As the Art League of Baytown’s Sculpture Trail art was replaced after a year on display in Baytown, Jay Eshbach, philanthropist and former financial planner in Baytown, saw a sculpture that he knew would be perfect for the Goose Creek CISD Administration Building lobby.
Jay Eshbach (front) presents a bronze sculpture to Goose Creek CISD to display at the Administration Building for the next year. Pictured are (from left) Ray LaVan, director of fine arts; Dr. Randal O’Brien, superintendent of schools and Dr. Matt Bolinger, assistant superintendent of human resources. Photo by Carrie Pryor-Newman.
“Saturday Distractions 1,” a 200-lb. bronze sculpture by Lee Leuning from Aberdeen, SD, features, in great detail, a young man so distracted by his book that he ignores his melting ice cream cone. His dog seems to be planning to take care of the drips.
Impressed by the sculpture, Eshbach entered into an agreement with the Art League of Baytown to lease it, along with another one, “May Flowers” by Susan Geissler of Youngstown, NY, which he leased for the lobby of the Baytown Sun. “Saturday Distractions 1” was delivered to the Administration Building March 22, and Eshbach was present for its arrival.
“When viewing the sculpture, be sure and note his baseball glove and slingshot,” Eshbach said.
Dr. Randal O’Brien, Goose Creek CISD superintendent, is pleased with the sculpture and hopes that community members will have the opportunity to view it at the Administration Building over the next year.
“Jay Eshbach has long been a supporter of Goose Creek CISD, and we appreciate his generosity and thoughtfulness in choosing our Administration Building for at least a temporary home for this magnificent work of art,” O’Brien said. “The boy’s passion for reading clearly overshadows the other distractions and sets a wonderful example for our students. We wouldn’t mind giving this art a permanent home!”