ARTS & EDUCATION
Don’t Mess With Texas
w ritten and photo g raphed by SHERIL BE NNE T T TURNER
54 GreerNow DECEMBER 2007
E
ven though twenty-five year old budding artist, John Doster Puette, grew up in Greer, most people, friends included, probably would not recognize the name. “When I was in the fifth grade at Riverside Middle,” he explains, “my mother visited Texas and she brought me back a T-shirt that read “DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS”. I must have worn it to school a lot,” he laughs, “because everyone started calling me Texas after that.” A tile installer by profession, Texas’ interest in art began about five years ago when he started experimenting with the tools of his trade, cutting tiles into different shapes and designs. “I got to be pretty good at it,” he admits. Inspired by his aunt, a woodcarver, Texas translated his skill with tile into stone and woodcarving. Made from materials such as soapstone, turquoise, and various woods, his beautiful carvings reflect his love of nature in the form of birds, fish, and the like. “My great-great-great grandmother on my mother’s side was full-blooded Sioux Indian,” Texas says. “I’ve always been fascinated by that type of culture and lifestyle and just the way the world was back then. It is not something that we know today. I think that’s why I have such a connection to nature.” While exploring the outdoors, Texas often picks up materials that he uses in his artwork. When this is the case, there’s often an interesting story attached such as the one Texas shares about his driftwood piece engraved with an owl. “I used to do a lot of tile work around Clemson so I would always be out that way riding around,” tells Texas. “Behind Lake Keowee, there’s a reservoir called Bad Creek and I noticed that it was dried up. Well, right in the middle there was this big stump and I said to my friend, ‘I’m going to go out there and get that stump.’ Now, it was probably about February and it was kind of cold, you know. I took my shirt off, rolled up my pants, and started wading out to the middle when I came up to about my waist in muck. When I got to the stump, it was all I could do to pick it up, but I got it.” Texas’ pride and glory, though, is definitely his handmade guitar, carved from African mahogany and fitted with a fret made from western red cedar, which he engraved with a fish motif. “It’s a steel lap guitar, but I call it my Texas two-
ARTS & EDUCATION
piece,” he says with a grin. The steel lap guitar, for those unfamiliar with the instrument, originated in Hawaii in the 1800s but became popular in country and bluegrass music because of its distinct twangy sound. It sits on the lap and is played with a slide in one hand to change the pitch while the other hand plucks, or picks, the strings. “I have a Dobro, which is similar, that I love to play,” Texas continues. “About two years ago, I challenged myself to make my own lap guitar and have it ready for the 2006 Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia.” Because of his full-time job, it took Texas a year to finish his guitar, just one day before the convention. “I had told a bunch of people up there that I was going to bring it,” says Texas, “so that’s what I did. For three whole days, a lot of people saw my guitar and were interested in it – they thought it was a cool thing. Then, when I was getting in my car to leave the festival, the fret gave way.” After making another fret and securing it with a bolt, Texas once again added glue for strength. “I almost glued my hand inside that time,” he laughs. “Five more seconds and I would have been going to the hospital with a guitar stuck to my hand.” Along with carving, guitar playing, and his natural storytelling abilities, Texas also dabbles in painting, silver jewelry making and he even designed his own tattoo. “I think you need to have different things that you enjoy doing,” he says, “because if you work on the same things, you tend to get burnt out.” Now living in Athens, Georgia, Texas likes to spend his downtime with artistic family and friends, working on different projects. “We all enjoy creating things,” he admits. “When you’re working on things like that, it just takes your mind away. Art is an excellent escape.” Recently showcasing their art at the 2007 Greer Station Oktoberfest, the group received lots of attention, especially when Texas played his guitar for the crowd. I think it might be time for a new Tshirt that says, “DO MESS WITH TEXAS”, because Texas Puette can be a whole lot of fun! d For more information on Texas Puette’s art or instrument making, call Twisted Hollow Creations at (864)331-9533.
GreerNow DECEMBER 2007
55