I have been blessed to have had people who stepped forward at the right moment to lift me up and defend me. One such moment was when I was a senior in high school. I attended Skyline High School when it was still the hub of all the magnet schools in Dallas. I attended the … More Gratitude for someone who took stock in me
Cleaning out a closet the other day, I came across my childhood Bear, Marts Bear or Martin’s Bear. It was in a lock tight plastic bag and labeled, Martin’s Bear. It was a gift from one of my father’s friends. His name was Martin as well. Marts Bear had a red corduroy vest and paws, … More My Blanket and Bear
Throughout recorded history, Artist have continued to produced art even in the worst of times such as war, plagues and pandemics. Sequestered in their homes and studios, artist continued to pick up their brushes and chisels and labored on. Writers and poets continued to pen their poems and stories. Time can be a cruel mistress … More Pandemic: There is a light in the darkness, it is the hope in the despair
I have not written in a while. Like everyone else during this pandemic, my concerns and time have been spent elsewhere. But while out doing errands the other day, I spied this old chifforobe on the side of the road. Chifforobe is not a commonly used word and I have to admit that I never … More This old chifforobe on the side of the road
My mother, Barbara Delabano remembers that faithful day: We moved to Kilgore in 1931 or maybe 1932. My grandparents lived in Kilgore where my grandfather Taylor was the superintendent for Gulf Oil in the East Texas oil field. I imagine that current generations would think it odd that it was quite a thing to own … More In one moment…..life can change forever. 3:17 PM, March 18, 1937, New London Texas
Some time ago, I was at a meeting of early Texas art collectors and I was introduced to this real nice man. After a little small talk and as I walked away I heard the host of the party tell the person, “His father was Barney Delabano who studied with members of the “Dallas Nine,” … More Local lineage and the “Texas Tree of Art”…….is it important anymore?
I have a show of my recent work on view now at the Kirk Hopper Fine Arts Gallery in Dallas. The show really hangs well together and has a look about it that has a lot to do with everything having a more restrained palette. Thankfully the gallery didn’t hang all the work I delivered … More Stragglers, Oddballs, and Outliers,
Ashes I have written several times about different elements to this story, my father’s passing and my piece of sculpture, “Family Portrait:1963, but I’ve always left out this little nugget. I think enough time has passed that I can now tell this story. In August, 1997, my father passed away and he was cremated. My … More I think enough time has pass that I can now tell this story
When I was a child my family took a family vacation to San Antonio, Texas to see the Alamo of course. While on our trip we drove through Stephenville, Texas because Texas artist Jerry Bywaters had told my father about a strange and wonderful place called Ray’s Ornamental Gardens. Much later while in college my … More Ray’s Ornamental Gardens, Stephenville Texas
It was in college when I first participated in the United States Census. And on the question of race, I checked the “other” blank along with all the other ethnic types listed. The poor Census guy standing at my door was not amused one bit when I said, “Dukes Mixture is not listed here”. I’m … More The US Census, DNA, Skin Pigmentation, Racism
Martin Delabano: Musings of an Artist 