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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on the Arts has announced the |
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2009 and 2010 appointments for the positions of State Poet |
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Laureate, State Musician, State Two-Dimensional Artist, and State |
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Three-Dimensional Artist; and |
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WHEREAS, Honorees are chosen for the exceptional quality of |
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their work and for their outstanding commitment to the arts in |
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Texas; nominees must either be native Texans or have resided in the |
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state for at least five years; in addition, they must have received |
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critical recognition from state, regional, and national |
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publications, and they must have attained the highest levels of |
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excellence in their respective disciplines; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2009 Texas State Poet Laureate is Paul Ruffin, a |
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Distinguished Professor of English at Sam Houston State University; |
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the author of six acclaimed books of poetry as well as several |
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volumes of fiction and nonfiction, Mr. Ruffin has published poems |
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in hundreds of journals and anthologies; he is also the founder and |
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editor of The Texas Review and the director of Texas Review Press; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Willie Nelson is the 2009 Texas State Musician; this |
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legendary Texas performer was playing the guitar at the age of 6 and |
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performing at 10; after establishing himself in Nashville as a hit |
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songwriter, he returned to Texas and soon became world-famous as an |
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interpreter of his own songs and as an icon of the outlaw country |
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music movement; he has further distinguished himself as a film and |
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television actor and entrepreneur, as well as an ever-popular |
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touring concert artist who has been involved in numerous charity |
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events such as FarmAid; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2009 Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist is Rene |
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Alvarado; born in Mexico, he came to the United States with his |
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family as a boy, and his work powerfully evokes the values and |
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heritage of his native country, finding universal resonance in the |
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rich particularity of Mexican culture; his work has been featured |
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in galleries and exhibitions throughout Texas and the Southwest; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Eliseo Garcia has been selected as the 2009 Texas |
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State Three-Dimensional Artist; his inspiring bas-relief |
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sculptures pay homage to the importance of family, love, and |
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spirituality while reflecting the ancient cultural traditions of |
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the Aztec and Mayan civilizations; often carved out of Texas |
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limestone, his works are on permanent display in arts centers, |
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hospitals, libraries, and other public buildings across the state; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Fort Worth native and Denton resident Karla K. |
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Morton has been named as the 2010 Texas State Poet Laureate; a |
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songwriter and children's book author as well as a celebrated poet, |
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Ms. Morton performs her poetry across the state and has recorded her |
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poems with musical accompaniment; she is a founder of the Denton |
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Poet's Assembly and a member of the board of directors of the |
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Greater Denton Arts Council; and |
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WHEREAS, Sara Hickman of Austin will be the 2010 Texas State |
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Musician; this talented singer-songwriter has recorded many |
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critically acclaimed albums; the daughter of a painter and a |
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weaver, the multitalented Ms. Hickman is also a painter; she |
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supports many social causes through her work and regularly performs |
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and records music for children; and |
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WHEREAS, Austin painter Marc Burckhardt has been named as the |
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2010 Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist; born in Germany and raised |
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in Texas, Mr. Burckhardt combines European imagery with thematic |
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material from contemporary American life; his mischievous wit is |
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enhanced by his adoption of the glazing and varnishing techniques |
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of the old masters, and his work has been featured in galleries and |
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shows around the nation and across the world; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2010 Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist will |
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be John Bennett, who began sculpting figures in 1976 and cast his |
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first bronze in 1985; acclaimed for his sculptures of women, he has |
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created works depicting women from all walks of life, from Old West |
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legend Annie Oakley to 98-year-old Alice Reeves, a former |
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schoolteacher and granddaughter of a slave; one of his pieces was |
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selected by the Women's Museum for display at the White House in |
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1999; and |
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WHEREAS, The men and women who have been selected to hold |
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these prestigious posts for the next two years have all greatly |
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contributed to the vibrant cultural life of the Lone Star State, and |
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Texas is indeed fortunate to be home to these talented artists; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor the 2009 and 2010 appointees to the positions of State |
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Poet Laureate, State Musician, State Two-Dimensional Artist, and |
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State Three-Dimensional Artist and extend to each of them sincere |
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best wishes for continued creativity and achievement. |
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Homer |
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Crownover |
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McReynolds |
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Darby |
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Naishtat |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the House on May |
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28, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the Senate on May |
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28, 2009, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |