In Memoriam: Texas landscape artist John Bruce Erwin (1920-2009)

Written by Auction Central News Staff

Wednesday, 04 February 2009 10:00

Noted Texas landscape artist John Bruce "Jack" Erwin died on Jan. 22, 2009 at the age of 88 at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Erwin possessed numerous talents. Among them were architect, violin maker and artist. Jack excelled in each of these areas and received national recognition for his accomplishments.

Born in 1920, Jack Erwin was a native of Jacksboro, Texas, and was a 1941 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S. Navy.

He was the architect for the Jack County Hospital in Jacksboro, the Congregation Tiferet Israel Building in Dallas, and also the educational building, fellowship hall and Chapel of Silence of Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in Dallas.

Erwin was a violin maker and entered instruments in the Wieniawski International Violin Making Competitions in Poland. He is listed in Henley's Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers. Recently, one of his violins was given to Mariusz Patyra as a prize for being the winner of the 2001 Paganini Violin Competition in Genoa, Italy. He was a member of the Violin Makers Society of America. After moving to Natchitoches, Jack became and remained an active supporter of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra. His legacy endures through his instruments. His elder son, daughter and the 2008-09 concertmaster of the NNSO play on Erwin violins.

Jack was also a member of the Watercolor Society of America. His watercolors painting while he served in the Pacific during World War II were selected for National Treasure status in 2002 by the National Trust as an Official Project of "Save America's Treasures." These works now reside with the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Jack Erwin is listed in Paula and Michael Grauer's Dictionary of Texas Artists, 1800-1945.
It was Jack's neighbor, Reveau Bassett, who convinced him to begin painting in oils. Jack and Reveau became lifelong friends and shared many a painting trip together. While Jack Erwin had numerous art shows throughout the nation, Dallas was his home. Jack recorded the history and events of Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding cities with his beautiful paintings. His scenic, plein-air paintings of the life and landscape in Texas were exhibited throughout the state, including the Dallas Art Museum and Dallas Public Library

In 2007, Erwin's paintings and instruments were shown as "True Texas Art" at Tarleton State University's Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center in Granbury, Texas.

Jack and his wife Ella moved to Natchitoches, L.A. in 2007 to be closer to their family. The Orville Hanchey Art Gallery at Natchitoches State University hosted two solo exhibitions of Jack's work, one in 1989 and the other in 2008.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John S. Erwin and Edd Mahanay Erwin; and one brother, Edward Erwin.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ella Webster Erwin recently of Natchitoches; one daughter, Sue Rodriguez and husband Galindo of Natchitoches; two sons, Bruce Erwin (wife Joanne) of Oberlin, Ohio; and George Erwin-Grotsky (life partner Jay Erwin-Grotsky) of Austin, Texas; two grandchildren, Emily Erwin and Josie Rodriguez; two sisters-in-law, Mozy Erwin of Haltom City, Texas; and Carolyn Webster of Dallas. For online condolences, visit www.blanchardstdenisfuneralhome.com

A memorial service for Jack Erwin, Sr. will be announced at a later date.

A comprehensive biography on Jack Erwin, compiled by Bill Cheek and Dr. William Reaves, can be found in The Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas, Volume 4, 2007-2008. To order a copy, contact:

Donna Walker-Nixon and Marilyn Robitaille, Editors
Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas
Box T-0300
Stephenville, Texas 76402
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.tarleton.edu/~langdonreview

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 February 2009 10:05