ARTS Encounters Features New Artists and John Arthur Martinez!!..

James LaPaso, standing on a ladder, adjusts the final blades on a new 20-foot tall kinetic sculpture installed this week at The Benini Foundation Gallery and Sculpture Ranch. The piece, entitled Passion in a Bud Vase, is made of stainless steel with colorful etched pigment that allows a whimsical charm highly reactionary to the winds of the Hill Country.

LaPaso will be featured this month's ARTS Encounters at the Benini's Saturday September 29th and 30th, talking about his work, which relates all the way back to his childhood love of whirlygigs.

Joining LaPaso at ARTS Encounters will be Marshall Cunningham, MD, unveiling his 20 feet sculpture entitled The Constant Battle, which, due to its size, will be upright for the first time when it is installed on the ranch.

John Arthur Martinez, beloved Texas musician, will perform, bringing songs and CDs from his new Rodeo Night selection.

Rare and Endangered Wildflowers are the focus of the watercolors of Lotus McElfish who will show her work and talk about her current project to depict all the special species of the Texas Hill Country, a major project funded by the
American Society of Botanical Artists.

ARTS Encounter will also introduce the work of Dr. Gary Bachers. His originals and prints will be shown at Kirchman Gallery and his wife, Gabrielle will assist to present his work, because his career - born out of a debilitating stroke that left him unable to walk and talk - opened the opportunity to bring his artwork to the forefront, which will be shared at the event.

ARTS Encounters begins at 1:30 both days, and is free of charge, open to all. Tours of the 69 large-scale sculptures on the 140 acres and the galleries will be available all day.

For directions, visit the website www.ArtsEncountersatBeninis.com or call 830-868-5244. Following ARTS Encounters, the Black Spur Emporium and Gallery and Kirchman Gallery on the square both welcome visitors.

The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch is a fine arts project, dedicated to educational and cultural enrichment, open daily from ten to six. For more information visit, www.Benini.com or www.SculptureRanch.com.
 

For directions from Fredericksburg, or additional information, visit www.ArtsEncountersatBeninis.com or www.SculptureRanch.com or call 830-868-5244.