| |
Fayetteville,
Texas INSPIRATION
BY LOCATION
The 2010 Fayetteville Art ShowBy
Brewster Hudspeth
TE Photos |
| The
Fayetteville Square featuring
Most Photographed (Precinct) Courthouse in Texas
Artist
Cindy Fanning painted three versions of the courthouse – rearranging a few of
the buildings and including “secret” folkloric details known only to a few.
TE
photo, May 2010 |
April was very good
to Fayetteville
with a short article in Texas Highways magazine at the beginning of the month,
the art show at the end of the month (actually May 1st and 2nd) and a lot of wildflowers
and bicycles in-between.
Texas Highways photographer J. Griffis Smith submitted
the article’s centerpiece shot – a nocturnal view of the Fayette
County Precinct Courthouse – the last original precinct courthouses of three
that once stood in in Fayette
County. Precinct courthouses (not required by law) saved residents a trek
to the county seat at La Grange. |
Night
and Day
Courthouse at night by J. Griffis Smith
TE photo, May 2010 |
The simplicity of
the building immediately draws attention and it’s easily the town’s signature
building. Fayetteville
will never be confused with New
Ulm as long as the courthouse
stands (and the water
tower, SPJST Hall, High School, etc.)
Therefore, it should come as
no surprise to find that Fayetteville’s
courthouse
was a subject of several of the artist’s artists exhibiting at the show. |
Painting
of courthouse by Clovis Heimsath
TE photo, May 2010 |
Clovis Hiemsath, an
architect long before he started painting, has been intimate with Fayetteville
for decades. He owns the town’s only hotel – on the square in the restored Zapp
Building (c. 1909). Once only open for special events, the Country Place Hotel
is now open 365 days a year.
Clovis shares a studio with artist Michael
K. Clann, and the two were in adjoining tents at the show. Clann didn’t have
a courthouse painting but he did have several local houses – as well as a beautiful
subdued painting
of Zedler’s Mill in Luling, Texas. |
| Opposite the Heimsath
/ Clann spaces was the temporary gallery for Houston artist and designer Janice
Mc Cubbin who painted Fayetteville’s
restored 1929 Gulf filling station on the square – only 100 feet away from where
the photo was taken. |
Another
courthouse square painting by Cindy Fanning
TE photo, May 2010 |
| While the event had
about 50 booths, there was only a single artist seen working (and not one starving,
we’re happy to report). |
Clovis
Heimsath at work
TE photo, May 2010 |
| Mr. Heimsath, despite
his architectural background, really loosens up with his portraits – many of them
local citizens. One such painting hangs in Jerry’s
general store on the NE corner of the square. |
The
Art Fair by Clovis Heimsath
TE photo, May 2010 |
| While many two-day
events start to wind down on Sunday afternoon, the Fayetteville Art Fair was still
going strong at 4:00 with not a single exhibitor packing up to leave. Later that
evening, the square once again resembled the Texas Highway's photograph.
|
A
sold painting by Janice McCubbin awaits transport.
TE photo, May 2010 |
Mark your calendar
for next year’s event.
May
17, 2010 | |
|
