Local Artist Killed in Longview Wreck

GREGG COUNTY — Longview artist and author Jan Statman was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Monday afternoon north of the city. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the fatality late Monday. Statman, 81, was driving west on Tryon Road near Judson when she attempted to cross U.S. 259 North. She reportedly drove her sedan into the path of an SUV that was going north on U.S. 259. Statman was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred about 3:00. The SUV’s driver, Jennifer Garcia, 42, and her passenger, Noe Garcia, 43, both of Longview, were transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in stable condition with unknown injuries.

According to the Longview News-Journal, Statman was a member of the National Association of Women Artists, and her work included two-dimensional work such as acrylic paintings, watercolors, mixed media, collage, drawings and printmaking. The New York City native received her bachelor of arts degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York, studying under world-renowned artists. Her paintings have been exhibited in one-artist shows in museums and galleries across the country and are exhibited by The Artist’s Gallery in Longview and the SKS Gallery of Dallas. Her works also are on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art-Alto Aragon en Huesca in Spain, Civic Museum of Contemporary Art-Sasso Ferrato in Italy, and Longview Museum of Fine Arts.

In February, her book “Wildfire Heart” was published, and it remains on sale at Amazon.com. In fact, Statman held 36 Texas Press Women writing awards, three National Federation of Press Women awards and a National Women’s Political Caucus and Radcliffe College award. She authored or co-authored at least four published books.

She also wrote columns for the Longview News-Journal and The Dallas Morning News.