Say howdy to the 'Friendly Cowboys': Artist B.C. Gilbert's sculptures greet Lubbock area drivers

Adam D. Young, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read
Artist B.C. Gilbert, who earned his master of fines arts degree from Texas Tech, completed two "Friendly Cowboy" sculptures now greeting drivers on area roadways.
Artist B.C. Gilbert, who earned his master of fines arts degree from Texas Tech, completed two "Friendly Cowboy" sculptures now greeting drivers on area roadways.

The Lubbock Arts Alliance recently announced the addition of two new sculptures to its rotating public art collection, PDA (Public Display of Art) in Lubbock.

The “Friendly Cowboys" are 13 feet tall and weight 750 pounds each. They're sculptures by artist B.C. Gilbert. The Pink Cowboy is located at Marsha Sharp Freeway and Avenue L and the Blue Cowboy is at South Loop 289 and Spur 327 - just outside the Loop.

Gilbert said the “Friendly Cowboys” series is influenced by miniature figures made from horseshoe nails that are often credited to regional folk artists.

The Pink Cowboy is located along the southwest corner of the intersection of Avenue L and Marsha Sharp Freeway.
The Pink Cowboy is located along the southwest corner of the intersection of Avenue L and Marsha Sharp Freeway.

Each “Friendly Cowboy” depicts a different member of a Western Swing Band. They are painted in vibrant colors to draw attention to their placement against the flat topography of Lubbock. The Blue Cowboy is the singer and the Pink Cowboy is the guitar player.

Gilbert has a bachelor of fine arts from Cameron University and a master of fine arts from Texas Tech University. He resides in Wichita Falls, Texas and his work has been showcased in solo, juried, and group exhibitions.

PDA in Lubbock is the only project of its kind in the region, according to Elizabeth Grigsby, executive director of the Lubbock Arts Alliance.

It takes existing pieces of public art and displays them for a period of two years. After that time, a new piece of art is selected to replace the current one - ensuring that there is always something new to view at various intersections. The collection currently displays work by Jeffie Brewer and B.C. Gilbert.

The pieces of public art are located at:

Jeffie Brewer, Artist

Orange Fox – Loop 289 at Spur 327 (inside the Loop)

Purple Unicorn – South Loop 289 Flyover at I-27

Red Bunny – South Loop 289 at Quaker Avenue

Tiny’s Pink Flamingo – Marsha Sharp Freeway at 19th Street

Red Bird – 1106 5th St. (CASP)

Green Burd – 1500 Broadway (McDougal Companies)

ARTmadillo – 4000 24th St. (Covenant Children’s)

Artist B.C. Gilbert works to unveil the Blue Cowboy, which is now on display at Spur 327 and Loop 289.
Artist B.C. Gilbert works to unveil the Blue Cowboy, which is now on display at Spur 327 and Loop 289.

B.C. Gilbert, Artist

Blue “Friendly Cowboy” – Loop 289 at Spur 327 (outside the Loop)

Pink “Friendly Cowboy” – Marsha Sharp Freeway at Avenue L

The project is a collaboration of Texas Department of Transportation, Tornado Industrial/Arts and Lubbock Arts Alliance. The Texas Department of Transportation provides the concrete pads for the artwork and Tornado Industrial/Arts coordinates the logistics including installation and removal of each piece. The Arts Alliance facilitates the selection of public art pieces, contracts with selected artist, pays the artist and shipping fees, seeks additional funding, and promotes the program to residents and visitors. The project is funded by the Sessions Family Foundation and the City of Lubbock/Civic Lubbock Cultural Grants Program.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Say howdy to the 'Friendly Cowboys': Artist B.C. Gilbert's sculptures greet Lubbock area drivers