I was bummed to hear from longtime OB member Ray Donley that COVID-19 led to the close of the WYLD GALLERY brick and mortar in downtown Austin. If you never stopped in, you missed out. However, I was pleased to hear, and then see, Ray’s vibrant gallery of fine Native American art has expanded online, and this week’s column is brought to you by WYLD GALLERY.
WYLD GALLERY is a gallery featuring traditional and contemporary fine art by Native American Artists. The gallery is the part-time retirement gig for Ray Donley, an Austin attorney who has been a lurker on OB since 2002. Ray has been collecting Native American art since the 1980s. He has made friends with a number of Oklahoma Native American Artists, and enjoys ribbing them for their fanatical support of a football team that honors the land thieves who took their land.
You’ll find many affordable options including some as cheap as $35. Seriously. That’s an outstanding deal, especially considering many of these artists have been featured at some of the top Native American galleries in the world.
Contemporary Native American paintings are bold, bright, and never boring. And they will look great on the walls of your office or home. Many of the artists in the gallery have pieces in the permanent collections of museums, including the Smithsonian.
Please check out these unique, vibrant paintings at WYLD.GALLERY. Treat yourself to some cool art to add some character to your house/office or snag that unique Christmas gift you’re always looking for.
Alright, the writing…
1) Monday...
Just when I thought 2020 couldn’t get any weirder, Tom Herman gave himself a public endorsement Monday and assured the media and those listening – except those at Orangefans.com – that he has the full support his athletic director and university leadership.
“I couldn’t be more aligned with our athletic director, my boss, who we meet with constantly, who has assured me of his support and the support of the university leadership and has even commended me and our staff and our program for how we have handled the craziest year in college football history… He’s even offered… if a recruit wants to talk to him to give that recruit his number.”
Almost two days later, I’m still processing Monday’s press conference. Kill them with kindness? This is like James Harden and Russell Westbrook saying they’re totally aligned with Tilman Fertitta and the Rockets while numerous reports emphatically state the contrary. In all seriousness, I think I’ve figured it out.
Texas fans poke fun at the whole MENSA thing, but Herman made a shrewd and audacious move Monday in what should be classified as the Alignment Cold War. While unloading a dump truck of impassioned takes about things like recruiting and such, which didn’t actually help, Herman seizing an opportunity to speak for his silent boss was a calculated move. Well, assuming his goal is to garner public support during what he believes will be a long winning streak, push some buttons behind the scenes and poke a few bears because somewhere blood pressure was rising. Think about it:
--- Herman put the hot potato in Chris Del Conte’s hands. Now, Del Conte’s silence – Austin American-Statesman reporter Brian Davis included in one of his questions he’s tried to get Del Conte on the record about his head coach and program - about Herman and the football program becomes even louder, as it did Tuesday afternoon when Del Conte’s weekly column didn’t even acknowledge Monday’s press conference conversation existed; only that Texas was on a winning streak and plays Kansas this weekend.
Keep in mind Del Conte has been holding town halls, Zoom calls with UT-focused donor groups like NextGen, and more video chat/conference events with fans and donors. If he wanted to put an end to the speculation, rumors, and help his head coach publicly, because apparently that's what's hurting recruiting and not all the other issues, there have been plenty of easy ways to immediately end the talk.
If what Herman said is true, it would be pretty easy for Del Conte to just come right out and say it now, right? Herman himself said opposing coaches take those Orangefans.com internet reports and print them. Why not one statement from the AD to print instead of, evidently, being there to talk to a recurit if needed. And if CDC doesn’t… and at the same time Herman pinned UT’s recruiting issues on those crazy internet rumors… it’s not hard to connect the dots, folks...
READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN AND DISCUSS TEXAS FOOTBALL INSIDE THE 40 ACRES (PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS)
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And make sure to treat yourself, your business or a friend to a unique gift by visiting WYLD GALLERY. The vast, vibrant collection of Native American art features pieces like this one from award-winning artist Jason Parrish (click here to view the piece at the website):
