Sculpture Ranch is the combined residence and exhibit grounds of Benini and Mrs. Lorraine Benini. On the Sculpture Ranch website are Lorraine's flawless photos of these uplifting adornments of the land.

 

Thumbnailed above: Of course there's a Lone Star in the essay! Benini's art in this place is a natural continuation of an Old Country-Hill Country combination. For example, the Texas Capitol Building owes much to Italian and Italian-influenced quarrymen and sculptors, starting with the stone of Marble Falls. That's only about 15 miles north of Sculpture Ranch on Highway 281.

 

It's absolutely true: can't capture truth. No two pictures of my ten film-and-digital shots of "Truth", above, turned out to be the same truth.

At left: even as a blind pig can find a truffle, so a stumbling photographer can find a wonderful shot like this one of "Aspiration". My version is utterly unedited, consumer-grade, Fuji 35mm film presented at 96 dpi.This picture got itself promoted into my personal, all-time, top 10 list, which is coming soon, like all good things.

Like "Truth" above, the figure "American Ushabti" below didn't want to reflect itself for a portrait. I banged off a barrage of shots without pinning the butterfly's irridescent wings to the board. Next time I want to try again later in the day, truly Golden Hour time. Maybe I can photographically meld the brassily ochre crystals into a three-D mosaic of prisms.
Their 140 acres about seven miles WSW from present-day Johnson City incorporates part of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's ranching operation.

 

Linked above is my favorite picture from this visit, "Destiny's Marker" in front of "Aspiration." Next time I'll try the 200mm telezoom from farther west.

 

These two, linked pictures are of Benini's tribute to Padre Pio. Benini told me that even as a not-so-religious man, he had prayed "Padre Pio, ayuntame" ("Father Pious, help me") at desperate moments in his life. I think Padre Pio would be pleased with the tribute, as I know that Benini is pleased to be here and thriving now.

 

 

The picture of "Determination" linked above doesn't portray the context of this three-sq-meter force of man.

 

 

 

Padre Pio's tribute is on the westernmost-facing hill of the Ranch, past the Gathering (linked below.)

 
Benini twinkles his way through a conversation, with the natural delight of one who is thinking of the next puzzle. He related that when he cranks up the operatic music to create his present generation of acrylics on (very) large stretched canvas, he feels that he's playing a chess game against an observer 300 years in the future. FutureMan's challenge is to unlock Benini's message. I told Benini that I'm betting on him, and I would advise you to bet, well, your own ranch on him also.