Texas Folk Art: From Stonehenge II to The Beer Can House
A Glasstire article surveys American folk art across Texas, highlighting vernacular architecture and outsider sculpture from the Hill Country to Houston. Sites include Al Shepperd's Stonehenge II in Ingram (built with Doug Hill, moved in 2011), James Magee's The Hill in El Paso (begun 1982, built with local stoneworkers), Rufino Loya's Casa de Azúcar in El Paso (1973–2003, died 2022), Vince Hannemann's Cathedral of Junk in Austin, John Milkovisch's Beer Can House in Houston (using 50,000 cans), and Jeff Davis McKissack's Orange Show in Houston. The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art maintains the Beer Can House, Smither Park (by Dan Phillips and Stephanie Smither, honoring John H. Smither, over 300 artists), and The Smokesax by Bob Wade. The Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, run by Bruce and Julie Webb since 1984, also operates a secondary site at the Fort Davis Masonic Lodge.
Key facts
- Stonehenge II is 90% as tall and 60% as wide as the original, built from steel and concrete.
- Al Shepperd built Stonehenge II with neighbor Doug Hill after being inspired by a limestone slab.
- Stonehenge II includes Easter Island moai heads.
- The Hill was built by James Magee starting in 1982 using his own money.
- Magee's materials include animal bones, glass, paprika, steel, iron, and cumin.
- Rufino Loya built Casa de Azúcar from 1973 to 2003 using plaster and cement.
- Loya worked as a pocket sewer in a jeans factory.
- The Beer Can House uses approximately 50,000 beer cans.
- John Milkovisch created an artificial lawn from pebbles, marble, and metal.
- The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art maintains multiple folk art sites.
- Smither Park was created by over 300 artists.
- The Smokesax is made from a Volkswagen Bug, oilfield pipe, beer kegs, and hubcaps.
- Webb Gallery opened in 1984 and is staffed by Bruce and Julie Webb.
Entities
Artists
- Al Shepperd
- Doug Hill
- James Magee
- Samuel Reveles
- Rufino Loya
- Vince Hannemann
- John Milkovisch
- Jeff Davis McKissack
- Dan Phillips
- Stephanie Smither
- John H. Smither
- Bob Wade
- Bruce Webb
- Julie Webb
Institutions
- American Folk Art Museum
- Hill Country Arts Foundation
- Dia Foundation
- Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
- Webb Gallery
- Fort Davis Masonic Lodge
- Glasstire
- Roadside America
Locations
- Texas
- Ingram County
- Ingram
- Guadalupe River
- El Paso
- Austin
- Houston
- Waxahachie
- Fort Davis
- Maryhill
- Washington
- Alliance
- Nebraska
- Santa Fe
- New Mexico
- Easter Island
- Great Britain
- United States