City may become heir to Sculpture Ranch art
Contributed
Highland Lakes Creative Arts collaborated recently with the Marble Falls Economic Development Corp and the Nightscenes company to illuminate the Father Lopez sculpture at the Marble Falls Visitor Center. The work was was commissioned to include iron pieces from the old US 281 bridge as a symbol of the power and strength of the Marble Falls and to reflect lake area tradition. HLCA now seeks to bring more permanent installations to the city.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
The Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday, March 7, heard a proposal that could bring large permanent sculpture installations to town.
The council also considered a full agenda, but it was presentations from the creative community, medical sector and appraisal district which sparket the most interest.
She was introduced by Robert Moss, director of the Parks & Recreation Department, who expressed willingness to work with City Manager Mike Hodge on the project.
Carolyn Bates of the Highland Lakes Creative Arts (HLCRA) Board of Directors addressed the council to say that owners of Sculpture Ranch and Galleries south of Johnson City were selling the property.
“They are moving sculptures back the artists except for about 15 major works,” said Bates. “Basically, the artists want the work displayed. This could be part of making Marble Falls the arts destination for the State of Texas.
“We think this could be an incredible opportunity with little expense,” said Bates. “We want Marble Falls to be a center for the arts in Texas like Santa Fe (in New Mexico) or Sedona (in Arizona).”
As the presentation was not a formal agenda item, no action could be taken but several council members expressed enthusiasm for collaboration to begin between the city and HLCRA to take advantage of possible additions to public spaces. HLCA recently collaborated with the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation and the Nightscenes company to install permanent lighting on the obelisk creation by Father Lopez t the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.
“Right now we are preparing for Paint the Town March 27-29,” said Bates. “Our judge this year is Eric Rhodes, the major advocate in the country for the plein air movement.”
She said the publisher of “Plein Air” and “Fine Art Connoisseur” magazines thinks Marble Falls Paint the Town is potentially one of the top five open air art events in the state.
Bramer Owens, Chief Operating Officer of the Baylor Scott & White Hill Country Region, told the council that Baylor Scott & White was excited about the new housing developments in Marble Falls. He said February had been the best month for the new hospital so far, but recruiting was a challenge and places to live would be important to that effort.
“We have about 60 openings right now for skilled employees such as registered nurses, therapists and lab technicians,” he said.
He said up to 190 surgeries were being performed each month at the hospital and the emergency room was seeing about 1,500 patients per month.
“When you hear a lullaby playing over the intercom, that means a baby has been born,” he said. “About 30-35 babies are born here each month. We believe about half the babies in the service are born here.”
Overall he said Marble Falls and Llano ranked in the 90 percentile on the patient experience evaluations.
Director of Parks & Recreation Robert Moss conveyed the endorsement of the Marble Falls Parks & Recreation Commission for the result of the year-long process to update the Park, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and introduced Gail Ferry and Matt Bucchin of Halff Associates, contractor for the revision.
Bucchin said three top priorities identified in all the survey responses and public meetings on the revision were to work in concert with the hotel/conference center project, the re-development of Lakeside Park and the consolidation of four downtown parks under one Johnson Park umbrella.
“You think of cities with iconic parks like Zilker Park in Austin. Johnson Park has the possibility of that kind of iconic meaning,” he said.
Stan Hemphill, chief appraiser for the Burnet Central Appraisal District (BCAD), provided an update on the tax situation, noting Marble Falls construction value was up more than 200 percent from last year.
He said the BCAD would be generating tax notices by April 15, the deadline for business tax renditions.
“The deadline for protests will be May 31 (and hearings will go on) from May-July. The roll should be certified by July 25 and ready for your tax rate adoption.”
