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This month I want to visit with you about the State Fair of Texas which opens on Friday, September 30, and runs through Sunday, October 23.
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Lottie and Flower Bench, 2015 State Fair of Texas, Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden
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Actually I want to tell you about Lottie and the exhibit she started in 2008 named appropriately, “Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden”. As one of Lottie’s Friends, I have participated in this exhibit every year and am very pleased to be able to say that, along with many other artists.
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Lottie directing installations at the 2008 State Fair of Texas, Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden
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There should be more Lotties in our world. Of course there is that saying… “You can have too much of a good thing”. I really think that applies to donuts, but you must judge for yourself.
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Lottie when we first met... Dallas Arboretum 2008.
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Wylma and I enjoyed a rare chance to have Lottie all to ourselves over a hamburger and fries when we went to install “Twisted Red”, my entry into this year’s exhibit.
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Lottie and Delbert, Twisted Red, 2016 State Fair of Texas, Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden
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Lottie and “Twisted Red” are alike in that they are a combination of elements. Through their center is an unchangeable form that has grace and strength. It is unique in its shape and is firmly attached to a base or foundation that is central and unmovable. From that core, beauty erupts in all directions with flowers full of color and warmth.
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Lottie waiting and watching... 2014 State Fair of Texas, Friends of Lottie Sculpture Garden
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The combination of it all calms you… inspires you… refreshes you… and just makes you smile. That is Lottie.
Combination is a key word and I want to take a minute to share with you a group of pieces I have decided to label with that word, because they have both a form that resembles nothing else and shapes that are recognizable as flowers.
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2016, Delbert Beckham, Yellow with a Twist of Blue, Salvaged Steel, Private Collection
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“Twisted Red” was the second piece in this series. “Yellow with a Twist of Blue” was the first piece of this style. It now lives with Mike and Rebecca in their Anniversary Garden.
I was so pleased with that sculpture, that when I began planning for the state fair I decided to design and build another.
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The early stages of Twisted Red, 2016
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As usual I wandered around in my organized chaos of salvaged metal that others would identify as a “junk yard”. Finally, after stepping over it a gazillion times, the central piece for “Twisted Red” was chosen.
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The early stages of Twisted Red, flower blooms, 2016
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I had already cut out the flower blooms not knowing at the time how I would use them. If you read it, you may remember in my September 2016 Newsletter I mentioned some of those flower blooms.
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As “Twisted Red” came together, I kept thinking…
“I need to make some of these on a smaller scale”.
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Let me introduce you to three of the newest members of the “Combination Series”, each with a central form of twisted rebar surrounded by flowers.
Maybe I should call them “Lotties”.
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2016, Delbert Beckham, Sunny Umbrellas, Salvaged Steel,
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In the first one the rebar center is painted a bright yellow. Arranged around it are five flowers I had originally made as individuals which could have been displayed on a shelf or table. Because of the hook on the stem, I called them Umbrella Blooms. I guess with the abundance of yellow in this piece I could name it “Sunny Umbrellas”.
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The other two have unique flowers that I have never made before, and unless I can find some more of the clips the petals are made from, there will not be anymore of them.
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2016, Delbert Beckham, Loopy Red, Salvaged Steel,
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The smaller of the two has this loopy, twisted, round piece of rebar as its center. Yes, that is just the way I found it. I didn’t put the bends in it, I just decided how to mount it. Maybe I could name this one. “Loopy Red”… chuckle…
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2016, Delbert Beckham, Three Squares, Salvaged Steel,
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The larger of these two clip-petal flower combination sculptures has seven flowers and three rebar pieces. Did you notice that the rebar in this piece and in “Sunny Umbrellas” are all square. I may name this one “Three Squares” and then sit back and watch while folks try to figure out…
”What was he thinking?”
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Lottie will read this and then chuckle to herself and say…
“I know how you think, Delbert, just like me... and it is scary.”
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Before I forget… November’s newsletter will come to an inbox near you after Wylma and I go to the Sassafras Festival in San Augustine, Texas on October 29, 2016.
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I wanted you to know because it is a great fun day with classic cars, fantastic food, entertaining music and of course many interesting venders like myself who can provide opportunity for shopping for yourself and others.
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Delbert Beckham's Salvaged Steel Sculpture Studio, 2016
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Hey…
Christmas is just around the corner, and critters are already showing up and flowers are sprouting all around the studio in anticipation of making someone’s world a little brighter.
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We hope to see
many
of you in San Augustine.
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Also, don’t forget to take yourself to the State Fair of Texas and take a stroll down First Ave. by the lagoon to see all the sculptures and if you are really fortunate you may encounter Lottie Kate Minick.
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If you would like to forward or share this newsletter with others, that would be wonderful.
Until next time…
May there always be flowers in your life.
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Delbert & Lottie, SFOT 2014,
Bud Vases, Salvaged Steel
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