September 25, 2020 and September 18, 2020

By Editor/John Hallowell

Internationally known Italian artist Benini has settled in Marble Falls for his retirement, but he is as imaginative and productive as ever. Since he and his wife, Lorraine, purchased a 35 acre piece of Hill country paradise they have put together an amazing private museum, using samples of his art to tell the story of his remarkable 60-year career. The 6500 square-foot gallery pictured services a private Museum and cultural center. The MuseoBenini compound includes an art research library and archives, plus samples of outdoor sculpture on the beautiful property.

Every now and then, we hear of someone whose life has had a large and positive impact on our country referred to as a national treasure. A Marble Falls resident could be called, at least in the world of art, an international treasure.

And the story of that man’s amazing artistic journey is told by the masterpieces on the wall of a new private museum just south east of Marble Falls which will soon be open one weekend a month and other times by reservation to the general public.

More than 60 years ago a teenager, now known in artistic circles around the world simply as Benini, begin supporting himself by painting landscapes around his hometown of Imola in northern Italy. After a stent in the Italian army and as a globetrotting cruise ship sailor, he settled in the Bahamas, where he quickly became a leader, or perhaps the leader, in the local art community with his unique paintings.

After 14 years in the Bahamas, Benini moved to Gainesville ,Florida, the town with the largest library in the state. Very experienced to life-changing encounters, he met his wife Lorraine who was a journalist wanting an interview at the time, but for the last 40 years has been an excellent ambassador and business manager - and on a trip to New York , he had discovered the fascinating artistic properties of acrylics - he had previously worked mostly in watercolors and oils.

Over the next decade 1978 to 1988 in Florida, Benini experimented with acrylics, achieving unsurpassed success and blending colors and learning how, with as many as 30 coats, to impart a remarkable three dimensional affect in his striking paintings. One of his specialties was slightly surreal roses - not real roses he explains, “Benini roses “.

When the city of Orlando celebrated its 110th birthday in 1985, one of the highlights of the event was the ceremonial unveiling of three huge Benini rose paintings that had been hung from an upper level balcony.

In 1988 Benini uprooted his Florida operation and moved into a 10,000 square-foot building in the historic bathhouse row of Hot Springs Arkansas. There, he again became a leader in the artistic community helping to turn Hot Springs into a cultural center during the 90s. He also stopped painting roses and instead begin working with geometric shapes .

When it came time to move on, the Benini‘s purchased a ranch in Johnson City, Texas which had at one time belonged to President Lyndon Johnson. There they created the well-known Benini Galleries and Sculpture Ranch, which became a gathering place for leaders in many different artistic fields. There Benini again shifted gears, beginning new painting styles called “Courting Kaos” and “The Face of God” series.

By then, of course, Benini had passed the traditional retirement age of 65, and about six years ago he and Lorraine decided to “retire” to a 35 acre property in Marble Falls. Instead of resting on their laurels, they have been busy ever since then, building, creating and arranging what they call Museo Benini. The private museum features Benini‘s original art with a selection of pieces from each stage in his artistic career. For the past few years while opening up their museum occasionally to special interest groups and individuals, the Beninis have been relatively quiet in the community.

Now they have finally reached the point where they are ready to open it up (occasionally) to the general public. Lorraine invites groups to call ahead (830-385-1471) to make appointments for visits on the first weekend of each month or to check availability at other times. September 25, 2020