Growing Sculpture in the Hills of Texas

The Texas Hill Country  is rapidly becoming little Italy.  The limestone bluffs and landscape of live oaks and cedars, bears some resemblance to the Mediterranean countryside.

Benini and his wife Lorraine.

In 1999, artist and sculpture Benini and his wife Lorraine moved to  a hiltop ranch outside of Johnson City because the areas reminded him of his native northern Italian town of Imola.  Although he had not lived there for years, the established artist who goes by his last name found the area to bring out  ”a playful mood I never had before. Texas has given me the freedom to let go.”

The couple started to grow sculptures on their ranch when they installed a few of Benini’s  large pieces.   By 2004, visitors were lining up at the Benini Sculpture Ranch gate and hopeful artists were calling to see if their work could be included in the unorthodox venue. Lorraine, who manages the ranch’s affairs, now receives portfolios from artists as close as Austin and as far away as Europe and South America.

I met Benini and his wife Lorraine while photographing a story on the ranch for Texas Profiles magazine.   The couple are magnanimous both in personality and generousity.   Within a few short years they have become true Texans.

Recently I approached Texas Highways Magazine about a story on the ranch. Unfortunately due to my wife’s bout with cancer, I could not update the story shot earlier, but I am glad to see it featured in the December issue of the magazine and online at Texas Highways.com.

If traveling past Johnson City, be sure to allow an extra hour to drive through the amazing ranch.   The view and the artwork is an amazing site.