The newest Wimberley “Boot” joined the Wimberley landscape last week during a ceremony at Relics Reserve holiday home on Wolf Creek Pass.
Named “All My Relics Live in Texas, the boot sculpture, created by the husband and wife team of Jill and Bob Pankey from photos provided by owners Lynda and Scott Irwine, is number 57 in the Wimberley Boots panoply.
Painted by Jill Pankey, the boot took two weeks to complete. “I designed it on paper and Pankey laid it out on the boot and the approval from the owners,” said Jill. “Using acrylics was an initial challenge, since I typically paint in oils.”
As a petite woman who stands 5’2’’, painting the six-foot fiberglass sculpture required a step stool. The project began in the garage, but as temperatures climbed, the Pankeys moved it indoors to the home’s den. “It was awkward to maneuver it since fiberglass is easy to chip,” said Jill.
The Irvines met at Texas State University in San Marcos so a bobcat, the school’s athletic logo, figured front and center in the boot’s design.
A rotating base created by Ricky Robles allowed the boot to be easily viewed by visitors during the dedication. Danny Jones transported the boot for the installation.
The sculptures are part of the “Bootiful Wimberley” program, one of many projects of the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance, or WimberleyArts. The first boot was introduced to the public in 2014 at a “Baring of the Boots” celebration where 32 sponsored boots were unveiled around town at the same time.
Following the dedication, Scott and Lynda Irvine hosted a reception for WimberleyArts members, guests and family friends.
