East Texas woman navigates grief by building wooden crosses

Everyone handles the loss of a loved one differently. Amber Acosta refused to let her father’s memory fade away after his death in 2016. It was inside his workshop that Amber says she unexpectedly found inspiration. “Someone can have such a large presence in your life. And to not have that anymore, it can take…

Artist Robert Puschautz creates sacred art to elevate minds toward eternity

An East Texas artist is looking to his faith to bring beauty to the world. From his studio in downtown Tyler, Robert Puschautz is training aspiring artists to produce sacred art that inspires others. “There’s a need for new imagery, a need for beautiful art to occupy people’s hearts and minds,” Puschautz said. The Stabat…

Iconic ‘Tiny Target’ razed in remote West Texas

A pile of concrete blocks is all that remains of the so-called ‘World’s Smallest Target Store,’ a popular roadside destination in West Texas. Situated along a remote stretch of U.S. Highway 90 in Brewster County, the iconic desert structure drew curiosity seekers to the town of Marathon, not far from Big Bend National Park. KOSA-TV…

Why is there a Prada store in the West Texas desert?

Perhaps you’ve heard of Prada Marfa on social media? Not far from the West Texas town made famous by its mysterious lights on the horizon, another landmark is drawing people to the remote desert community. Established in 2005, the single room structure is the vision of artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The art installation has become…

In search of the mysterious Marfa Lights

Mysterious and unexplained lights have been reported here in the West Texas desert for more than a hundred years. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the famous Marfa Lights have been theorized as campfires, phosphorescent minerals, swamp gas, or static electricity. The first recorded sighting was by a rancher in 1883. Others say it could…

Art installation sends ‘wishes’ fluttering over post-Wall Berlin

Freely moving in the wind, independent, yet seemingly in harmony, 30-thousand ribbons dance in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Germany’s most visible symbol of unity. The vision of American artist Patrick Shearn and his studio Poetic Kinetics, a massive public art display drapes the setting for one of Germany’s biggest celebrations in years — the…

Give ’em a hand! Hospital art collection draws tourists

A collection of bronze hands in an atrium at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas attracts curious looks from more than just hospital patients and their families — it’s become a true tourist attraction. The art display in the lobby of George W. Truett Memorial Hospital features casts of the hands from more than 100…

East Texas Symphony presents ‘Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant’

Have you ever heard of a “Zipperpotamus,” a “Panthermometer,” or a “Pop-Up Toadster?” These imaginative animals come to life illustrated in the children’s book, “Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant” were brought to life in the East Texas Symphony’s Family Concert on Saturday, February 27. I had the great privilege of serving as narrator for the poetry,…

Day 19: Who’s behind News 8 graphics

“Now… news that matters to you. This is NSU22 News, working in the spirit of Northwestern.” Purple swirls and dissolves, beauty shots of campus landmarks, the NSU22 logo — all elements of the newscast open for Northwestern State University’s student newscast. In the late 1980s, news graphics staked their claim as a critical element of…