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Some of the paintings you might see at your local Buc-ee’s. The “Men” sign is not one of them.<\/p>\n
Chason Gordon \/ Chron<\/p>\n
There’s a fine line between art that’s hanging in a restroom and art that’s hanging right outside of it. But that line is everything. As anyone who’s made a panicked sprint to the fields of toilets at\u00a0Buc-ee’s knows, the hallways on the way in are a mini art gallery of sorts, bedecked with an array of cultivated prints from across Texas and beyond.<\/p>\n
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Even when you’re rushing in the\u00a0chaotic ecosystem that is Buc-ee’s<\/a>, you tend to stop and take a look, though it’s much more likely after leaving the lavatory. There you encounter reproductions of regional photographs and paintings that provide a momentary pastoral respite from the all-encompassing rush.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n It gives you pause, similar to the pause that\u00a0wildlife artist James Corwin<\/a> felt when he was first contacted about featuring his work there. It’s not exactly a typical venue.<\/p>\n “I did have some trepidations,”\u00a0Corwin told Chron. “I was worried it may devalue my art. However, I have only had great feedback and people like to share with me that they have seen my work at Buc-ees.”<\/p>\n His print “The Heart of Chisholm Trail II” on view at numerous\u00a0Buc-ee’s features a breed of Texas Longhorns being driven across a dusty valley. One relates a bit when trying to appreciate it in the midst of the “I have to go now” stampede. The little gallery winds its way right to the edge of the crowded men’s and women’s restrooms, appropriately halting just before the entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n A wall of prints, including James Corwin’s “The Heart of Chisholm Trail II” in the upper left.<\/p>\n Chason Gordon \/ Chron<\/p>\n Corwin lives in Montana and admits that he’s never actually been to a Buc-ee’s<\/a>, a totally understandable confession considering the beaver-themed travel center hasn’t scurried over to Big Sky Country yet. But he makes regular visits to the Lone Star State and his original paintings can be seen at Gold Mountain Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, and throughout the country.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “I love Texas. I have a lot of collectors there and send artwork every week to homes in Texas,” he said.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Buc-ee’s fine art review process<\/p>\n How does\u00a0Buc-ee’s select the artwork? It isn’t a matter of founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III travelling to independent art galleries and giving paintings a subtle nod of approval with his trademark cowboy hat.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Instead,\u00a0Buc-ee’s works with Somerset House Publishing<\/a>, an art publisher and distributor in Fulshear, just west of Houston. That’s who got in touch with Hailey Herrera<\/a>, a Texas-based artist who creates vibrant watercolor paintings.<\/p>\n “One day, I received an email from Somerset House, a company that provides prints, framing, and canvas artwork for\u00a0Buc-ee\u2019s stores. After reviewing my portfolio, Buc-ee\u2019s immediately selected my painting ‘Old Barn’ for their new Kentucky store,” Herrera told Chron over email.<\/p>\n “The piece performed very well there, which helped me become part of\u00a0Buc-ee\u2019s artist pool. Following that success, six additional images were added to their collection.”<\/p>\n A wall of prints, including Hailey Herrera’s “Turtle Reflections” at the bottom left.<\/p>\n Chason Gordon \/ Chron<\/p>\n Herrera moved to the States from South Korea decades ago to continue her Ph.D. studies in computer science at Texas A&M University. Soon after, she married a Texan and made it her home after graduation.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Her watercolor batiks\u2014a process that combines watercolor washes and wax resist on textured mulberry paper\u2014have been exhibited at the Bullock Museum in Austin, Houston’s Museum of Natural Science, and at the\u00a0Hyatt Regency on the San Antonio Riverwalk, among countless others.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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