upon the fields in shades of blue(Bar 110), time seems to stop as the color stands in stark contrast to the landscape. The quiet and reflective center of the work is titled In The Fields of Blue as our journey through Texas time and space continues.
Stampede…(Bar 132). the mere mention of the word conjures images of amazing power as the longhorns blaze across the range in clouds of dust. However, in a more historic interpretation, the “stampede” west by the early pioneers laid the foundation for a nation that now reaches from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. The final section of the work entitled Stampede celebrates the vision and perseverance of those early pioneers who helped to forge a new nation.
Texas…the Lone Star State….The Star of Dreams.
