Barvo Walker details a new sculpture in his studio in Dallas. Photo by Samantha Lee/ Texan News Service

Posted Sept. 14, 2007

By D’Leesa Keys
Texan News Service

When the ceremony acclaiming the official reopening of the Bosque County Courthouse takes place on Saturday, Sept. 22, overlooking the parade, the speakers and the crowd from atop the courthouse will be the lady with the scales.

Lady Justice, or Themis, is the ancient, mythological Greek goddess of order and social control. Her statute was among the last adornments, and one of the most important, to the 121-year-old courhouse.

Created by Dallas sculptor Barvo Walker, the Lady Justice statue recently was set into place above the courthouse clock tower, just below the weathervane. With a sword held loosely at her right side and her left arm hoisting up the Scales of Justice, the toga-clad, 5- foot, 400-pound Lady Justice was among the final steps in the restoration of the centerpiece of the Meridian town square.

Lady Justice, however, wasn’t always going to look so, well, proper.

“We had a choice between two different designs,” Bosque County Judge Cole Word said. “The first design had a statue with bared breasts: the other is the one we have now. We didn’t think the first one was very appropriate so we went with a more conservative version that suited us better.”

The courthouse statue is not alone in undergoing a transformation. The statue’s creator underwent one of his own, turning to sculpture after a long career in dentistry. Though Walker had an artistic bent as a child, he pursued a more traditional career in dentistry before returning years later to his love of art.

Walker attended Texas Christian University and the University of Texas, where he majored in pre-med and graduated in 1954. In 1960, he graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry and spent the next two decades filling cavities and pulling teeth before setting down his drill and picking up his sculpting tools and paint brushes.

“I put myself through dental school doing different pieces of art for people,” the 75- year-old Walker said. “I loved the education I got from it and being of service to people, but after 20 years of being a dentist, I felt that art was a talent God had given me and that I wasn’t using it properly.”

Walker begins his workday around 5 a.m. with a workout and breakfast, then heads to his studio. He works throughout the week, sculpting with bronze or marble, painting murals and portraits and talking on the telephone with clients.

Walker’s extensive professional education didn’t include formal training at any art school. “Art was just a talent I had,” he explained.

Classical artists such as Michelangelo and modern western artist Grant Speed are inspirations for Walker. Most of his inspiration and support, however, come from his family.

“It’s hard to explain how my family inspires me,” Walker said. “They just do.”

Along with the Lady Justice at the Bosque County Courthouse, Walker has also sculpted the “Goddess of Liberty” that stands atop the Texas State Capitol building, “Lady Standing” at Sorority Row at the University of North Texas, “Stretch Run” in Hot Springs, AR, “Duty” at Veteran’s Park in Dallas and “South Lake Past and Present” in South Lake’s town square. Walker said his favorite work is “He is Risen” at Dallas Theological Seminary.

“I do a lot of production work of people’s kids, parents and grandparents,” Walker said. “I’ve also traveled to Egypt to sculpt some individuals’ children and done life-size pieces for a garden in China. I’ve been all over Europe as well.”

“The best thing about being an artist is getting to meet wonderful people and travel around the world,” he added.

When he’s not busy sculpting, Walker likes to travel and spend time with his family and grandchildren. He’s also been a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas for 10 years.

“My church and my family are the two things I am the most passionate about,” Walker said.

Walker advises aspiring artists to “be patient, follow your dreams and do your best job each time.”

“The only thing I wish I had done differently is started earlier and done it longer.”

The Texan News Service is a project of Tarleton State University’s journalism program. Contact us at texannews@tarleton.edu.