The music of our life plays softly in the background with its high notes and low notes, sometimes speeding along at a pace that is hard to keep up with and sometimes drifting lazily through the air hanging softly on each current. Sometimes it plays so loudly you can't hear anything else and at other times so faint that it can't be distinguished from the beat of your heart. One thing is for sure though it is ALWAYS there beating along to the rhythm of our lives.....
"The music of our life plays softly in the background with its high notes and low notes, sometimes speeding along at a pace that is hard to keep up with and sometimes drifting lazily through the air hanging softly on each current....."
CW Quallenberg
When John Caballero asked Lou Quallenberg to create an award for "Texas Shorty" AKA Jim Chancellor to be presented at this years Llano Fiddle Fest, I was sure he could do it, just not sure how or what would come out of his head and hands. He was super busy with a schedule that was over and past full. I dutifully gathered images of fiddles in all kinds of styles from realistic to abstractly, abstract knowing full well that Lou Quallenberg would infuse it with his signature look and unique design style.
Lou had searched through his inventory for a smaller piece of mesquite. One that was about the right size with some character, but mostly solid and another small piece that would work well as a base.
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| MESQUITE AWARD Rough Sketch |
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| MESQUITE AWARD Adding some Depth |
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| MESQUITE AWARD Ready for the Finish |
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| MESQUITE AWARD Ready for some Wax |
The pictures above show the progression of form. As it took shape it really started to have Lou's look, feel and style and yet it started to sing its own sweet little song. Lou had not done much in the way of sculpture even thought that is the direction his work seems to be taking him more and more. So we THANK John Caballero and the Llano Fiddle Fest for the opportunity to stretch. The incredible response to this little piece of art has the wheels turning for a few more small pieces. Now if we could just add a few more hours to the day....
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| MESQUITE AWARD created for Llano Fiddle Fest and presented to Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor |
So just who was this award being created for? WHO IS Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor ? and why was he getting an award? Let me tell you it was a good thing we did not do this research before Lou did the work or he might have felt too intimidated to do the piece. WOW! This man is a Living Legend! We found him on the Kennedy Center website, The National Endowment for the Arts, Masters of Traditional Arts. He was everywhere!!! and man can he play the fiddle!
For a little taste of this Fiddling National Treasure check these videos out:
