Long-Awaited 'Mexican Cowboy' Sculpture Installed in Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

By JAMES RAGLAND
Staff Writer

Published: 04 June 2012 10:59 PM
Updated: 04 June 2012 11:11 PM

FORT WORTH — There's a new cowboy in town.

And, yes, he's packing a pistol.

After a yearlong hullabaloo, Vaquero de Fort Worth — an iconic, bronzed image of the legendary “Mexican cowboy” that inspired Texas' ranch culture — finally mounted his hard-earned place in Cowtown history.

The more-than-10-foot-tall sculpture was installed Monday morning on a triangular plaza designed especially for it at the corner of North Main Street and Central Avenue, between downtown and the historic Stockyards.

While workers spent roughly an hour ensconcing the 2,500-pound equestrian effigy into the 4-foot stone base that surrounds it, astute motorists honked their horns and waved in approval.

"I'm so proud of it," said a beaming Tomas Bustos, one of the two artists who sculpted the statue in Dallas. "And I'm thankful for all the people who stood behind us to get it up."

The installation went off without a hitch — which is what everyone involved with the project wanted after a political showdown between the sculptors and a local arts committee stalled completion for months.

At issue was the Remington .44-caliber revolver that the artists created for the vaquero's holster. Members of the committee appointed to oversee the project did not want the cowboy armed because they feared it would offend some folks. They insisted the weapon be removed, saying it was not in the original plan.

The artists, however, said the gun was an authentic representation of the vaquero. And they refused to take his pistol away.

The Fort Worth City Council ended the political shootout by siding with the artists in February.

"I'm excited," said Alida Labbe, public art project manager for the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County. "The entire community really has been excited about this project, which has been a long time in the works."

Labbe oversaw the $240,000 public-private project. She said she's glad the weapon fuss didn't linger any longer. With or without a gun, she said, the tribute is a good fit for Fort Worth.

"It's beautifully crafted, either way," she said. "It was a contractual issue, essentially. And that's been settled."

Bustos, 69, a graduate of Dallas' Skyline High School, hailed Vaquero de Fort Worth as perhaps his favorite art project.

"This is extra-special, even though I've been in Paris, France, to install a piece there," he said. "This piece here is more significant in that I relate to the people — the Mexican people, the heritage — and how much we contributed to this state."

His artistic partner, David Newton, returned to Michigan several months ago and was not on hand for the installation.

"Boy, that was a blessing," Newton, 50, said after Bustos told him by telephone that the sculpture installation went smoothly.

"Gosh, I was on pins and needles," said Bustos, who moved back to Detroit last year after living in Dallas for more than 15 years. "I was just delighted when I got the call that it was finally done."

Newton said he plans to attend the formal dedication, which is tentatively set for Hispanic Heritage Month, between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15.

The sculpture already is striking a chord with some, including several residents and business owners who stopped by to witness the installation.

"I’ve been keeping up with it," said Ruben Cano, 60, who recently opened a restaurant close to where the statue stands.

"It’s good we have something put up not just for Hispanics but for everyone," Cano said. "And as far as the gun goes, in those days, everybody carried one — or two."

Type of publication: Newspaper When was the article reported?: 06/04/2012 Publication: Dallas Morning News Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: local News Category: Arts/Culture

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