I half-expected cowboy towns in Texas to be devoid of any cultural sights to track down.
Not true of Dallas!
A case in point, the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Arts District.
Amid reflecting pools and the soothing sounds of water trickling down from artfully crafted fountains, an impressive array of stragecially-placed sculptures dot the well-manicured gardens.
The collection is not only a knock-out, but an important sampling of work by a handful of the most celebrated sculptors of the the past century.
Open since October 20 (2003), the Nasher Sculpture Center is one of the few institutions in the world devoted to the exhibition, study, and preservation of modern sculpture.
Conceived as a serene urban retreat for the enjoyment of modern art, the Sculpture Center cost $70 million, is 54,000-square feet in size, and was designed by Renso Piano.
Raymond D. Nasher, founder, was one of Dallas’ most influential civic leaders and a patron of the arts.
His passion for modern and contemporary sculpture - and tireless commitment to establish Dallas/Fort Worth as one of the finest cultural desinations in the world - was well-known.
In the final analysis, the philanthropist left a priceless legacy for art lovers to savor for generations to come.
Nasher, according to most accounts, was a down-to-earth man who reached out to all.
One day, a project Manager at the AFI Headquarters lounge remembered the day he drove up to the Nasher residence (designed by celebrated architect M.I. Pei) to set up some equipment for an on-camera interview.
To his astonishment, he encountered a Henry Moore Sculpture at the front door of the Nasher home.
Shortly after the maid admitted him inside, Nasher entered the living-room unannounced, and proceeded to politely ask the blue-collar worker if he'd care for a soft drink.
"Nasher was unaffected by the trappings of his great wealth," he recalled fondly.
There are a couple of outstanding sculptures in the museum that caught my eye when I toured the stunning grounds over the weekend.
Joan Miro (Caress of a Bird) 1967
Here Miro has incorporated common objects into a whimsical totem which depicts a unique female sexuality.
Henry Moore (Vertebrae) 1968
In this remarkable piece, Moore has crafted an appealing arrangement of abstract organic forms from a pair of inter-locking flint rocks that he salvaged from the countryside near his home in England.
Pablo Picasso (Head of Woman) 1958
Picasso's first monumental piece of sculpture facilitated an innovative engraving technique known as Betograve widely-used today in creative circles.
George Segal (Rush Hour) 1983
An intriguing piece that captures a scene from everyday life.
Six commuters trudge along a city street mindlessly and slightly weary of the apparent rat race.
Jonathan Borofsky (Walking to the Sky) 2004
Seven life-size figures briskly walk up a pole as three others lag behind.
A whimsical piece of sculpture which was inspired by a childhood story his father triggered his imagination with.
This sculpture is often used by city dwellers and tourists alike as a visaul "signpost" to locate the Nasher in downtown Dallas.
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