H.R. No. 2456

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on the Arts has announced the 2015 appointments for the positions of State Poet Laureate, State Musician, State Two-Dimensional Artist, and State Three-Dimensional Artist; and

WHEREAS, The state's highest accolade for excellence in the arts, designation as a Texas State Artist is conferred on those individuals who represent the best of our rich and diverse artistic community and who inspire others through their unique creative expression; and

WHEREAS, The 2015 State Poet Laureate is San Antonio native Carmen Tafolla, a prolific poet, storyteller, performance artist, and motivational speaker who has earned critical acclaim for her work; she has published more than 20 books and is one of the most widely anthologized Latina writers today; chosen as the first Poet Laureate of the City of San Antonio in 2012, she visited over 300 schools, universities, professional conferences, and community arts centers during the course of her two-year tenure; she has been accorded a host of accolades, which include the coveted Americas Award presented to her at the Library of Congress in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Legendary Austin-based guitarist Jimmie Vaughan is this year's State Musician; as a founding member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Vaughan helped spark the revival of blues music on the pop charts with the release of eight albums and the success of hits like "Tuff Enuff"; he received two Grammy nominations with the band and later launched a solo career in 1994, gaining further prominence in the realm of modern roots music; his masterful playing, defined by vigor, authenticity, and originality, has earned him the admiration of such icons as Eric Clapton and B. B. King, and he was cited as the most formative influence on the career of his younger brother, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan; and

WHEREAS, Vincent Valdez has been selected as the 2015 State Two-Dimensional Artist; he was educated at the renowned Rhode Island School of Design, and in 2004, a collection of his charcoal drawings was shown at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, making him the youngest artist, at age 26, to ever have a solo exhibition there; his work is now widely featured at such venues as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum; born and raised in San Antonio, he currently serves as chair of the Drawing and Painting Department at the Southwest School of Art; and

WHEREAS, Named the 2015 State Three-Dimensional Artist, sculptor Margo Sawyer of Elgin studied in England at the Brighton Polytechnic Faculty of Art and Design and at the Chelsea School of Art in London, before returning stateside to enroll in the Yale University sculpture program; through her work, she explores the concepts of space and transcendence, and she has recently specialized in creating large-scale installations that reflect her interest in architecture; she has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and in addition to pursuing her artistic vision, she is a professor of sculpture and studio art at The University of Texas at Austin; and

WHEREAS, The artists who have been selected to hold these prestigious posts have all greatly contributed to the vibrant cultural life of the Lone Star State, and Texas is indeed fortunate to be home to these talented individuals; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the 2015 Texas Commission on the Arts honorees and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued fulfillment in their creative endeavors.

Guillen

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 2456 was adopted by the House on May 7, 2015, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House