**TEXAS SELECTS ARTISTS TO REPRESENT STATE
Commission Announces Appointments of State Poet Laureate, Musician and Visual Artists
AUSTIN, Texas – May 26, 2009 – The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) has announced its appointments to the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist and state three-dimensional artist. These positions, created by SB 1043 of the 77th Legislature, will be filled by one-year appointments. The eight appointees named for 2009 and 2010 were selected for the exceptional quality of their work and for their outstanding commitment to the arts in Texas.
The 2009 appointees include Texas State Poet Laureate Paul Ruffin of Huntsville, Texas State Musician Willie Nelson of Austin, Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist Rene Alvarado of San Angelo, and Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist Eliseo Garcia of Dallas.
The 2010 appointees include Texas State Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton of Denton, Texas State Musician Sara Hickman of Austin, Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist Marc Burckhardt of Austin and Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist John Bennett of Fredericksburg.
“State artists demonstrate the essence of what art in Texas is all about,” Rep. Mark Homer, chair of the House of Representative's Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism said. “The work of these artists, and others like them, ensures that art and culture thrives in our great state, and we are pleased to honor these talented men and women with this recognition.”