Home Care In Art, TX

SAN ANTONIO — The Art Institute is shutting its doors, but not just at the San Antonio campus. They’re shutting down all of their schools across Texas and the U.S. This is effective immediately, leaving many students lost.

It all came down in an unexpected email that has flipped the world of students at the Art Institute of San Antonio as well as other Art Institute campuses across the country. That includes Miami International University of Art & Design (FL), its global online programs, and its branches, The Art Institute of Tampa (FL), The Art Institute of Dallas (TX), the Art Institute of Atlanta (GA), the Art Institute of Virginia Beach (VA), the Art Institute of Austin (TX) and The Art Institute of San Antonio (TX).

We took a closer look at the school’s website. It explains how to get your transfer papers and the school says they're working with partners to help with possible transfers. There's also a link to student loan help from the government. One program has already stopped accepting new cases. The other will only let students pause loan repayments. It won't forgive loans when a school abruptly closes like this.

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Cultural treasures abound here.

For a city of its size, Abilene, Texas, has an outsized art presence. It’s bursting with big-city amenities, like museums and galleries, performing arts organizations like Broadway, a ballet, and a philharmonic orchestra, not to mention public art installations and coworking spaces for artists at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA). Plus, its designated Cultural District downtown ensures residents and visitors are never short on creative pursuits.

The Arts: An Abilene Absolute

Rebecca Bridges is the executive director of the CCA in downtown Abilene, and she always has her finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the arts scene, like the ArtWalk that takes place every second Thursday of the month.

“We’re an organization that supports primarily local artists through exhibitions and community outreach, plus a monthly ArtWalk event that we’ve been doing for 30 years,” she says. “The purpose of ArtWalk is to promote everything going on downtown. Many of the galleries are open, and there’s usually live music, and the bars and restaurants participate, too.”

Bridges says the CCA has over 90 local, contemporary artists that are part of its membership — from students to nonagenarians — creating everything from sculptures to grand installations and paintings either as a group or solo.

“The exhibits change every six to eight weeks, so there’s always something new and fresh to see,” Bridges says.

The CCA also offers a wide array of classes for those looking to brush up on their skills or learn something new, as well as 10 rentable artist studios on the building’s upper level.

As for the museum and gallery community, Bridges says most can be found within a few steps of each other in Abilene’s Cultural District.

“Many of us at least have offices here,” she says, noting that The Grace Museum, the 12^th Armored Division Memorial Museum, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and Frontier Texas! (a history museum) are all within a few blocks of each other. Also within reach are the many performing arts offerings in Abilene, like the Abilene Philharmonic, which performs at the Convention Center.

“We have musical groups and Broadway touring shows,” Bridges says. “We also have a pretty active public art exhibition program, like our Storybook sculptures, which are based on illustrators’ artwork. The illustrators work with sculpture artists to bring 2D artwork to life throughout downtown.”

She also notes the contemporary public art collection, which lives along the middle of the SoDA District that rotates every two years and adds to the city’s beautification and intrigue.

The diversity of artists in terms of experience is refreshing, too. Bridges says many Abilene residents have day jobs and then pursue their art on the side — and the city is extremely supportive of them.

“Our arts community is really growing,” she says. “All of our museums and venues do different things so we can bring a diverse offering. You get the gamut of all types of artwork and can see many different genres. I think the museums and galleries do a great job of supporting each other and creating a comprehensive arts scene.”

A Grateful Arts Community

Bridges credits Abilene’s accessibility for a lot of its arts success, given that so many museums, galleries and public art installations are within walking distance.

“Abilene is very easy to get around, downtown is very walkable and the green space and parks in the Cultural District make for a nice place to spend a day,” she says. “With all of the development in our Cultural District, almost everything has an arts component. It’s a value of our city.”

Lynn Barnett, vice president of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, agrees that the walkability plays a role in arts access in Abilene.

“Our Cultural District is all within three to six blocks, which makes it easy to do our ArtWalks or festival activity downtown,” she says. “We’re currently in the process of lighting sculptures with colorful, kinetic rotating lights to create a beautiful entrance to the city. It’ll be a wonderful visual entryway and emphasize the value that we place on art.”

The Cultural Affairs Council offers grants and various programs, from festivals to art series. Plus, it keeps a monthly calendar full of special events and a bimonthly magazine that highlights lots of Abilene art content.

Speaking of events, residents and visitors can find live music happening in Abilene several nights a week. For example, between April and October each year is the Open Road outdoor concert series. Held at The Grace Museum, concert proceeds benefit the Community Foundation of Abilene and Future Fund. Oh, and the best way to stay up to date on the city’s live music scene? Follow Abilene Center Stage on social media.

The city’s various artistic attractions help keep tourists and locals alike interested in what’s going on in the Abilene arts community.

We’re blessed with The Grace Museum, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and the Center for Contemporary Arts,” says Barnett. “We get a lot of performances in the Paramount Theatre, and the Convention Center is the site for the Abilene Philharmonic and a lot of Broadway shows.”

She says the city is very fortunate to have had beautiful, historic buildings repurposed over the past several decades to become arts institutions, while honoring their original construction roots.

Barnett also mentions Abilene’s feature on ABC News back in the ’90s, showcasing it as a city that uses the arts to drive economic innovation. Needless to say, that hasn’t changed. In particular, the fact that the city is the Storybook Capital of America brings a lot of family tourism.

“We have the largest collection of storybook sculptures,” says Barnett. “There are 75 benches in town that have a quote that’s somehow related to values, whether that’s honesty, perseverance, kindness or something else. Every town says they’re family friendly, but we like to say we’ve put our money where our mouth is regarding the storybook aspects of the community.”

Abilene is home to McMurry University, Hardin-Simmons University and Abilene Christian University, all of which have talented theater and visual arts programs.

“The universities contribute a lot to the whole arts offerings of our community,” Barnett says. “You couldn’t go to every art attraction available even if you wanted to; there’s just not enough time.”

Moreover, Barnett says she feels the artist and art-lover community within Abilene is still getting bigger.

“The venues with artist studios, and the population of artists coming here for that, that is definitely growing,” she says. “The 20- and 30-somethings are finding the community very supportive.”

This article was sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Abilene Chamber is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization that advocates for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy.

About Bishop Arts District

The Bishop Arts District, located 10 minutes south of downtown— is one of Dallas' most charming neighborhoods— filled with an eclectic mix of trendy eateries, bars, shops, art galleries and performance venues. Along with shopping and nightlife, the area plays host to countless family-friendly events, wine walks and street fairs.

See & Do

Not only can you eat, drink and shop in the Bishop Arts District, you can also enjoy a night on the town without breaking the bank. For performing arts and musical venues, head over to the Kessler Theater and The Bishop Arts Theatre Center. Then there's The Texas Theatre screening everything from indie films to cult classics, plus it has an awesome prohibition-style bar. Regardless of what you fancy, these places offer something for everyone.

Eat

The Bishop Arts Historic District is one of Dallas' hottest dining destinations filled with chef-driven eateries, eclectic bistros and casual cafes. Within just a four block area you can nosh on everything from rustic Italian cooking at Lucia and farm-to-table fare at Bolsa to imaginative Japanese cuisine at ZEN Sushi and authentic Cuban sandwiches at C. Señor. And the best part is that this vibrant foodie haven offers something for every taste and price point.

Bishop Arts District's Best Restaurants

Party

If your idea of a night on the town includes chilling out with great drinks and friendly folks, then Bishop Arts is the place to be. You can shoot pool and drink local brews at the Oak Cliff Social Club. Or you can enjoy prohibition-era cocktails in a swanky setting at Whitehall Exchange. Spanish wine and literature are always on tap at The Wild Detectives. And for a jovial pub scene, head over to Ten Bells Tavern.

Shop

Not only is the Bishop Arts neighborhood a foodie haven, it also boasts a veritable shop-till-you-drop experience. Many of the historic bungalows and buildings that make up the area are filled with a dazzling array of boutiques, galleries and gift emporiums. Whether it’s combing for consignment finds at Zola's Everyday Vintage and scoring indie art from the Artisan's Collective or snagging a one-of-a-kind gift at Fete-ish, Bishop Arts has a shop to suit your style and budget.

Bishop Arts District's Best Shopping

Michele Wilson is proof that listening to your parents pays off.

Wilson, after following some advice from her father, is now not only an artist, but also has made history. She is the first African American to own an art gallery on Grapevine’s legendary Main Street, Giddens Gallery of Fine Art.

“I was looking for a piece of art for my house. I discovered it was very expensive,” Wilson recalled. “My dad always taught me to try even if I don’t have experience, still give it a try.”

Wilson, 55, of Grapevine, had never painted anything in her life before last year. In fact, she laughs and said she would tell folks she didn’t have an artistic bone in her body.

“I never painted a day or didn’t do anything artistic a day in my life. I didn’t even know what a canvas was or the different types of paint,” she said. “I never went to that area of Michael’s the few times I’ve visited Michael’s in the past.”

Suffice to say she learned quickly since first picking up a brush in August 2022, discovering she has a talent she didn’t realize. Still, she was afraid to get started, until one day she did and her new career blossomed after.

“I was afraid because I didn’t think it would turn out nice. I was just afraid. I was so shocked when I discovered I had a talent,” she said. “I would just go stare at some of my art work and say to myself, ‘I did that.’ I am still surprised and struggle at times with calling myself an artist.”

It wasn’t long before a friend asked to purchase one of her paintings.

“I was very surprised. I didn’t think my paintings were that good,” Wilson said. “She said more than one time, ‘No Michele, you are really good.’ It made me feel shocked. It made me think and pray, ‘Maybe I can do this. Lord, Is this something you want me to do?’”

The answer was clearly yes, as she’s sold nine paintings in all now.

“This entire experience has really opened my eyes to how God has plans for you, and sometimes our plans for our life are sometimes totally different than what God’s plans are.”

Wilson’s favorite medium is acrylic, she said, “because it dries fast.”

Wilson calls her creations LYFE art. It’s an acronym for Living Your Faith Effectively. She cites a passion for the agenda of God’s Kingdom to be presented through her art.

“People love that the gallery is a faith based gallery. We chose to honor God with our gift of art,” Wilson said.

In short, she said because God blessed her with a gift, she has dedicated her gift back to him.

“Giddens Gallery is not only an art gallery. It is a place of ministry first,” Wilson said. “We want you to see the beauty of God and feel his presence, all while realizing how real he is while in the gallery.

“We want you to walk out with not only a piece of art but, a changed heart toward our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with an inspiration to allow God’s kingdom agenda to be accomplished through you in every area of your life.”

Gidden’s Gallery has been a staple of the art scene in Grapevine for over a dozen years. Wilson became its owner lon Sept. 1, and in so doing became the first African American gallery owner on the city’s renowned Main Street.

“The beauty of art is that it’s an all-inclusive medium that knows no barriers. It connects everyone, bringing communities together,” said Paul W. McCallum, Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. “To have such an enthusiastic and talented artist like Michele taking over Giddens Gallery on Grapevine’s Historic Main Street, and broadening Grapevine’s art offerings, is something we are very proud of.”

Wilson has never been one to seek the spotlight, often choosing to work in the background and help others shine throughout her life. However, she understands that it comes with certain accomplishments, so here she is.

Still, she said being the first African American art gallery owner in one of the most popular places to visit in the Metroplex “blows my mind.”

“It absolutely makes me cry when I think of it. It shows me that, when we seek to do God’s will he will blow our mind,” she said. “I still cant believe where I am and who I am today. It is all the Lord’s doing.

“I pray that as people recognize me as the first African American owner I can use that to point people to God and not dwell on me. But, look to God, who created all things for his purpose.”

Wilson had no intention of owning an art gallery. While she loved painting, the business side of the industry did not interest her at all.

However, to promote her art she felt the need to learn more. So she began visiting art galleries and museums. She said she was surprised at her findings.

“I said, If I’m going to do this I need to educate myself. I noticed that some of the galleries, art venues I participated in and museums have a lot of dark, demonic deity art and presences at those events and in those places,” she said. “That disturbed me. I asked God how do I protect his presence, goal and his kingdom agenda through my art?

“I also was getting tired from doing venues and art shows. The setting up and packing up of the shows is a lot of work and expensive to participate in. So, I begin to pray about doing something different. That is when I looked for a gallery to become a resident artist in.”

She found Giddens on the internet and was on her way for an interview to become a resident artist in the gallery when something happened that made her change her mind. It made her decide to purchase the gallery from John and Cheri Giddens.

“The day I was going for my interview someone hit me from behind going 40 miles per hour and pushed me into another car. I told my husband, ‘God stopped me from going to that interview and I don’t know why,’” she said. “My steps are ordered by the Lord, there is a purpose behind this accident. As I was recovering and asking God for direction, the Lord told me to open my own gallery.”

She submitted proposals for two locations. While she was waiting to hear back Cheri Giddens emailed her to reschedule their original appointment, to which Wilson responded that she was no longer interested in being a resident artist, but instead now wanted to own a gallery.

“She began to shout ‘Hallelujah! John and I were praying for someone to hand the baton to,’” Wilson said.

“After the purchase, the Lord reminded me of my prayer to him. I said, ‘Lord, if this is what you want me to do, I would like to have a building in a historic area with a lot of foot traffic, elegant and classy.’ He told me, ‘Look around. Where are you? Where is your business located?’

So Wilson decided to keep the name Giddens on the gallery because it was already well known. Now, it is the only venue which displays her art as she is a resident artist.

Wilson named what she calls her greatest creation “Imperfect Elegance,” a 48-by-48 green and gold painting with a custom popular wood frame. It has Psalm 63:3 on it.

“It is my greatest because it catches you as soon as you walk in the door. It ministers to people,” she said. “People have come in the door, read the story, stared and the painting for a long time and cried. It gave me the opportunity to come and share the word of God with them and pray with them in the gallery.”

And yes, she sees herself as an inspiration to others, happily so.

“My goal is to encourage everyone to pursue their passion and allow God to be the head of your passion, to allow God to be glorified in your business and entire life,” she said.

Houston’s rich visual arts scene is booming. The ever-evolving arts community and landscape show a strong focus on supporting local talents as well as bringing big names to the city. With a quirky, fresh approach to exhibitions and projects, these ten galleries encourage community education and engagement with the arts whilst maintaining a commitment to high-quality contemporary art.

Part of a sextet of big name galleries in the area, the Anya Tish Gallery was established in 1996 and is dedicated to the promotion of international emerging and mid-career artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly Russia and Eastern Europe but also including artists hailing from Texas and Morocco. The gallery has a fresh, modern and global approach, with an emphasis on works that address pertinent social and environmental issues. Works on display at Anya Tish feature a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography and video, all linked by their strong correlation between concept and material. Featured artists include one of Russia’s most important conceptual photographers, Andrey Chezhin, and leading Hungarian artist Jozsef Bullas

G Gallery is known for their display of eclectic, provocative work by outsider, emerging and established artists such as painter Jerry Cabrera and self-taught photographer Otis Ike. The gallery, with their decidedly grassroots approach to creativity, community, collaboration and cultural exchange is unafraid to challenge conventions. Committed to facilitating creativity, promoting and presenting contemporary art and exchanging ideas, G Gallery forges strong relationships with artists and art presenters both from the local area and further afield in order to broaden audiences and appreciation for contemporary art. The gallery has a rapidly changing exhibition program enabling them to present a wide range of innovative artworks through solo and group thematic shows.

McClain Gallery is the go-to destination for museum-quality, collectible contemporary and 20th century art. With its global outlook, the gallery exhibits work by artists from Texas, New York, Europe and Asia across a broad range of media including painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography and conceptual installations. Key artists include established figures Julian Schnabel, Peter Halley, Donald Baechler, and Louise Nevelson alongside a younger generation of emerging Texas-based artists such as William Betts, Aaron Parazette, Christian Eckart and duo Jeff Shore and Jon Fisher. McClain Gallery supplement their core exhibition program of solo shows with a number survey and thematic shows investigating current themes in contemporary art and create dialogue about art and its relationship to social, cultural and political issues.

Works of all media can be found at Moody Gallery showcasing a range of artistic ideas. Established in 1975 by Betty Moody, the Gallery is dedicated to presenting the best contemporary art from the region and exhibits work only by contemporary American artists, particularly those living and working in Texas or those who have a strong connection to the region. Moody Gallery also works to put these artists in context with established artists from other parts of the country. Many of the gallery’s represented artists including Debra Barrera, Michael Bise, Lamar Briggs and Dave Carpender are recognized on a national, sometimes international level although Moody gallery also represents a number of mid-career and emerging artists.

McMurtrey Gallery is one of Houston’s top destinations for contemporary paintings by early and mid-career artists. Established in 1983, the gallery represents a number of contemporary artists from Texas, many of whom are now nationally recognized and appear in prominent museum collections. Featured artists include Robert Jessup, Troy Dugas, Michael Guidry, Lance Letscher and Katie Maratta. Alongside established painters, McMurtrey gallery also represents a select group of internationally recognized photographers and several first-time exhibiting artists. McMurtrey Gallery was the debut venue for internationally acclaimed photographer Keith Carter. Their shows are always original, showing a broad range of fresh, contemporary artworks.

Works by first-time exhibitors and master artists come together at Redbud Gallery. The gallery opened in 1999 and has a global outlook, showing art that promotes the rich culture of the USA. Featured artists include the well known Lucas Johnson, Anglebert Metoyer and Al Souza. Works on display at Redbud encompass all media including prints, sculpture, ceramics, photos, drawings, glass, paintings, and installations on a local, national and international basis. Alongside their in-house exhibition program, Redbud promote Texan art abroad through their group exchange shows in Germany, China, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, and Greece, among others. In addition to contemporary works, the gallery also specializes in works on paper by old and modern masters. The gallery holds well-attended regular openings, usually coinciding with Houston’s First Saturday event, where visitors can enjoy contemporary art and engage with represented artists.

The artist-owned Archway Gallery is a remarkable destination for contemporary art in Houston. Established in 1976 by an original group of 11 artists who took complete responsibility for its operation, the gallery provided talented artists with an exhibition space for their artworks and enabled them to take control of the presentation and sale of their work, thus ensuring their artistic freedom and individual control over quality and content. Now run by their current group of 30 member artists, the gallery makes sure that there is always a wide variety of high-quality works on show across a range of medium and styles including sculpture, pottery and mixed media painting. Archway Gallery and its members are also fully committed to promoting contemporary art throughout the community and sharing their ideals on aesthetics and purposes.

Established in 2006 by gallerist, art space director and art critic Wade Wilson, this gallery brings work of the highest calibre to Houston’s contemporary art scene. Representing over 20 nationally and internationally recognized talents, Wade Wilson displays consistently relevant, museum-quality works including paintings, photography and sculptures. The success of the gallery comes from Wilson’s extensive experience as a curator, critic and commercial art dealer. Wade Wilson’s dedication to the visual arts and arts education is shown through their cutting-edge exhibition program and interaction with non-profit arts communities. The Houston gallery also has a sister venue in Santa Fe which opened on 2013.

Located in Houston’s up-and-coming Midtown district, Inman Gallery emphasizes the use of visual explorations and conceptual thinking in its choice of artworks. Established by Kerry Inman in 1990 as a project space dedicate to showcasing works by emerging young artists, the gallery has since grown into a nationally recognized venue. Inman Gallery nurtures talented artists and presents innovative, thoughtful works through series of exhibitions including solo shows for represented artists. Their shows are designed to provoke discussion and educate visitors on current trends and ideas in contemporary art. Inman Gallery is not only a top-class venue for contemporary art in Houston, but also an educational venue supporting the exchange of new ideas.

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