Sculptor and artist Jim Huntington addresses guests at the Huntington Sculpture Foundation Open House in Coupland Saturday, April 5.
EMILY TREADWAY
COUPLAND – For over 30 years, nationally renowned sculptor and artist Jim Huntington has called this small town on the rolling prairie home.
“It was a circuitous path that took me through Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City, but I finally got to Texas as soon as I could figure it out,” Huntington said.
Huntington has works of art in permanent collections in New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, Japan and in private collections.
But only Coupland has the Huntington Sculpture Foundation and sculpture garden.
On Saturday, April 5, the first Huntington Sculpture Foundation Open House was held at Huntington’s studio at 212 N. Broad St.
The sculpture garden is next door at Broad and Hoxie Street.
Organizers Wells and Jessica Mason, owners of Ironwood Industries in Coupland, hope the open house will be the start of an annual event.
Wells Mason, a fellow sculptor, has exhibited Huntington’s work alongside his own in Austin, Marfa and other locales.
Mason, now a board member of the Huntington Sculpture Foundation, wants people to know about the organization and the sculpture garden.
“A lot of people, even locally, don’t realize that the foundation is here,” Mason said.
The outdoor sculpture garden is open to the public all year.
“You don’t need an appointment; there’s no charge for admission. You can just stop and wander the sculpture garden,” Mason said.
Huntington said people often inquire about the meaning of his pieces.
“They ask, ‘What it’s all about?’ It’s not about anything, it is what is,” he said.
But his art is also about passion.
“It’s none of this crap about the suffering artist,” Huntington said. “I’m talking about the all-consuming passion. It’s like breathing, you have to have it to continue day after day.”
Huntington said he was born to be an artist. He knew it at a young age and every decision and choice he made in his life was what he needed to do to further his artistic goals.
“It cost me the love of my life,” he said.
With the passage of time, Huntington said he understands “she had to do what she had to do, and so did I. As I’m now in my 80s and approaching the end of my life, I don’t have any regrets about that decision.”
Working with stone is getting more difficult as he ages, and Huntington now spends more time drawing.
“I love drawing almost as much as working with stone, though there’s nothing like beating on stone,” he said.
Huntington loves all aspects of his art, the drawings and working on small stone pieces and big stone pieces.
“Everything about it I love. I’ve loved doing my life, living my life. It’s been a joy.”
For more information about Huntington and the foundation, visit huntingtonsculpture.org.
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“It’s not about anything, it is what is.”
— Jim Huntington, sculptor
