TITLE: Recognizing the Elisabet Ney Museum in Austin on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the Elisabet Ney Museum in Austin on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Elisabet Ney Museum in Austin, one of our state's most treasured landmarks; and WHEREAS, Founded on April 6, 1911, the Elisabet Ney Museum was the first museum dedicated to art to be established in the State of Texas; it was founded by 119 Texas friends and admirers of Elisabet Ney as a memorial to her life and as a means of preserving her remarkable works of art; and WHEREAS, Elisabet Ney was a world-renowned portrait sculptor, who is recognized today by noted scholars in Europe and America as the finest realist sculptor of the American Southwest in the 19th century; and WHEREAS, Born in Munster, Westphalia, Germany, on January 26, 1833, Elisabet became a celebrated international artist who emigrated to Texas, built a studio, and sculpted the state's first life-size statues of Texas legends Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin; a believer in the power of art to elevate the soul, she went on to produce many sculptures and played a significant role in the cultural development of Texas; and WHEREAS, Today, her works stand in such prominent places as the Texas Capitol, the United States Capitol National Statuary Hall, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and in European museums and universities; the Elisabet Ney Museum holds the largest collection of her portraits in the world; they are primarily owned by The University of Texas Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center; and WHEREAS, The National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the significance of the Elisabet Ney Museum in its selection of the museum for its Historic Artists' Homes and Studios program in 2000; in 2003, the museum was designated an official project of the White House program, Save America's Treasures; and WHEREAS, The museum is a vital educational and cultural resource for the citizens of Texas; it is visited by schoolchildren, students from area universities, and scholars; its educational and cultural programming has been recognized with numerous awards from such organizations as the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Alliance for the Arts and Education; and WHEREAS, During its 100-year history, the Elisabet Ney Museum has been visited by millions and is one of our state's top historic sites; in the tradition of the life of Elisabet Ney, her historic home and studio continues to be a source of education, enrichment, and inspiration to the citizens of Texas; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby join all associated with the Elisabet Ney Museum in celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of the Elisabet Ney Museum. Watson President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 13, 2011.