R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On January 13, 2001, the Grace Museum in Abilene
1-2 opened an exhibit of paintings by the world-renowned Italian artist
1-3 Benini that were inspired by his Texas surroundings; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Working from his studio in the Texas Hill Country at
1-5 Rancio Le Stelle, Benini uses brilliant colors and illusions of
1-6 dimensionality to pull the viewer into his Texas experience, which
1-7 for him is "a land of freedom with no limits"; Benini derives from
1-8 his Texas environment a surge of energy as well as the desire to
1-9 experiment with different colors and shapes; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Benini's artwork has been exhibited throughout the
1-11 world and has hung on the walls of the White House; in 1986, he was
1-12 invited by the American Rose Society to create a symbolic painting
1-13 to commemorate President Ronald Reagan's declaration of the rose as
1-14 the official national flower of America, and his creation,
1-15 "L'Ultima Rosa," was an undeniable success; and
1-16 WHEREAS, In 1986, Benini became an American citizen, and
1-17 since 1999 he has been a resident of the Texas Hill Country, where
1-18 he lives with his wife, Lorraine, on their ranch, which was once
1-19 owned by President Lyndon B. Johnson; and
1-20 WHEREAS, The Abilene exhibit, which ran until March 20, 2001,
1-21 was sponsored by the Abilene Diagnostic Clinic; it showcased the
1-22 artist's ability to communicate his enthusiasm for his new Texas
1-23 home; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Benini is an artist whose critically acclaimed work
2-1 has appealed to large audiences for decades, and it is appropriate
2-2 to take the opportunity presented by Abilene's Grace Museum
2-3 exhibition to honor this outstanding artist; now, therefore, be it
2-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-5 Legislature hereby recognize the myriad artistic accomplishments of
2-6 Benini and extend to him best wishes for continued success and
2-7 happiness; and, be it further
2-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-9 prepared for Benini as an expression of high regard by the Texas
2-10 House of Representatives.
Hunter
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 964 was adopted by the House on May
9, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House