Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – Galleywinter Gallery in Fort Worth

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Fort Worth – On the southwest side of Fort Worth just a few miles from the famous stockyards, you’ll find an gallery dedicated to the incredibly diverse world of art. These pretty paintings and stunning sculptures are part of the story to a particular Texas musician who simply produces pieces that come to him wave on wave. For nearly three decades, Pat Green’s music has been a part of Texas culture. Now, he’s expanding his signature to include a few works of art that have to be enjoyed with the eyes rather than the ears.

“It’s my passion and it’s also just the way I release everything that’s crazy inside of me,” Pat Green said. “Much safer. Better on my liver.”

Pat Green is used to painting the town from the comfort of the concert stage, but when he’s not playing on the stage he likes to get creative on the canvas.

“I get to spend my whole day here, every day making stuff up, and then on weekends I go to work,” Pat said. “This is a guitar that is cut aluminum as well that I painted with resin over the aluminum and then set it in a white aluminum to kind of give it a contrast, but you can really see the cubism side of it.”

Pat named his showroom Galleywinter Gallery after the ranch he grew up on near Waco, as well as one of his most popular songs.

”I think, in a way, Galleywinter is a fictional place,” Pat said. “It’s a … Galleywinter is a … My brother said that’s where … He was on a back of an Easy Rider rocking horse and my mom asked him where he was going, and he said, ‘I’m going to Galleywinter.’ So the name stuck.”

Alongside artists Ginger Walker and Cheryl Hodge, Pat surrounds himself with the best of the best when it comes to whatever craft he’s working on.

“I’m outmatched by these people,” Pat said. “They’re much better artists than I am. If you play golf with better golfers than you, you become better. That’s really kind of what I look around and say, okay, I’m in with some good guys and I’ll figure this out. I really enjoy it. I mean, it’s a challenge like anything else in this world, but when I started playing guitar, I wasn’t dreaming of singing at the coffee shop, you know. I was dreaming of playing in the stadium. Houston Astrodome. That’s where I was in my heart, and that’s where I am with art. I’m not going to say I’ll ever be Picasso or anything like that, but I mean, my dreams aren’t anything short of that.”

The medium that resonates most with the singer songwriter: Sculpting.


 “Where I fell in love with art was when I started into sculpture and started creating things that were three dimensional that you could put your hands on,” Pat said.

Matisse once said that “creativity takes courage.” Pat has got the creativity part down, well, pat.  So much so that even his commissioned pieces are no problem.

“I’m kind of used to that kind of pressure. I’ve been … you know, I’ve been on a stage, I’ve been in front of people, I handle expectation pretty well,” Pat said.

Pat doesn’t have to ponder when it comes to his passions.  His heart is wholly into his work whether it’s on stage or in the studio, making a visit to his gallery well worth a stop on the Texas Bucket List.

“If you want to see me, you know, really enjoy this part of my life and work hard and smile on my face, and usually the music’s blaring and the … you know, there’s always free drinks for anybody that wants to come by,” Pat said. “You know, that’s the same thing I say about my music. The more you drink, the better we sound. Well, a couple beers, my art looks pretty good too.”

The Texas Bucket List – Campobella Bronze Sculpture in Conroe

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CONROE, Texas — The stories of Texas have been told for generations. Storytellers have used the written word, poets have used sonnets and journalists have traveled all over just to get that one story of our state. But there is one man in Conroe who has used a totally different method to tell these stories. He’s used sculpture.

In a studio off the square in downtown Conroe sculptor and native Texas Craig Campobella works on his latest piece. Despite his award-winning work, there’s one thing this meticulous molder knows.

“It’s like golf,” Craig said. “You’re never going to master it.”

Since the late 80’s, the Houston native has been creating art that celebrates our state, but it took an early career in radio and some time out of Texas to realize where he needed to belong.

“Who knows what it is,” Craig said. “It’s something in the air. Why did Willie come back? Why does everybody miss it so? I missed it. I love being here. I couldn’t imagine being someplace else.”

After answering his call back home, Craig whose mother was an artist, had another calling and chance encounter with clay struck the spark.

“It was instantaneous that I could feel what needed to happen,” Craig said. “That by no means I was prolific from the very beginning. I got my fair share of criticism, but I didn’t give up.”

Creating the art fulfilled a dream but he longed to tell a story, to create something that could impact a person’s love for the Lone Star State.  That’s when the Texian came into focus.

“It tells the entire story about how we got to where we are today,” Craig said.

You can find the Texian surrounded by the battle and rally flags of the Texas revolution at the Texas Flag Park in Conroe.

“Tell all those stories in a beautiful Texas size pill form where people can understand that heritage and in the middle of it don’t put Sam don’t put Stephen don’t put Crockett, put your everyday Texian fighting soldier volunteer,” Craig said.

This piece of art tells Texas’ fight for freedom not just with this history that surrounds it but also with some sneaky symbolism.

“Late at night when I’m wishing I was home with my wife and my baby girl I get kind of sidetracked and I start putting these little things in there that I don’t think anybody is going to know about. I started that a long time ago,” Craig said. “Some people notice and some people don’t notice. When they notice them that’s a lot of fun.”

Under the Texan’s left foot, you’ll find 13 stones, one for each day of the siege at the Alamo.

The rocks are covered with 354 marking, one for each person who paid the ultimate price at Goliad.

Under the right foot, nine stones represent those lost at the Battle of San Jacinto while the 18 buttons on the Texian’s jacket represent each minute of the quick and decisive victory for Texas.

A big rock under the toe, symbolizes the continued presence of a particular nemesis whose name is synonymous with the Texas revolution, Santa Anna.

Combining his art with the stories of history of Texas is the craving Campobella can’t quell.

“I can hear them say over and over again one thing: ‘I did not know that,’” Craig said. “They go to the next one. ‘I did not know that.’ And my heart soars like the eagle because that’s the purpose behind the kind of art that I want to do.”

Around the corner from the flag park on Spirit of Texas Way, you’ll find Texas Lady Liberty.  The gold gilded statue was inspired by that battle flag at the battle of San Jacinto while a piece dedicated to the

From the Battle of Gonzales to Samuel McColloch Jr, a free black solider who fought and was the first to be injured in the Texas Revolution, the subject matter for Campboella creations is considerable.

“I know I don’t want to rewrite history. I think some very brave, wonderful people came before us to give us the opportunities that we have today and I don’t look down my nose at that at all.”

Telling stories through this kind art is a time-consuming process that will stand the test of time.  Continuing the legend, lore and stories of the heroes of Texas.

“I’m proud of that heritage. I’m proud of that heritage and I am beyond thrilled to be a storyteller of that heritage.”

The Texas Bucket List – Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum in San Antonio

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Along the quiet streets of Alamo Heights, there’s a home that’s been sitting on Abiso Avenue for many years. Barney Smith has lived in that home for over 50 of those years but it’s his garage that gets all the attention. That’s because Barney is man with a big collection. A big collection of thrones that happen to be fit for a king.  Well, the king of the commode that is, and these special seats cover all kinds of topics from vacations and politicians to Willy Nelson’s hair.

Barney has been creating this curious art for years and it was first discovered in 1992 during a yard sale. He decided to throw in some of his latrine landscapes and that caught the attention of a shopper.

“I got the big head and I said ‘You want to see some more?’”

Once Barney opened the garage, the rest is history.

“We need to go in there and let the world know what you’re doing in your garage. I said, come on!”

A media blitz ensued, and Barney was the talk of the town. The first time he was featured on television, Barney was interviewed by Barbara Walters.

The new found fame didn’t stop this former plumber from plugging away at his lovely lavatory layouts and now his collection is colossal with 1,336 toilet seats. Barney has even made toilet seats for his birthdays for almost ten years now.

There are several seats dedicated to Barney’s story, including a key to the old college girl’s dormitory that Barney won’t come clean on how he obtained it.

“My wife and I might not have been married for 74 years had she known I had the key to the girl’s dormitory,” Barney said.

You’ll find just about every topic on a toilet here.  History, disasters, dimes or dollars, and doodads.

“I like to show the girls,” Barney said. “I said do you know Elvis and they said sure we do and I said I’ve got a toilet seat down there for you of Elvis Presley.”

Considering the king kicked the bucket on a commode, I guess that’s’ fitting.

Barney still spends time working on this unique art.

“I say it I’d rather do this than eat when I’m hungry or sleep while I’m sleepy,” Barney said.

Unfortunately, father time is taking its toll on the man who’s known for toilet seats, so his terrific and storied collection is looking for a new owner.

“This collection is up for sale,” Barney said. “I’m getting so old and feeble until I can’t come out here and open it up anymore. If somebody comes along that wants to keep it as a museum – I don’t want them buying it piece by piece selling it out because some of these things people would give them a pretty piece of money for just one of them. So I’m trying to sell the whole collection.”

Barney said he has been grateful for the life he’s lived and the many achievements he made.

“The Lord has been good to me, He’s given me 96 years here because I’ve seen a lot of changes in this whole world,” Barney said.

Barney lead us to a simple seat covered with a poem Rudyard Kipling.  A poem that he’s known by heart since he was 12.

The teacher gave me that poem 85 years ago and I’m still saying it today,” Barney said. “So I’ll hang to it. That’s my favorite.”

The days are numbered for Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum. What happens to it, only time will tell.  While there is a book featuring his art work, Barney hopes his visions and love for life displayed on this large number of lids will live on elsewhere.

“I feel like The Lord has given me this many years to be a blessing to someone and I hope that I’ve got this museum here a collection to where someone could be blessed,” Barney said.

The Texas Bucket List – Wild Art in De Berry

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Whenever traveling around Texas, you never know what you’ll find, something we’ve experienced a lot of.  And during our frequent trips to east Texas, one interesting entry way on Highway 79 always kindled our curiosity, so we finally stopped to appreciate the art.

Out in the woods of east Texas, between Carthage and De Berry sits an interesting artist studio simply known as Wild….Donkey…..Art. Artist Rick Kuper is the creative and kooky sharp dress man behind this colorful depot dedicated to his craft, wood art.

Kuper and his collection of critters are sort of cooped up here, in a good way.  Despite not having a car or drivers license since the 80’s he’s lived all over the country.

“Like a little gypsy going Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, up into Pennsylvania freakin Montana up into South of Anchorage Alaska, Colorado,” Kuper said. “I’d never live in Kansas, oh my God. When I went through there I was like, ‘There ain’t a tree nowhere for a hundred miles! Oh lets hurry up and get out of here!’”

Since the early 2000’s, this roadside studio has been his home.  A place to create. Getting a chance to see Rick’s art is impressive, but his work with power tools is not something you see often.

“When I pick up the chain saw, I’ll take over the whole show,” Kuper said. “I always said that you can get about 10 sassy good looking hot mamas dancing in their bikinis over here and then you could get Rick getting down on a big six foot eagle, and with time I’m going to get most of that crowd over to me.”

Everyday he makes masterpieces.  Carving, cutting, and chain sawing his visions into realities.  Some of them more peculiar than others.

“Architecture, aeronautics, airplanes, helicopters,” Kuper said. “Here we got, this is all entirely done out of wood. A drag boat, old 70 model drag boat.”

Since he was a boy, this is what the older man from the Ozarks has wanted to do.  Use his hands to create the beauty of the world around us.

“They talk about road side artists as being outcasts, like the unaccepted or something and God have I been accepted by every walk, every kind of person,” Kuper said. “That’s wonderful.”

When he was a younger, a near death experience strangely enough, involving a falling tree, inspired him artistically and spiritually.

“I was 19 years old and I got smashed to death. I died for 31 minutes,” Kuper said. “I went out of body and it got dark all around my soul and I could see a torso, no legs no arms and I had a hand, a warm hand on the shoulder of my soul showing me what I just did. Then I came in coughing up blood and the paramedics 80 miles out of Saint Louis come out and got me. It was like three days in the hospital, little blood in my bladder, tiny fracture in my hip and then they were gonna put me on the news and I did a little Irish jig and said, ‘No, I’m going home and do some more art.’”

While wild animals, big chairs, and boots make up a hefty amount of his hodgepodge of hard work, he does dedicate his time to a higher power.

“I’m very Christian,” Kuper said. “I don’t get by a day when I’ll kiss the foot of one of my Jesus carvings. Right on, right on, you know.”

Passionate, peculiar, purposeful and positive are probably the perfect words to paint this preveyor of pine portrayals.

“Every day you wake up it’s a blessing, and life is like that,” Kuper said. “I mean the seventies feels to me like a couple weeks ago or you know a few years ago.”

If you happen to be heading to the piney woods of East Texas and have a wild hair to see some wild art, seeing Rick work his magic is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

Season 9 of The Texas Bucket is List Premieres September 9th

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The show dedicated to EVERYTHING there is to see, do, and experience in the Lone Star State is gearing up for its ninth season! Entering out 5th year on the air, The Texas Bucket List has been bringing exciting Texas stories, fantastic food finds, hidden gems, and amazing annual events into the homes of viewers since 2013 and will continue to do so on Sept. 9 during the first episode of the fall season.

TBL fans can expect to see an expanded palate on the show this year, including a tour of Central Texas BBQ stops in the season opener. The Texas Bucket List Burger of the Week segment will be returning this season as host Shane McAuliffe continues to find meaty treats almost as unique as the state they are made in.

The show will also feature interesting things to do in the state where everything is bigger and better that may inspire a few tall tales. Among these experiences are a Prairie Dog Park, a long standing Christmas ball, and Canton Trade Days, to name a few.

With more excitement, food, and action than ever before, the ninth season of TBL is one you won’t want to miss. It’s no secret that Texans are proud of the state they call home.  Shane McAuliffe’s interactions with people all over the Lone Star State make it easy to see why Texans are so proud of this great state.

The Texas Bucket List airs on 23 markets television markets and has won seven Telly Awards.  TBL has also been nominated for seven Lone Star Emmy Awards.

For more information on The Texas Bucket List, visit TheTexasBucketList.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pintrist.

TO TEXAS!

The Texas Bucket List – Bob “Crocodile” Lile Art Gallery in Amarillo

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AMARILLO, Texas – When people talk about the panhandle, the panoramic beauty of Palo Duro canyon comes to mind for many – but for the rest, the ever-changing art of Cadillic Ranch is what this part of our state is all about.

People come from far and wide to paint these pieces of art except for one local who’s here for another reason – Crocodile Lile, Texas artist and self-described “lucky person.”

Crocodile Lile comes to the Cadillac Ranch to collect pieces of petrified paint.

“I’ve got probably enough chunks to build 10,000 sets, so I should be okay for a while,” said Lile.

But that doesn’t stop him from picking up a spray can from time to time.

“I’m making jewelry today,” Lile said.

You heard that right. Bob uses the paint sprayed on these symbols of the Lone Star State and makes them into Texas treasures wver at his studio on historic 66.

Crocodile carefully examines his collection of potential masterpieces as his lackadaisical guard dog Lady watches passersby from her perch at the front door. Crocodile starts by bringing the shine to some aging acrylic.

“Once in a while I’d find a piece that was really pretty,” said Lile.

A few years back, Crocodile had an idea of making the layers of latex that fell off the cars at Cadillac Ranch into something.  First he made pieces of art portraying the caddies with the collected colors but then he got a bright idea.

“Lile Art Gallery, the exclusive home of Cadilite jewelry,” Lile said.

While it’s not like polishing a fine gem or dazzling diamond, the final product looks priceless. The countless coats of color come together to make some amazing accidental masterpieces as diverse as the designs on the old de Ville.

“Sometimes it’s dark and, you know, sometimes bright reds, and greens and blues, and sometimes it’s muted. So you never know,” said Lile. “Sometimes you get a piece of gold or piece of silver or sparklies. Sometimes you just hit paper and it ruins the whole thing.”

Working with such an odd medium has its moments.

“You worked and worked and worked and worked and it’s ugly. You spend six hours on a piece and it’s ugly. So you throw it away and I thought, well, my wife encouraged me and I just kept working,” Lile said.

The pieces of Cadilite careen out the door and the creation couldn’t have come at a better time for Crocodile.

“I’m just thankful that I stumbled on something. I was going to close my art gallery last October, and I’m just thankful I stumbled on something that’s helping to keep it open,” said Lile.

So after you stop by the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo cruise on by Crocodile Lile’s Art Gallery, just be on the lookout for Lady, and see how polishing paint chips has provided this Lone Star State artist with a peculiar way to take a piece of Texas with you wherever you go.

“Can’t always judge success by how many dollars you’ll make, but yeah, all notoriety is good, I guess,” Lile said.