By:  Ellis                                             S.R. No. 997
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The works of renowned American artist John Biggers
    1-3  will be on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston from
    1-4  April 2 through September 3, 1995, representing the first major
    1-5  retrospective of his art; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Titled "The Art of John Biggers: View from the Upper
    1-7  Room," the exhibition will travel to other museums following its
    1-8  presentation in Houston; the exhibit will focus exclusively on an
    1-9  African-American artist whose development is tied to the southern
   1-10  United States and who has strong aesthetic links to Africa; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Sponsored by Philip Morris Companies, Incorporated,
   1-12  the extensive show traces the development of John Biggers's work
   1-13  over five decades; it features 127 drawings, prints, sculptures,
   1-14  and paintings, including four large-scale murals; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Born in 1924, John Biggers has enjoyed recognition
   1-16  as a prolific master of American painting; his earlier works, the
   1-17  highly acclaimed murals in particular, belong to the history of
   1-18  American Regionalism of the 1930s; during his college years, his
   1-19  work was featured in The Museum of Modern Art's groundbreaking 1943
   1-20  exhibition, Young Negro Art; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, After traveling to Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and
   1-22  Benin, the artist developed a new understanding of the cultures of
   1-23  West Africa which profoundly influenced his art; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, In 1949, John Biggers moved to Houston to help
    2-2  found the art department at Texas Southern University; during his
    2-3  years as a professor there he developed a unique pictorial idiom
    2-4  to explore both his African heritage and his personal experience of
    2-5  African-American art; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Blessed with remarkable talent and creative vision,
    2-7  Mr. Biggers has made important artistic contributions through his
    2-8  teaching and his work; he has had a profound influence on American
    2-9  art, and this presentation will provide a singular opportunity for
   2-10  others to appreciate his original gift; now, therefore, be it
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-12  74th Legislature, hereby extend congratulations to John Biggers
   2-13  and extend best wishes to him for a successful and rewarding
   2-14  exhibition; and, be it further
   2-15        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-16  artist as a memento of this important event in his life.
   2-17                               ______________________________________
   2-18                                       President of the Senate
   2-19                                    I hereby certify that the above
   2-20                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
   2-21                               on May 9, 1995.
   2-22                               ______________________________________
   2-23                                       Secretary of the Senate
   2-24                               ______________________________________
   2-25                                        Member, Texas Senate