Clarence Brisco wanted art to be a part of everybody's life, and he worked toward that end, first as an employee of the city of Austin and then as a citizen activist in Round Rock, where he moved in 1997. Brisco was a painter and, for 16 years, an arts administrator with the city, first overseeing the cultural programs at the Dougherty Arts Center, then serving as curator at the George Washington Carver Library and Museum. During his tenure, Brisco founded the Austin Mural Program, which sought to provide a creative outlet for at-risk youth. It was the kind of project close to his heart -- art for, of, and by the people -- and it was his passion for such projects that led him to "set a fire," as one Round Rock City Council member put it, under the municipal government of the town to which he retired. He died on February 6, 2001 at the age of 67. Brisco exhibited his art locally for many years, and his paintings were shown throughout the United States and even in Tokyo, but his artistic legacy must also include his efforts to help others create.
Text from the Austin Chronicle