Bill Wright’s Texas: Luminous Landscapes
Artist Reception | Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 6 pm
“Texas is renowned for its diverse and expansive landscapes, showcasing a remarkable array of natural features. From Gulf Coast beaches to stunning western mountain ranges, indigenous peoples’ cultural and historical imprints add depth and richness to the region’s story. From ranching to astronomy, the natural environment and the current culture of the Texas countryside attract me. All contribute to the diverse tapestry of the land, with parks and preserved areas providing a glimpse into the past. My goal is to use photography to interpret this incredible panorama.” – Bill Wright
If “Texas is a state of mind” as John Steinbeck famously said about his 1960s road trip through the Midwest, Travels with Charlie, it is also a place of dramatic geographical beauty and variety. Very few photographers have documented the dramatic Texas landscape for over six decades. Author and photographer Bill Wright is the exception. He has virtually and personally introduced generations of people worldwide to one of his favorite places on earth, Big Bend National Park. The stories, images and legends of this unique part of the planet are Wright’s stock in trade. He is a celebrated author, historian, humanitarian, and compadre. The Grace Museum photography collection has been greatly enhanced by Wright’s generous gifts of photographs by Texas and international photographers, many of whom are personal friends.
This exhibition of his color photographs may be seen as a stark contrast to Wright’s dramatic black and white prints, mastered from his study with Ansel Adams. Bill Wright’s Texas: Luminous Landscapes reveals Wright’s sensitivity to the intense colors of the canyons. Follow the trail through the Santa Elena, Boquillas, Lower Rio Grande and Cap Rock Canyons, down the Lost Mine and Ernst Tinaja Trails, over the Davis and Chisos Mountains through Bill Wright’s expert lens.
If you haven’t been to Big Bend National Park, you haven’t been to Texas.