Mackenzie Park

Colonel Ranald Mackenzie was a Civil War veteran known for his fierce discipline, strategic mind, and a right-hand injury that earned him the nickname “Bad Hand”. After serving in several major battles during the war, Mackenzie was reassigned to the Texas frontier, where his leadership became instrumental in ending the Comanche Wars.

Mackenzie Park, named in his honor, now rests quietly over land that once echoed with the violence of pursuit and resistance. This site was selected for its symbolic and historic resonance — a place where past conflict gave way to present reflection.

I painted here to bring awareness to the location’s deeper narrative. Initially drawn to Lubbock by its musical heritage, I soon uncovered its role as a turning point in American expansion. These were lands where nomadic power once held sway — and where the military’s campaign shifted the course of history.