Tag: Center for Law Engagement And Politics

Boulders, Books, and Rocks–Along the Rocky Mountain Way

Being in Denver, we felt compelled to visit Rocky Mountain National Park on an off day, so we set out early to do just that! Along the way, we visited the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder to explore the local shops. One store we stopped at was the Boulder Bookstore, where Olivia purchased a notebook, a copy of Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, and a set of beautiful notecards. It was an excellent bookstore, and I am sure we all wished we had more time to explore it.

Nearby, we saw the Boulder County Court House, a building designed in the art deco style.

Finally, to prepare for our trip, we went to a local market in Lyons called St. Vrain Market, Deli, and Bakery. At the deli, we picked up sandwiches to enjoy on the mountain.

Rocky Mountain National Park

by Olivia Discon

The trails were a patchwork of ice and untouched snow, the lakes frozen over into eerie stillness. A single blue Stellar’s jay flitted between bare branches, watching us with the kind of judgment only nature can provide. 

Rocky Mountain National Park in winter is a mix of beauty and betrayal.

The meadows stretched wide and open, peaceful and quiet under the weight of the season.

Trails wove through icy patches and steep layers of snow. Every step was a guessing game—solid ground or sudden sinkhole?

We crunched through the meadows, the wind howling low across the open expanse, until we reached the rocks. 

That’s when things escalated.

Professor Yawn and I decided, in our infinite wisdom, that we should climb them. Not just once. Not just some rocks. No, we scaled rock faces like mountain goats who had lost all sense of self-preservation.

One climb turned into another, and before we knew it, we were standing at a questionable height, looking out over the vastness of the park.

And that’s when we heard it.

A faint, disembodied voice from below.

It was Chrissy.

From where we stood, she was just a tiny figure, barely visible, shouting up at us as if we had ascended into some divine realm. The wind carried our voices down to her, but to her ears, it must have sounded like the echoes of gods speaking from the mountaintops. We, of course, did not correct this perception.

“Chrissy, we see all,” I replied, as if we had unlocked some kind of mountain-wisdom. “We are everywhere and nowhere.”

She was not impressed. But she did eventually find her way up.

And we were able to share in the beautiful views.

We eventually made our way back down, the snow still unpredictable beneath our feet, the air crisp and unforgiving.

But it was as beautiful as it was unforgiving.

And we explored that beauty by circling the perimeter of Sprague Lake (on the East side of the Park, where it was much snowier)….

Note: Chrissy and Olivia in Distance

…where we witnesses to a proposal!

The winds were brutal, but the scenery was just compensation.

And we ultimately enjoyed our time on the Lake–so much so that we decided to go to another!

The Brutality – Scenery tension was a bit more on the side of Brutality at Bear Lake. The snows were deeper, so much so that the trail was indiscernible, except for the occasional signs that were almost buried in the snow.

Note “Bierstadt Lake,” Named for Artist Albert Bierstadt

Few people were on the trails, for good reason.

But we ventured on, trudging through the snow, around rocks, and even on the frozen lake!

It was quite a different experience than we were accustomed to in Texas on spring break.

As we made additional forays into the park, we made additional discoveries, such as deer (we ended up seeing almost 50).

On one case, when returning to the van, Stephanie interjected, saying, “Moose. Don’t step any further.”

Little did we know, there were two of them—the first that Chrissy and I had ever seen.

They moved through the trees, pausing only to munch on whatever food they could find amidst the snow. Later, on our drive out, we saw even more moose, casually grazing along the roadside. Professor Yawn and Chrissy, feeling adventurous, hopped out to get closer for photos. Stephanie and I, however, stayed in the car, content with admiring from a safe (and smart) distance.

Despite the unpredictability of nature, we thoroughly enjoyed Rocky Mountain National Park.

It became, by a wide margin, our favorite National Park experience. It was immediately understood why painters and romantic poets expressed the sense of awe provided by America’s vast and inspiring landscape.

 

Mile-High Art

Following panels where we had a chance to see some SHSU professors and staff, we proceeded to explore the art scene in Denver. With four major art museums in the city, Denver is considered a high-profile art destination–a reputation we wanted to assess for ourselves.

Denver Museum of Art

After a quick lunch break, we decided to spend our afternoon stimulating our minds in a different fashion by visiting the Denver Museum of Art. Not knowing what to expect, besides a “scavenger hunt” list provided by Professor Yawn, we were eager to explore and curious to know what we would come across.

LEAP Ambassadors with a Claes Oldenburg Sculpture at the Denver Art Museum

To our great surprise, there were several incredible pieces from many of the great artists, especially in both contemporary and western art. The building, which is quite modern in and of itself, was filled with names such as Keith Haring, Louise Bourgeois, Victor Higgins, Donald Judd, and Birger Sandzén (more on Sandzen in upcoming blogs).

There were some important outliers to be noted in this collection. Chrissy especially enjoyed a wintery scene by Monet, which she fondly associated with the film, Citizen Kane.

She also enjoyed some modern pieces, and if you know Chrissy, that is a true surprise! Particularly, she preferred works by Roxie Paine in varying mediums.

It’s been a pleasure to see her immersion into becoming an art enthusiast, branching out into more types of art.

Sure, it did require a phase of Andy Warhol, but it was worth it!

It is too bad fellow LEAP Ambassador Michelle Cardenas was not with us; she is a big fan of the idealized paintings of Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, and Thomas Moran, and there were many of these to be seen!

As for me, I enjoyed tying in themes in this trip, and seeing some newfound favorites reinforced their name and style further. Allan Tupper True…

…Alexander Phimster Proctor…

… and Victor Higgins.

I also saw some of my all-time favorites! Among Deborah Butterfield’s herd of bronze-casted horses, we came across three, including the best one I’ve seen in person, which was a horse lying down.

Butterfield’s work is interesting. Not only does she create horses from broad solid objects not typically associated with horses, but the material is often disguised. The above piece, for example, appears to be pieces of wood put together to resemble a horse, but in fact, this piece was made of metal. The metal was cast from wood and then assembled to create the horse.

In the past, we’ve seen Butterfield pieces in DC (the Kennedy Center), NOLA (Besthoff Sculpture Garden), Lubbock (Texas Tech University), and Fort Worth (Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art), but we’ve never seen three in the same place!

Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art

by Chrissy Biello

When people think of art, they might not immediately picture chairs, tables, clocks, or other everyday objects. However, these ordinary objects become extraordinary when designed with unique styles that allow individuals to showcase their personalities and express what truly makes them who they are. The Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art in Denver, Colorado, highlights this idea by showcasing a diverse collection, offering visitors a unique museum experience.

One of the museum’s most distinctive features is its chronological layout. Rather than grouping pieces by type or artist, the collection is arranged by time period, starting in 1870 and continuing to the present. This approach allows visitors to see how artistic styles and design trends evolved over the decades.

Among the many artists featured, the museum showcases the work of Vance Kirkland. His early paintings focused on realism, as seen in Moonlight in Central City. 

Later in life, his style shifted toward abstract expressionism, reflecting a dramatic change in his artistic approach.

For those curious about Kirkland’s creative process, his personal studio is preserved within the museum. It features a spacious area where he painted, and in front of this space stands a large bookshelf spanning the back wall. The books include artists such as Matisse, Cézanne, and Botero.

Beyond paintings, the museum features an impressive collection of furniture. One highlight is the Taliesin Dining Chair, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955. The name comes from Wright’s home, which was destroyed in a fire in 1914 and rebuilt. The chair’s “Taliesin edges” are a signature element in his designs. 

Many other Wright pieces can be found throughout the museum…

The museum also displays work by Philip Johnson. Johnson is known for designing the PPG Building in Pittsburgh and the AT&T building in Houston. His Floor Lamp, created with lighting designer Richard Kelly, offers visitors a look at different approaches to lighting and design.

Another highlight is the collection of works by Charles and Ray Eames, a husband-and-wife duo known for their work in architecture, graphic design, and filmmaking, though they are best recognized for their innovative chair designs. Their chairs, displayed throughout the Kirkland Museum, differ from modern furniture yet remain highly functional.

In terms of trinkets, you can find a Noguchi bird compact, a ceramic pitcher designed by Pablo Picasso, and small tea cups designed by Alexander Calder. 

Additionally, visitors can view a piece by Dale Chihuly…

…and a set of Roy Lichtenstein dinner plates!

In all, the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art offers a unique experience for those accustomed to traditional art museums. With its diverse collection of paintings, furniture, glassware, and more, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

A Day in West Texas

En route to Denver, Colorado for a conference presentation, our travels brought us through the vast expanse of west Texas. This path gave us the opportunity to see two charming western towns, Abilene and Lubbock. In Abilene, we hoped to spend some time in their historic downtown district, while Lubbock was on our radar because it is a possible law-school destination for both Olivia Discon and Chrissy Biello. Exploration was in order!

Grace Museum

by Olivia Discon

Abilene, Texas, has a lovely and historic downtown.

Known as the Storybook Capital of Texas, the city is truly proud to bear the title. Around the area, you can find public sculptures…

Olivia Discon and Chrissy Biello with Luis Jimenez’s “Mesteno” in Abilene

…cartoon characters, bookstores, and other fun literary-themed spots. We stopped by the mini sculpture walk in Everman Park, and Chrissy and I had a great time reminiscing about the titles and book characters that marked our childhood and our respective love of reading at an early age.

After that, we went into the historic Grace Museum. The building itself is beautiful, and the current exhibit was really interesting. Within the exhibit, there was a handmade wooden “chapel” displaying about 20 paintings that depicted contemporary or average-looking people in religious scenes, which was thought-provoking and very well done. What stood out to me the most were the gold leaf paintings and the creative ways biblical stories were referenced.

There was a book in the gallery that explained which biblical story matched up with the modern figures in the paintings, which I thought was a nice touch. Yawn and Chrissy were more into the nature scenes, which were different from the religious imagery but still detailed and visually appealing.

One of my favorite parts of the museum, though, was the Youth Art Month gallery. Local students had their work displayed, and it was honestly so fun to see. There was a range of ages (and maybe a range of talent, too), but the community engagement aspect was the best part. I did something similar as a kid, and I still remember the feeling of pride seeing my art displayed, standing next to my parents as they took pictures. But more than that, it’s about showing kids that they belong in these spaces—that they can be part of the art world, even at a young age.

Having the privilege to have gone to several museums with LEAP, I can say that this visit became an unanticipated favorite! 

With that pleasant surprise on our minds, we stopped for a quick bite to eat at the highly-rated Jay’s BBQ…

…found the restaurant to live up to its ratings in both hospitality and taste, and we headed to Texas Tech University to visit their law school and get a glimpse, perhaps, of our futures.

Texas Tech Law School and University

by Chrissy Biello

Known for its nationally ranked Advocacy Program and commitment to public service, Texas Tech Law School is filled with immense opportunities that sets their students up for success. Thanks to Dean Saavedra, Assistant Dean of Admissions, and Ms. Moorhead, Director of Admissions, Olivia and I had the chance to tour the law school. 

As she took us through the law school, there were many appealing aspects that would draw many students in. One aspect that I found particularly intriguing was the Lanier Auditorium, where the law school hosts many programs for its students. Ms. Moorhead explained they are usually during the lunch hour, allowing students to have the option to attend as there are no classes scheduled during that time.

With multiple clinics, organizations, and externships to choose from, there is something no matter what you are interested in. From this, one is able to go down many different paths to determine what truly aligns with them. 

In all, Texas Tech Law School is not only nestled in an area with astounding architecture and art, but it also contains a plethora of ways for students to grow by giving them the resources to do so. Olivia and I would like to thank Ms. Moorhead for giving us a great tour and experience at Texas Tech Law School; it truly gave us a glimpse into the life of a law student at Texas Tech. 

As we were on the Texas Tech campus, we decided to take the chance to walk around and see the art that the students are able to experience everyday. With multiple Moroles sculptures on campus, we LEAPed at the opportunity to go and see them. They were all very striking, and made us feel at home, as Huntsville has many Moroles sculptures as well.

We also enjoyed Deborah Butterfield’s “Wind River” sculpture. Having the previous experience of seeing one of her horse sculptures at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans, I was happy to be making that connection at Texas Tech.

One that is a quite funny play on words is the “Read Reader.” This bronze sculpture is multiple books stacked upon each other, ultimately creating a man reading. Terry Allen, the artist, is actually from Lubbock and is also known for being a great musician! 

James Surls, a Sam Houston State University alumni, has a piece in front of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. This turquoise sculpture has three different sections and was different than the traditional wooden Surls sculptures I have seen. 

One of the most appealing aspects of Tech’s campus is its beautiful mediterranean architecture, landscaped grounds, and the art that adorns those grounds. One sculpture that combined these latter two components was “Agave Dreams” by Juilan Voss-Andreae.

Before leaving Lubbock, we also had to explore the downtown district, as well as the Museum honoring the city’s most famous son: Buddy Holly. We, of course, had to get a photo inside the large glasses that resembled Holly’s.

We then concluded our time by taking a selfie with the Buddy Holly sculpture nearby…

…and looking at some of the names on the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame, spying Texas luminaries such as Roy Orbison, Terry Allen, Mac Davis, Guy Clark, and Bob Wills.

It was a fitting end to a day that is unlikely to “fade away,” with thoughts of our future in law and reflecting on a day with art.

Simulated Law Class with Professor Val Ricks

by Chrissy Biello

Every spring, the Sam Houston Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics invites South Texas College of Law Professor Val Ricks to teach a Mock Law Class. Professor Ricks is a renowned legal mind and a national expert in contracts, among other areas of law.

Approximately thirty students attended this year’s session; any student at Sam Houston State University was able to register for the event. Before the class, participants were expected to prepare with case materials that Professor Ricks provided.

The mock case, Joseph Vian v. Mariah Carey (1993), focused on the legal concept of consideration and whether a valid contract existed between Mr. Vian and Ms. Carey. Professor Ricks opened the session by providing a working definition of law, saying that it revolves around the precise words used in legal documents.

He then employed an analogy comparing law to chess. Finding a self-identified chess player in the audience, Professor Ricks guided students to understand the parallel between chess rules and legal principles. Both systems operate within defined parameters; they require much thinking and a thorough understanding of established rules.

When moving on to the case discussion, Professor Ricks first told the class the facts of the case, then activated his random number generator to begin his use of the Socratic Method. From this, selected students were asked numerous questions about the case; Professor Ricks insisted they cite directly from the text, reinforcing his earlier point that the law is “all about the words.”

Once the class reached a general consensus on the case interpretation, Professor Ricks opened the floor for questions. Pre-Law Society President, Olivia Discon, asked what undergraduate students could do to prepare for law school. After thoughtful consideration, Professor Ricks began to speak on his own experience. He explained that studying scholastic philosophy during his undergraduate years was truly helpful; the language structure closely resembled legal texts, easing his transition into law school. 

By the end of the session, students had not only sharpened their legal reasoning skills but also gained a clearer picture of what to expect in law school. Professor Ricks once again allowed students to sit in the shoes of a law student for an hour.  By challenging students to truly understand the case and come out of their shells, he provided a better understanding of the power of precise language in the study of law.