by Alison Rich for the City of Fort Worth
“Blake Moorman is a native Fort Worthian proud of his Cowtown roots. So, when the call for entries was announced, he jumped at the chance to (quite literally) throw his hat in the ring.
It’s worth noting that the “ring” wasn’t a thing (yet), but Moorman, along with many others, wanted to be a part of it.
Cowboys and culture on full display
“Intimate Apparel & Pearl Earrings” was the first of two public artworks the City of Fort Worth commissioned through the Fort Worth Public Art Program, said Jenny Conn, public art collection manager with Arts Fort Worth. Arts Fort Worth, formerly known as the Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County, has managed the Fort Worth Public Art program on the City’s behalf since 2003.
Planned for public display in the Fort Worth Convention Center’s Houston Street Lobby, the commissioned design featured a suspended steel frame affixed with over 400 new and used cowboy hats.
Conceived by celebrated American sculptor Donald Lipski, the piece embodied the perfect fusion of cowboys and culture. A mix of old guard meets avant garde, it was Fort Worth writ large.
Following a national artist selection process, the Fort Worth Art Commission recommended Lipski to create the star-shaped centerpiece.”