February, 2009
Picture-perfect donation for Centennial School
by Jason Hennington
The Sul Ross State University Centennial School building is picture perfect in a painting donated to the university.
Alpine Chamber of Commerce manager and local artist JR smith painted a picture of the Centennial School and subsequently donated it to the university. It is painted to look like the present building when it was an elementary-junior high school, in a shiny silver frame.
“the painting was dedicated to the 2008 Centennial School reunion with proceeds benefiting the Centennial School Endowment,” said BJ Gallego, who is an Alpine resident and former student at the Centennial School.
Smith was happy and honored to do the painting of the school because of its historical significance.
“The school has such a wonderful heritage. I said I would be honored to do a painting for them,” Smith said.
After seeing some of Smith's paintings, Gallego suggested that a painting be used for fund raising purposes during the school reunion.
“He saw some of the architectural portraits I have done in the past (many of which have historical markers),” Smith said. “He told me that I needed to see the Centennial School building.”
Once the painting was finished, it was donated and a suggestion was made to sell prints of the painting. All of the money raised would go to the Centennial School endowment.
“I produced 100 prints for the committee to sell. Then the committee could do whatever they wanted with the painting. They decided to give it to the university,” Smith said. “I am pleased that they had success in selling the prints.” I also enjoy the fact that the painting now hangs at the Centennial School.”
The painting has been added to a display of artifacts from the school's past. This is the fifth year of the display.
“It's paying tribute to the school reunion, the history, and culture of the Centennial School.” Gallego said.
The 21,010 square foot building renovation was completed in 2003 before being dedicated in 2004, and is home to the Big Bend Region Minority and Small Business Development Center. It also houses offices for the Center of Big Bend Studies, costume storage space, an art studio, a shared conference room, and a general purpose classroom.
“The bond and relationship of all the fine people that attended the school is great. I so appreciate that I was given an opportunity to participate in their reunion celebration,” Smith said. “The Centennial School is such a major and important piece of the history of Alpine. It must be remembered and preserved.”
Big Bend Royalty
November, 2007 J. R. Smith wins Honorable Mention with "Big Bend Royalty" at the BBAC Art Walk Celebration in Alpine, Texas.
July, 2007
Escaped Artist Surfaces
Trapped in the concrete and cubicles of the Dallas business world for 25 years, J. R. Smith surfaces in Fort Davis, Texas. He will be the feature artist of a one-man show at the Twin Souls Coffee House and gallery for the month of July.
Raising a family took him from the ranches to town. When his youngest graduated from Texas Tech a year and a half ago, he began to plan his exodus. Now spending his days in the Davis Mountains, he records countless reference photographs. His work now expresses and records the many beauties the Big Bend displays daily. He works to capture these vistas and broaden his “daydream escape’ portfolio.
He is known for his beach and seascapes, he calls “daydream escapes”. These are meant to trigger memories of far away “favorite” places or events of the viewer. Thus giving the owner of the piece an opportunity to escape the pressures of the day by a momentary daydream.
Not wanting to be pegged a ‘beach artist’ only, J. R. is known for his variety of work. He too, likes for his work to look rough, if not primitive, to steer from looking manufactured. It ranges from the emotions of his abstracts, to the detail of his architectural portraits. His portraits are often void of detail, if it is not pertinent in capturing the character of the person. Much like his favorite, Amedeo Modigliani, he won’t overwork a portrait.
He loves people and strives to record their uniqueness. The show at Twin Souls is entitled “They Make the World Go Round”. It is mainly his people, from the famous, to the “ should be famous”. Representation of the true Texas bluebonnet is an obligation he feels as a true Texan. The reception of these has led to two such bluebonnet pieces be produced in limited edition prints. These have been popular outside of Texas too.
New Big Bend work by Mr. Smith can be seen at Galleria La Esperanza in Fort Davis. He now has a night/weekend studio there in the gallery. He can be found there most nights working on several canvases at a time.
On July the 7th, he will be at Twin Souls from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the show reception. The public is invited. Twin Souls Coffee House and Gallery is located at 209 North State Street in Fort Davis.
March, 2005
"Dallas artist tops the night" at the first in the Houston Eastman Gallery Series of 2005 shows. A Houston collector had to have J. R. Smith's triptych, "Red Beach Border," 3' x 6'. Mr. Smith captures the images of freshly washed up red seaweed on the beach just west of Galveston on a bright May morning. In the distant gulf is a shrimp boat and a red tiled roof down the beach. Gulls in the surf and pelicans patrolling the shore highlight the piece. Later the collector and his wife decided to round out their selection by taking all three of a series called, "Pelican Patterns," Nos. 1, 2, & 3. The triptych was by far the most significant sale of the night. Add to it the other series and Mr. Smith had to be pleased.
February, 2005
A Good Day Done
20" X 20"
Delivered to Woodbine Development Company for Hyatt Regency Hotel - DFW Airport . (Lucchese boots)