By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com
THURBER – Looking to add a few artistic touches to the home? A new business in the tiny community of Thurber is hoping to fill that need by selling artwork for North Central Texas artists that hang on the wall, the back of your couch or even around your neck.
Santo resident Jackie Smith said he believes there will be growth in the southern part of Palo Pinto County.
“I think it will be really taking off in the next 10 years,” he projected.
In anticipation of that growth and to offer something to Interstate 20 travelers who stop in Thurber for a meal, Smith recently opened up an art gallery called Art 4 U. The gallery is located in the south end of the same brick building as The Smokestack.
“I’ve been interested in art all my life,” said Smith, who currently works as a landscaper though has a passion for sculpting. Examples of his sandstone sculptures sit on shelves in the gallery.
The open gallery features paintings, prints and photographs while steel sculptures of trees, woven glass sculptures and metal clocks adorned with bicycle chains rest on shelving.
Smith explained that with his landscape business, he sees the ground as simply a larger canvas to work with.
“It’s a bigger piece of art they get to walk through,” he noted. “I always try to do something unique.”
It was through his landscaping business that he began to make contact with area artists interested in displaying their artwork.
“We have over 20 artists from Fort Worth to Abilene,” Smith said. “We have original prints, sculptures, woodworks, modern, mixed … Because we’re working off the traffic, we have a wide range of prices.”
Since the gallery’s initial opening shortly before Christmas, Smith noted, “We’ve had a lot of traffic coming in. We get a pretty steady flow.”
One local artist, Bonnie Dickson, has her paintings hanging on the gallery walls and calls herself “a co-worker” at the shop.
Dickson apparently enjoys showing the different types of art the shop offers, pointing out hand painted brooms and spreading out a quilt made of old blue jeans.
“It’s a whole variety of things,” she said of the shop’s contents as she pointed out jars of spicy pickles. Remembering a customer from Wyoming, Dickson added that they’ve gotten quite a few people stopping in who aren’t from the area.
“We get quite a few people who see the sign at lunch,” she noted.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Artist and gallery worker Bonnie Dickson holds up one of many vibrant paintings that hang on the gallery walls. From impressionistic to Western, visitors can find all sorts of artistic styles in the Thurber store. Lacie Morrison/Iindex
The Index welcomes comments. Inappropriate language or comments that do not meet our standards will be removed. Comments by guests made anonymously must be approved before they appear.
Art by the Smokestack
- Local News
-
-
Police Beat: Thefts, burglaries reported
According to Mineral Wells police reports, there were a number of property crimes reported over the past few days.
-
Thursday Blotter
The following people were processed through the Palo Pinto County Jail.
-
Driver killed in rollover wreck
The driver of a vehicle involved in a rollover crash just south of Mineral Wells Tuesday night died at the scene, according to authorities.
-
Local farmers hoping to hang on to crop insurance in next farm bill
Last year, farmers in Palo Pinto County saw drought and record heat take their toll on their crops.
-
Single-vehicle crash injures driver
According to reports, the only individual involved in an early morning crash Monday was transported to Palo Pinto General Hospital for unspecified injuries.
-
Police Beat: man arrested for allegedly pulling gun
According to Mineral Wells police, Ryan Matthew Segars, 31, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Monday on a charge stemming from an incident earlier this month.
-
County Records- Jan. 23-30
Palo Pinto County
Clerk Janette Green -
Mineral Wells man among newest crop of state troopers
AUSTIN – Fifty-seven men and women became Texas Highway Patrol troopers Jan. 19 after reciting the state’s law enforcement oath and receiving their badges during a ceremony in Austin.
-
New construction in county now needs a permit
PALO PINTO – Palo Pinto County Commissioners unanimously approved a motion at Monday’s meeting to begin requiring a type of building permit for new construction – homes and commercial – and new mobile homes in unincorporated areas of the county.
-
TXU, Salvation Army team up to offer low-income energy efficiency assistance program
The Salvation Army, Palo Pinto Service Unit, has been awarded a grant from TXU Energy to provide to the residence of Palo Pinto County with the following energy efficient products:
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police Beat: Thefts, burglaries reported
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
