ART SHOW- OCT 15 THRU NOV 30! @ FSG FINE JEWELRY IN SALADO.

Yes! I am installing a one-man show in Salado, Texas right now! It's called "50 Years an Artist in Texas," Most of the work is already up (over twenty paintings), still painting some others... Here are some that you can see if you are able to catch the exhibit- IF they have not been sold and carried off!

"Wonderful Day" 18 x 24, $575. The theme of the show is simple, "God still reins!"

"Red Oak Fire"- 11 x 14, $230

"Palo Duro Bison Honeymoon"- 11 x 14, $230

"Summer's Mill in the Morning Mist" 8 x 16, $230

"The Change of the Seasons"- 18 x 22, $650

This is first of show of its kind in a long time. There will be a great variety of sizes of paintings, from 5" x 7", to 3 ft by 4 ft. Some "Plein Air" art (sketched on location, 8 x 10's, 11 x 14's) have been "finished" and will be offered for sale. I hope that you can find your way to Salado to see it.

"As the Deer Pants for the Water"- 24 x 36, $1075

"Independence" (Independence, Texas)- 24 x 36, $1075

"McKittrick Canyon Romance"- 36 x 48, $1600

McKittrick Canyon Glory" 36 x 48, UNFRAMED, $1600

"Heavenly Pasture," Retired and Contented! 20 x 30, $720

"Deer Valley Bluebonnets"- 20 x 30, $720

"Grandma's Irises" 8 x10, $125

"Summer's Mill Falls" 11 x 14, $230

Just Call Him Our Dante: A Reaction to Costner's HORIZON

Costner has made another Western. Well part of one. My buddy and I had to go check it out. We are lifetime Western buffs, each pushing seventy, and know something about the subject, being Western artists (on canvas). Between the two of us, we have loved, lived and painted the American West for over a hundred years. And we are fans of Costner’s cinematic legacy. Well, part of it. So up front, I have to admit, I really wanted to like this, his latest and perhaps one of his most renegade projects.

For younger viewers, Kevin Coster is the man who brought us Western classics like Open Range and Dances With Wolves. My favorite character he played was in Silverado, a crazy, gunslinging avenger in his first and probably most successful Western. His list of great movie memories is impressive; The Postman, Field of Dreams, The Untouchables, Wyatt Earp, The Bodyguard, and I won’t mention some of the others, less memorable in the movie world, which still make my eyes water. I have to mention one of my favorites, his great movie recently made for Cable viewers called The Highwaymen- the story of the Texas Ranger’s Frank Hamer and his pursuit of and confrontation with Bonnie and Clyde.

This was where we all sensed that Kevin Coster was not going down without a fight, or disappearing into television obscurity. He wanted to make important films, maybe ones that Hollywood would not or could not make. So when the word came out about his latest effort, we buckled up our seat belts.

I knew it would be long. I’ve seen his movies and have learned to anticipate that. And in a Civil War era Western, one would expect no less. We all got accustomed to Gone With the Wind and watched it for generations. I expected and got spectacular Utah scenery. I looked for and saw authentic historical architecture and clothing and tack. The cowboy hats are especially noteworthy, each one a maquette of a Coahuilan mountain range. And as expected, Kevin Costner as an actor is in vintage mode, aping his favorite persona, the non-verbal retaliator, who did not inherit a happy gene or a personality. So his film called Horizon, Chapter One has all of the elements required to form into a beloved blockbuster Western. Everything except an ending.

This is not hyperbole. The film is literally Chapter One of a sequel. It’s mostly just the prolog of much epic, exciting, Western action to come. But after three hours the viewer is left in a lurch. And it’s shameful how many characters had to die agonizing deaths, how many audiences had to suffer massacres, attempted kidnappings and gratuitous nudity and sex scenes so that Kevin Costner could prance in his own town fire fantastic. (No worries, it was just a bunch of tents.) But then, you might call this chapter Costner’s Old Testament. They have about the same message. Yes, this is a long review, but a three part movie series justifies that, so please edure!

Horizon is, I believe, Kevin Costner’s extravagant attempt to make a truly landmark Western. So big an attempt, so huge the vision, it could not fit into a single movie. He pulls out all of the stops. Chapter One kills hundreds, randomly preserves a few, horrifies and bludgeons loving women, threatens babies, rips your heart out of your chest and then rubs your nose in it. Now rich in dollars, and answering to no one, Kevin Costner is aiming to right the wrongs of Westerns made by Hollywood, make some respectable art, and in the process show the depravity of mankind. And he may at least, be succeeding at that.

There is collateral damage in the process however. After the first three hours, the viewer is no longer in sympathy with the brutal Native Americans, or the prejudiced, vermin-like White invaders, or the lethargic army, or the director for dragging his audience through nearly non-stop terror, vengeance and anxiety. At the end of Chapter One, every ethnic group has exacted sufficient revenge on every enemy, until the playing field is now even. Killing field even. Thankfully, the main characters survive, but people were never meant to endure that much punch-in-the-gut horror in the name of entertainment. Perhaps appropriate in a horror flick or torture of terrorists, or the coming political conventions, but not a jumbo-sized historical flick for a long evening’s enjoyment. This was Gettysburg and Cold Harbor and Glory rolled into one, in cowboy hats. Every artist, whether composer or painter or cinematographer, understands the audience has to have rest periods- dead spots so to speak. In art we call it negative space. Costner uses those as tiny breathers to leap from one set of bloodthirsty sociopaths to another.

My friend and I agree that we would sit through Horizon again. But I added a caveat or two. Next time I would require ear plugs. Like in the movie The Passion, there are plenty of scenes I never want to experience again. I will just pop in the ear plugs and close my eyes. Understand that before cinema, lots of people went their whole lives and never experienced even a “virtual” horrific massacre, not even a single murder. Having a heart condition, I dare not put myself through that kind of needless emotional stress again. I’m pretty sure our de-sensitized culture does not need any more savagery than what is served up every day in the average American living room. What we need is hope.

Costner has made some wonderful art in this series. He has gotten some things off of his chest. Oh, the captivating parts; the magnificent western scenery, the turning aspens, the sprawling, epic wagon trains and visual sweeps of the drone zooming over rocks and rills. The chaos of genocide. The power of hate. Here he is a master. But in his West, there is virtually no hope. These folks could never have a made a country, no one would have survived. There would only be a burned out spot on the globe there today, akin to the Sahara or the Gobi Desert. Kevin Costner is our default father of the American Western, but he has not made the ultimate Western. Perhaps bits of a movie strung together, grittier than True Grit. Moore Peckie than Peckinpah, maybe he even out-lonesomed Lonesome Dove, but there is no Gus McCrae to make us smile, or have a reason to get up tomorrow morning. Too much is missing in Chapter One to call it a stand-alone movie. Instead of a traditional screenplay structure with a beginning, middle and the much-celebrated END, which is certainly not a sacred cow, during the last part of Chapter One we get a lovely, driving, well-constructed promotion trailer for the next two chapters; to be seen at a theater near you, of course.

One would think, given the nine hours or so of so-called entertainment packaged as “HORIZON,” that its creators would sprinkle more transforming love, more passion of altruism, or more of the quiet beauty and majesty of the real West, in the negative spaces. Maybe even introduce a positive sub-plot. And some kind of resolution at the end of each “chapter.” But they cannot. What is missing in Horizon is the once prevalent spiritual center of our literary culture; the still, small voice of God. A God of Order. The power of Good. The wonder of Nature. Every artist can find it. It is why we design and create, whether we even know it or not.

For every film, every piece of art, the maker has to, more or less, play god. Thus the film director’s world view becomes very important. In Costner’s universe, love and Providence are myths to be employed but smothered, so Burning Man is more the standard for his home base. None enjoy his mercy, or escape his hand of judgement. And especially his audience. I will go see if he manages to rectify my over-all impression, and bring all of his loose ends together. Or at least part of them. But it will require a miracle from above, help from the other God, the one who invented serendipity and happy endings, if he is to do that. Or even a part of it.

DREAM COME TRUE

It was certainly the biggest thing in my career. An artist's dream come true. A monster job, ultimately 140 feet of murals at the prestigious Star of the Republic Museum at Washington on the Brazos. And now slated for obliteration; strangely, another dream, now about to come true.

Several years ago I woke up with something like a night terror... once in a blue moon God puts a prophetic dream in my sub-conscious mind. I dreamed that they were painting over my murals at the museum... covering the walls with forest green. Off with the old, on with the thoughtless, artless dozer of progress. It was horrible.

“That was a BAD DREAM!” I thought to myself. But surely, they would never do THAT. Pardon me for saying, but my mural was not just large in the museum, it was large in my mind; my contribution to Texas History. Something to inspire the generations. Something which took three people and eight months to complete... and too wonderful and beautiful for any intelligent people to ever destroy.

But alas, that nightmare was also a “dream come true,” as future renovations are completed. If you loved it, you better go get one last look at it. The museum will go through a renovation, and the murals will be obliterated. What will go up to replace them? I do not know. But they we will never find an artist to put on those walls what they have enjoyed for the past twenty years. If they did, it would cost the State of Texas over to $100,000. And, it may not be as accurate or as comprehensive, or as well done. My guess is they plan some hi-tech digital screens to dazzle Texas school children, who do not have enough hi-tech screens already in their lives. I say, they do not have enough ART in their lives. Can you imagine the outcry when the Catholic Church does the same thing in the Sistine Chapel?

But that is the way of our culture these days... nothing is sacred, they are removing statues and markers left and right. The younger generations apparently want to interpret our history to their tastes and preferences. But I say it is symptomatic of a sick culture... one that has already witnessed so much destruction of our heritage... in the name of tolerance and inclusion! And one that has had to fight to save the ALAMO for God's sake. If Texas, and Texans no longer want the mural, well, it is their right. But I truly believe that whomever is making these decisions, like George P. Bush, will rue the day they messed with Texas, and took our heritage and our art so flippantly. And the loss will be on their short-sighted heads. But that's just me.

Whatever the case, I believe that it might take the destruction of these monuments to wake up the rest of us, to understand the intellectual and spiritual war we are in... and perhaps are in denial of. As the Huns move in and tear down much of what we love, and understand, and perhaps things we have taken for granted, until Texas is not Texas anymore.

Note: It cannot be removed. Painted directly on the gypsum walls... Removal of the pieces would be cost prohibitive, not to mention, who has a 10 x 100 ft. wall to offer to give it a home?

A new gallery to represent Cushman art!!!

I am pleased and excited to announce my new gallery affiliation: with FSG Fine Jewelry in Salado, Texas.

Frankie Gene Sidaras is the owner, artist and manager there at 401 S. Main, right across from the Shady Villa Hotel (formerly known as the Stagecoach Inn).

She is a jeweler with her own studio and gallery, and has several walls full of original art to compliment her business.

Please come by when you are in Salado and encourage us! Here are some of my works that you might see there...

"New" Old "Revisited" & Subjectified Works

Years ago a friend of mine visited my home, ready to purchase some art. He was in love with one large painting, of buffalo in a western landscape. "I'll buy it from you," He said, "if you will remove the buffalo..." I needed the money bad... and I did what he asked. He bought it. Then he was divorced and fell on hard times, and the painting was put in storage. He passed away later, and now I understand the painting is rotting in a barn. What artists must do sometimes to meet the public where they are (mentally or emotionally) is almost shameful. Great Art cannot be created by committee... But art patrons are not the worst in this kind of arm-twisting.

For many years, my galleries, those places which featured and marketed my art, asked for "pure landscapes." Subjects I was told, were sometimes off-putting to buyers... and made the selling of the art work more difficult, especially for designers and decorators, who were often involved in the transactions. One gallery, and my best one, would not take anything smaller than 24 x 36, and nothing with animals or people in it. They did not even want bridges, buildings, gates... nothing but pure landcape.

Needless to say, I had to make a living... and pure landscape was far easier to paint... so I filled the pigeon hole until the galleries all went under. When the music stopped, I had several large canvases ready to deliver to my main gallery when suddenly it was all over. Other galleries were winding down as well, and none wanted the huge canvases anymore... eventually none wanted any canvases.

It took me awhile... to see these works as... unfinished. They had been conceived as pure landscapes... and worked well as such. What subjects might be worthy in such a complete statement? Here are some solutions to that strange series of events... subjective art... sans subjects... then SUBJECTIFIED! Hopefully they have been improved... but don't worry, I'm not painting anything out!

A new book in the making!

Tim Gregg of College Station is writing and publishing a long overdue book showcasing Navasota's illustrious Leon Collins. I am proud and grateful to have been included in this amazing legacy and wish them both success with this venture. In the making of the book, it required a trip down memory lane... and here photographs depict a tiny fraction of the art legacy produced from just two of Navasota's artists, whose paths crossed three decades ago, and who shared a special friendship along the way. ***************************************************************************************************************** Thank you Tim for doing this... you obviously have a talent for sniffing out a vacuum.. and for filling it. NOTE: to see the photos more easily, just click on any of them, and you will get a strip with them in smaller format.

Leon with his equally talented daughter "Molly Bee"

Russell Cushman gathering inspiration on the O6 Ranch in west Texas

Leon Collins doing what he did for years... demonstrating on the downtown Navasota sidewalk...

Russell on assignment for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, in the Caribbean

Leon has been a fixture around Texas antique circles for several decades, buying, trading, selling... and it's actually how we met

Russell painting Mt. Cook in New Zealand

Leon was often seen painting down in front of Blues Alley (later transformed into Classic Rock Coffee ), under the mural he helped to paint

Russell shows his grandmother... blind but quite curious... his sculpture in Heritage Park at Bryan, Texas.

Russell hosted a well attended jam session at Blues Alley for a couple of years... where over time he experimented with playing drums, a wash tub, and even a bass. He stuck to painting.

Leon at work on his monumental portrait of "Texas" Alexander... depicted on the Music Mural in Blues Alley at Navasota...the most famous bluesman from Grimes County, painted by the most famous artist from Grimes County... How's that for some history?

Russell painting "plein air" in Palo Duro Canyon

Leon caught in a private moment... outside Serendipity's Cafe... where Texas singer-songwriters once performed every Friday night...

Russell does his version of Texas Ranger Jeff Milton for a busload of history buffs from Houston

Russell captured by Ashton Hall while at work on the mural at Hi-Ho Store in Navasota.

Products of an "Anachrosaur"

(above) Britt Johnson action figure; customized Johnny West Geronimo figure, by Russell Cushman ***********************************************************************************************************

Digital Art design, "My Microcosm" *********************************************************************************************************** I posted a few months ago about my "new direction"... and I should have said directions... and that would mean EVERY DIRECTION. The question was, was art, or artists in the sunset, or the sunrise of their existence?

The tectonic shifts in the economy, our culture and the art market in particular have sent artists scrambling in every direction, trying to figure out how to maintain their lifestyles. Of course there are adaptations necessary in any profession... and I began to market my art on anything which it could be printed on... such as the pillows above. Fine Art America offers my art on cell phone covers, shower curtains, towels, etc., and of course all kinds of prints. But artists in this handy market are like a coliseum filled with watch salesmen standing shoulder to shoulder, with their products covering their arms, all waving at the same time. With maybe a half-dozen customers... ************************************************************************************************************ Some artists I know are squeezing out various methods of survival by working harder than they ever have, while trying a myriad of approaches online. These are the most astute artist-businessmen/women among us who are creatively and courageously approaching the challenge, dealing with the requirements and the difficulties of delving into our 21st Century art frontier, the awkwardness of self-promotion, and the vigor of technical solutions.

Designer Pillows, by Russell Cushman *********************************************************************************************************** I have to admit, being 67, that none of those options I mention are attractive to me... having just spent 25 years working as a muralist and bronze and steel monument sculptor, which seemed to me at the time to be the most physically demanding and yet the lowest paying rung on the art ladder. I am tired! So when the wheels came off of the art world (for me) around 2018, I began to think about the "what ifs"... and started working then on a possible career shift. I still painted as much as I could... still did some art exhibits, but produced much smaller paintings, and as sales declined, and new art venues stopped presenting themselves, I increased my creative efforts in new areas.

Photograph restoration, by Russell Cushman ************************************************************************************************************ As I became more and more convinced that art and the art market were changing in ways we could never comprehend, and might never recover, the words of my college instructors at North Texas State rang in my ears. "YOU ARE AN ANACHRONISM," they insisted back in 1975, as they scoffed at my A average, and my fantastic sophomore portfolio, and sent me packing to change my Major, as they did not want me in the art department, for any reason. I did not leave without an argument, but they eventualy won, assuring me that I was not going to be happy there, further explaining that my ways were only detrimental to other students. My emphasis on drawing and painting with realism, and the relative ease with which I demonstrated these skills, were confusing the other art students, who, like my teachers, frankly could not touch me. Either I and a few others in the art department were artists, and the rest was nonsense, or a few of us had to go to maintain art department morale, while college professors confidently reinvented art in their image, until most artists like me would not recognize it. And people no longer cared about it.

Digital Art design, "Rambler Romance" using action figures, by Russell Cushman *********************************************************************************************************** With help from the new computer technology and the Internet, college art philosophers were eventually proved right, and traditional art forms are today about as irrelevent as they have ever been in my lifetime. There are fewer art supply stores, fewer art galleries and fewer art shows, than since the 1950's. But it took forty years for my UNT art instructor's wishes to come true. So, "When life gives you lemons..."

It became evident to me around 2017, about the time that I moved to Belton, that I was going to have to reinvent myself... So what you are seeing here are some of the solutions I tried. Since I got settled in Bell County, I began to write passionately. Knowing that back in high school I had been considered by everyone to be a good writer, I wrote and wrote and actually got published here and there. And I began to experiment with new ways to develop concepts for major works... digital photography, computer graphics, and using action figures, while I played with duck and fish decoy restoration, 1960's toy restoration and photograph restoration. In other words, anything to make a buck.

Digital Art design, action figures, "Queen of the Mountain" (Joan of Arc)

"Gus N' Call" custom action figures, by Russell Cushman *********************************************************************************************************** Still, painting commission art is hands-down the most financially rewarding... but as you can see, I have had a lot of fun. I guess having fun ain't so bad...

Digital Art design, action figures "Malibu Morning" by Russell Cushman

Digital Art design, action figure "Native Ability" by Russell Cushman- to be painted... or marketed as-is? HellifIknow! ************************************************************************************************************

Digital Art design, "Where Angels Tread" by Russell Cushman- don't tell my wife if you recognize her in any of these!

Antique tintype image restoration by Russell Cushman ************************************************************************************************************* Anyway, we gotta do something! I have not found the answer yet... but God willing I will find it. ************************************************************************************************************* I'm sure the dinosaurs did not disappear overnight, and artists, the ones who actually make tangible things with their hands, will not either... Yesterday's triceratops for instance, (or at least his genes) may survive as today's horny toad. So let's not get depressed yet... but show more veneration for the humble horny toad... who might well have descended from something like a giant creature who ruled the plains! Like the dinosaurs, we may morph into dozens of fruitful RELEVANT services in the unfolding technological culture. We have to put on our most open-minded sensitivity... you might be morphing into a medium or a market which you never planned. And that sure beats being what I have been for the past forty years... We'll call it a "Anachrosaur." So let's agree, we are experiencing a friggin' SUNRISE of art!

Digital Design with action figures, "Free Ride" by Russell Cushman