SCULPTOR FINDS INSPIRATION ON TEXAS HILL COUNTRY LAND — Boerne Star
In early autumn, sculptor Lauren Browning met the landowner that she was paired with in the current Art and Conservation: Our Hidden Treasures program. Art and Conservation is a biennial exhibition and sale intended to raise awareness and promote conservation of the Texas Hill Country’s natural resources. Juried artists are paired with landowners and given access to private property to create artwork inspired by the landscapes found there.
Roberta Churchin of Wild Plum Ranch took Lauren and me on a walking tour of the property. As we walked, Roberta talked about her history on the ranch and how the landscape changed over the years. She pointed out how wild hogs’ rooting in the dirt erodes the river bank, and how certain flowering plants will take over the area if not uprooted.
The property includes cypress, oak and cedar trees as well as cliffs, grassy areas and hills. We especially liked the views of the river, which according to Roberta, completely changed its flow after the 2002 and 2007 floods. We enjoyed listening to the bird songs and squirrels’ chattering. We watched quietly as a six-point buck checked us out, photographed a Texas Spiny Lizard and walked behind a slow-moving armadillo digging for bugs. The monarchs were out and added some beautiful color to the scenery.
We saw many live and dead pieces of wood which could be considered as ready-made sculptures. Lauren took photos of areas she found interesting and confided that she has a piece of fluorite in which she’ll create her vision of Wild Plum Ranch. After high school Lauren worked as a creative chef. She then worked for NASA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a geochemist. In 2007 Lauren began working as a full-time stone sculptor. Her “seductively curving sculptures often evoke feelings of flowing water, animal forms, and joy. She draws heavily from an analytical background and a creative mind to refine her designs, typically arranging a swarm of lines and curves together into intricately coherent patterns.”
Roberta, Lauren and I found it easy to visit about our lives as we walked and with promises to keep in touch and hugs all-round, we parted feeling blessed to have some wonderful property, a great sculpture to create and some good photos to document the day. I know Lauren’s sculpture will be amazing! To view her works, go to www.laurenbrowning.com.