Bryan Collins
The Collins family men are a long
line of can–do Texas Panhandle youths. Bryan's Grandfather arrived in the
Panhandle of Texas in 1876. At 16 years of age he worked for Col. Goodnight as a
trail driver cowboy.
Bryan’s sculptures: "Most Valuable Player", football award for Amarillo High
School, fly fisherman "Gotcha", tennis "Match Point", hunter and bird dog, "Best
Friends", Indian history, "Dine", nude beauty "La Joie de Vivre" and a fusty
dancer, "Charleston" show competitive spirit, courage, fun, hobbies, and the
incredible beauty of youth. Works in progress are a cowman, calf roper and
baseball catcher.
Dr. Bryan Collins is a true renaissance man. Early retirement from his
successful dental practice of 42 years came as a result of being diagnosed with
Parkinson disease. With the encouragement of his wife Sharon, Bryan found
renewed energies and challenging work for himself by developing his skills as a
sculptor.
Bryan first became interested in sculpture at the University of Texas dental
school in Houston when he visited an exhibit featuring French sculptor Auguste
Rodin's work. Bryan would often walk from school to visit the exhibit that so
intrigued him going twice a week during its six-month stay.
Parkinson disease closed one door and Bryan opened a new door of discovery.
Bryan say's, "I can’t tell you why it's possible, but it is. When I'm busy
working, the tremors aren’t as bad. Sometimes, developing the face of a
sculpture can get a little tedious. But my only other alternative is to quit and
give into it. And that's no way to live. I've just been blessed. I don't know
how long I’m going to be able to do this, but I'm going to keep going as long as
I can, It has been a gift from God."
"I just keep going back to feeling so blessed to be able to do this. Anytime I
create a piece that I feel people like, and one I feel good about, it's like
I've won one battle in a war that I’m ultimately going to lose."
I feel that Bryan's sculpture is courage preserved in bronze. The Donald S
Mullins Gallery is honored to represent a person of true grit and pioneer
spirit.
Charleston
Best Friends
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La Joie de Vivre
Match Point
