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Robert Summers (artist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Temple Summers II, is an American
artist
, (born August 13, 1940) in Cleburne
, Texas
. Summers, who works as a painter
and sculptor, has created prominent bronze works displayed in places such as the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum, the Dallas Pioneer Park the Loews Anatole Hotel, Fair Park, Los Angeles International Airport
, and Plano Texas' Baccus Plaza .
Summers' studio website, states that Summers has had "no formal art training, save a short course in mixing colors at age 15. He began to explore art as a profession in 1964. His paintings include works in various mediums including; egg and acrylic tempera
, oil, dry-brush watercolor, pastel
, and pencil
. His sculptures have included wax and clay, and currently divides his time between painting and sculpting. He describes his flat work as "painterly
Summers resides in his boyhood home of Glen Rose
, Texas
with his wife Boo, two of their three sons work with him. Among his associations, Robert serves as Associate Director of the Creation Evidence Museum
and has traveled to Turkey
and New Guinea
on archealogical expeditions
in that capacity. Summers also plays bagpipes
, practices falconry
, sings Contemporary Christian music, and has played lead roles in several professional productions. Much of his Western art demonstrates his love of wildlife and the cowboy spirit of the small Texas town.
In 1973 Summers helped organize the Texas Association of Professional Artists and served as their first president.
July 4, 1975 when Governor Dolph Briscoe
and the Texas Legislature
named him as the Official Texas Bicentennial Artist.
On July 4, 1975 he was presented the American Airlines
' Americana Award for Art, presented by Randy Steffen.
Selected nationally by the Franklin Mint
as one of ten Gold Medal Award winners during the mint's introduction into fine art reproductions.
In 1976 was awarded with the Cultural Achievement Award for Art by the West Texas Chamber of Commerce.
During the Texas Association of Professional Artists awards banquet Summers received 6 of a possible 11 medals. His painting, "Forbidden Wilderness", took First Place for Best Oil, Best in Show, Most Popular (voted on by guest) and the T.A.P.A. Membership Award.
In both 1977 and 78 annual T.A.P.A. shows Summers was awarded with the Gold Medal for Best Oil.
Recipient of the Randy Steffen Annual Award on July 4, 1981.
Named as the Official Sesquicentennial Artist of Texas by the 69th Texas Legislature
in July 1987.
In 1995 Summers was named Most Favorite Son by the Glen Rose/Somervell County Chamber of Commerce.
Named Western Artist of the Year for 2003 by the Academy of Western Art.
which is on display at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas.
Created a larger-than-life, standing figure of Texas pioneer, Major George B. Erath, also on display at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
Commissioned to sculpt the nine-foot-tall statue of John Wayne
for the John Wayne Airport
in Orange County California in October 1980. During the project Summers worked closely with the Wayne family, after which Patrick Wayne
commented, "this is the first time I have seen my father since he died".
In May 1985, the 69th Texas Legislature passed House Bill #33 approving the placement of a monumental bronze by Robert Summers on the Capitol Grounds in Austin (this being the first sculpture approved for placement on the grounds for nearly 100 years). At present the project is still under consideration and work has not begun.
In 1987, Summers completed a three-quarter life-size version of "Texas Legacy" (the above mentioned monument). The sculpture measures 20'x12'x7' and depicts two cowboys on horseback leading seven Longhorn cattle over a rail-road crossing and is on display at the main entrance of the Astro Hall at the Astro Domain in Houston, Texas.
In 1990, commissioned by the United States Navy Memorial Foundation to sculpt three large bas-relief bronzes showing various historical events and duties of the United States Navy and Coast Guard. The bas-relieves are part of the United States Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.
In February 1992 work was completed on a nine-foot statue of golf legend Byron Nelson
. Commissioned by the U.S.A.A., the bronze is prominently located near the first tee at the TPC course at the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas
in Irving, Texas.
In November 1992 Summers began work on the largest arrangement of bronze statues in North America. A brain-child of real-estate magnate Trammell Crow
and commissioned by Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation, the project contains three cowboys on horseback and 40+ Longhorn steers in Pioneer Plaza
, each piece being 130% life size. 30 additional steers will eventually be installed. The bronze trail drive covers 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) in downtown Dallas
adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center
. This project was a break-through in that the artist designed both the sculptures as well as the landscaping. It is internationally known and the most photographed landmark in Dallas.
In 1996 Summers finished three 130% life-size monuments of three prominent Dallas citizens including; Trammell Crow
, on display at the Anatole Hotel, and Tom Hughes
, former Director of the Dallas Summer Musicals, on display in at the Music Hall at Fair Park
, in Dallas, Texas.
He was commissioned by [Newmark Publishing] in Louisville, Kentucky to complete a series of Civil War
paintings covering the “Peninsula Campaign
”, the lithographs of which quickly became sought after by collectors.
In early 1999, Summers was commissioned to sculpt a 150% life-size monumental portrait of American cattleman John Chisum
by the John Chisum Memorial Foundation in Roswell, New Mexico. The monument contains a rider on horseback and one Longhorn steer. It was installed adjacent to the Chaves County Court House in Roswell on the 24th of March 2001.
After completion of the John Chisum sculpture for Roswell, the neighboring city of Artesia asked Summers to sculpt a twice life sized sculpture of John Chisum’s niece, Sally Chisum. Dedicated on the 26th of July 2001, the 11 feet (3.4 m) sculpture of Sally stands as she reads to two children, as a welcomed addition to Artesia’s Main Street Project.
Soon after the installment of “Sally”, Artesia again called upon Summers to represent Mary and Martin Yates, founders of Yates Petroleum. This 125% monument is currently installed and awaits the arrival (completion) of their partner “Van Welch” also in 125% scale, which was subsequently commissioned to be an addition to the composition.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, (born August 13, 1940) in Cleburne
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Summers, who works as a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and sculptor, has created prominent bronze works displayed in places such as the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum, the Dallas Pioneer Park the Loews Anatole Hotel, Fair Park, Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, and Plano Texas' Baccus Plaza .
Summers' studio website, states that Summers has had "no formal art training, save a short course in mixing colors at age 15. He began to explore art as a profession in 1964. His paintings include works in various mediums including; egg and acrylic tempera
Tempera
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder medium . Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the 1st centuries AD still exist...
, oil, dry-brush watercolor, pastel
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
, and pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
. His sculptures have included wax and clay, and currently divides his time between painting and sculpting. He describes his flat work as "painterly
Summers resides in his boyhood home of Glen Rose
Glen Rose, Texas
Glen Rose is a city in Somervell County, Texas, United States. It is the county seat of Somervell County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,444. Glen Rose is part of the Granbury micropolitan area.-19th century:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with his wife Boo, two of their three sons work with him. Among his associations, Robert serves as Associate Director of the Creation Evidence Museum
Creation Evidence Museum
The Creation Evidence Museum, originally Creation Evidences Museum, is a museum in Glen Rose in Somervell County in central Texas, USA. Founded in 1984 by Carl Baugh for the purpose of researching and displaying purported evidence for creationism, the museum purports to show that the Earth is only...
and has traveled to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
on archealogical expeditions
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
in that capacity. Summers also plays bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
, practices falconry
Falconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
, sings Contemporary Christian music, and has played lead roles in several professional productions. Much of his Western art demonstrates his love of wildlife and the cowboy spirit of the small Texas town.
Awards and Credits
Awarded the Acrylic Division Award in 1972 by the American Artist Professional League.In 1973 Summers helped organize the Texas Association of Professional Artists and served as their first president.
July 4, 1975 when Governor Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe, Jr. was a Uvalde, Texas rancher and businessman who was the 41st Governor of Texas between 1973 and 1979....
and the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
named him as the Official Texas Bicentennial Artist.
On July 4, 1975 he was presented the American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
' Americana Award for Art, presented by Randy Steffen.
Selected nationally by the Franklin Mint
Franklin Mint
The Franklin Mint is a private corporation founded by Joseph Segel in 1964. The private mint operated from Wawa, Pennsylvania but that operation has now closed...
as one of ten Gold Medal Award winners during the mint's introduction into fine art reproductions.
In 1976 was awarded with the Cultural Achievement Award for Art by the West Texas Chamber of Commerce.
During the Texas Association of Professional Artists awards banquet Summers received 6 of a possible 11 medals. His painting, "Forbidden Wilderness", took First Place for Best Oil, Best in Show, Most Popular (voted on by guest) and the T.A.P.A. Membership Award.
In both 1977 and 78 annual T.A.P.A. shows Summers was awarded with the Gold Medal for Best Oil.
Recipient of the Randy Steffen Annual Award on July 4, 1981.
Named as the Official Sesquicentennial Artist of Texas by the 69th Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
in July 1987.
In 1995 Summers was named Most Favorite Son by the Glen Rose/Somervell County Chamber of Commerce.
Named Western Artist of the Year for 2003 by the Academy of Western Art.
Major works
Created a life-size, standing figure of a Texas RangerTexas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
which is on display at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas.
Commissioned to sculpt the nine-foot-tall statue of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
for the John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport is an airport in an unincorporated area in Orange County, California, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana, which is also the county seat, hence the International Air Transport Association airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in...
in Orange County California in October 1980. During the project Summers worked closely with the Wayne family, after which Patrick Wayne
Patrick Wayne
Patrick John Morrison, better known by his stage name Patrick Wayne , is an American actor, the second son of movie star John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz. He made over 40 films in his career, including nine with his father...
commented, "this is the first time I have seen my father since he died".
In May 1985, the 69th Texas Legislature passed House Bill #33 approving the placement of a monumental bronze by Robert Summers on the Capitol Grounds in Austin (this being the first sculpture approved for placement on the grounds for nearly 100 years). At present the project is still under consideration and work has not begun.
In 1987, Summers completed a three-quarter life-size version of "Texas Legacy" (the above mentioned monument). The sculpture measures 20'x12'x7' and depicts two cowboys on horseback leading seven Longhorn cattle over a rail-road crossing and is on display at the main entrance of the Astro Hall at the Astro Domain in Houston, Texas.
In 1990, commissioned by the United States Navy Memorial Foundation to sculpt three large bas-relief bronzes showing various historical events and duties of the United States Navy and Coast Guard. The bas-relieves are part of the United States Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.
In February 1992 work was completed on a nine-foot statue of golf legend Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
. Commissioned by the U.S.A.A., the bronze is prominently located near the first tee at the TPC course at the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is an upscale, developed area in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas.Due to its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to DFW Airport, Las Colinas has been a viable place in the Metroplex for corporate and business relocation.As a planned community, it has many...
in Irving, Texas.
In November 1992 Summers began work on the largest arrangement of bronze statues in North America. A brain-child of real-estate magnate Trammell Crow
Trammell Crow
F. Trammell Crow was an American real estate developer. Crow is credited for creating several famous real estate projects, including Dallas Market Center, Peachtree Center , and San Francisco's Embarcadero Center.-Biography:Crow was born in Dallas, Texas...
and commissioned by Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation, the project contains three cowboys on horseback and 40+ Longhorn steers in Pioneer Plaza
Pioneer Plaza
Pioneer Plaza is a large public park located in the Convention Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas . It contains a large sculpture and is a heavily visited tourist site. Adjacent to the plaza is the Pioneer Park Cemetery which features the Confederate War Memorial...
, each piece being 130% life size. 30 additional steers will eventually be installed. The bronze trail drive covers 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) in downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center
Dallas Convention Center
The Dallas Convention Center, originally the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, is a meeting hall, event/convention center and civic center in the Convention Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas...
. This project was a break-through in that the artist designed both the sculptures as well as the landscaping. It is internationally known and the most photographed landmark in Dallas.
In 1996 Summers finished three 130% life-size monuments of three prominent Dallas citizens including; Trammell Crow
Trammell Crow
F. Trammell Crow was an American real estate developer. Crow is credited for creating several famous real estate projects, including Dallas Market Center, Peachtree Center , and San Francisco's Embarcadero Center.-Biography:Crow was born in Dallas, Texas...
, on display at the Anatole Hotel, and Tom Hughes
Tom Hughes
Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes AO QC is a former Australian politician and a prominent barrister practicing at Blackstone Chambers in Sydney. He was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1963 to 1972, representing first the seat of Parkes and then the seat of Berowra...
, former Director of the Dallas Summer Musicals, on display in at the Music Hall at Fair Park
Music Hall at Fair Park
The Music Hall at Fair Park is a 3,420 seat performing arts facility in Dallas's Fair Park that opened on October 10, 1925.The building is of Spanish Baroque style with Moorish architectural influences, containing six stair towers capped with cast domes and arcade porches overlooking Fair Park...
, in Dallas, Texas.
He was commissioned by [Newmark Publishing] in Louisville, Kentucky to complete a series of Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
paintings covering the “Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
”, the lithographs of which quickly became sought after by collectors.
In early 1999, Summers was commissioned to sculpt a 150% life-size monumental portrait of American cattleman John Chisum
John Chisum
John Simpson Chisum was a wealthy cattle baron in the American West in the mid-to-late 19th century. Born in Hardeman County, Tennessee, Chisum's family moved to Texas in 1837, with Chisum finding work as a building contractor...
by the John Chisum Memorial Foundation in Roswell, New Mexico. The monument contains a rider on horseback and one Longhorn steer. It was installed adjacent to the Chaves County Court House in Roswell on the 24th of March 2001.
After completion of the John Chisum sculpture for Roswell, the neighboring city of Artesia asked Summers to sculpt a twice life sized sculpture of John Chisum’s niece, Sally Chisum. Dedicated on the 26th of July 2001, the 11 feet (3.4 m) sculpture of Sally stands as she reads to two children, as a welcomed addition to Artesia’s Main Street Project.
Soon after the installment of “Sally”, Artesia again called upon Summers to represent Mary and Martin Yates, founders of Yates Petroleum. This 125% monument is currently installed and awaits the arrival (completion) of their partner “Van Welch” also in 125% scale, which was subsequently commissioned to be an addition to the composition.