LMFA Perspective Magazine – Vol. 2 Issue 2

LMFA PERSPECTIVE A B I A N N U A L M A G A Z I N E B Y LO N G V I E W M U S E U M O F F I N E A R T S

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L M FA . O R G

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VO L . 2 I S S U E 2 202 2

“UNDER TEXAS SKIES” BY DANNY PICKENS 2019 TBT PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST & EXHIBITION

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22-172741

EXHIBITION

JUNE 4, 2020 – JANUARY 7, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ellie Taylor – A lifetime of Painting

A compilation of still life, landscapes, and abstracts in exaggerated color and strokes created over a lifetime by Texas artist Ellie Taylor.

CONCERT

S E P T E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 2 2 | L I V E M U S I C @ L M FA

Scott Sean White $ 2 5 @ T H E D O O R | $ 2 5 – L M FA . O R G OCTOBER 15 2022 – FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Featuring painters in the act of inferring the unknown from the known; pushing abstraction into new territories.

OPENING OCTOBER 15, 2022 OCTOBER 6 & DECEMBER 8, 2022 | 5-8PM

Artwalk Longview FALL & WINTER

A FREE, self-guided tour of downtown businesses exhibiting and selling art. Musicians and other performance arts abound.

EVENT

OCTOBER 29, 2022

MAGIC & MAYHEM 2022

Join us for an exciting night of costumes, dancing, and drinks during this year's murder mystery themed event.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022 – APRIL 15, 2023

Buffalo Solider Revisited: Bob Sneed

An artist, cartoonist, actor & decorated military veteran aviator OPENING NOVEMBER 12, 2022 EVENT

DECEMBER 3, 2022 | 8:30AM

Breakfast with Santa Join in the holiday fun at LMFA’s Breakfast with Santa! Bring your camera to capture your little ones with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Listen to stories, make crafts, and of course enjoy a delicious breakfast.

EVENT

FRIENDS GUILD

ABC

EVERY FIRST TUESDAY | 5:30pm EVERY THIRD TUESDAY | 12pm Artists Brainstorming Critiquing meets in ArtWorks. FREE to LMFA members, ABC is a dynamic group of individuals who share ideas, inspire and provide feedback to one another. Come join us!

CLAY CLUB EVERY THIRD MONDAY

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

EXHIBITION

Led by Carlyn Short from noon to 1pm in the gallery. FREE to members and only $5 for non-members.

Meets at 5:30pm in the LMFA Texas Bank and Trust Lecture Hall.

Towards a 21st Century Abstraction

EVENT

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

EVERY SECOND TUESDAY

Doors open @ 6:30.

EXHIBITION

YOGA

DECEMBER 6 – 9, 2022 | 8:30AM

Holiday Tea Room Luncheon & Market

An exclusive dining experience with pop-up shopping from local artisans.

Meets from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

Free to members, $10.00 for nonmembers. All supplies provided.

MISSION STATEMENT Longview Museum of Fine Arts seeks to enrich lives and ignite a passion for the arts!

PHOTOGRAPHY VizCre8ive: Official LMFA Event Photographer PERSPECTIVE is published biannually as a benefit for Museum members.

ON THE COVER Wild Matilija II, Connie Connally from "Towards a 21st-Century Abstraction" Exhibition

T I C K E T S A V A I L A B L E O N L I N E AT W W W. L M F A . O R G

EXHIBITION

JANUARY 27, 2023 – DECEMBER 21, 2023

Stories from the Vault

A curation of works from our permanent collection highlighting recent acquisitions and the stories they tell.

CONCERT

FEBRUARY 4, 2023

Arcadian Wild Doors open @ 6:30.

$ 2 5 @ T H E D O O R | $ 2 5 – L M FA . O R G

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| L I V E M U S I C @ L M FA

Become A Perspective Magazine Sponsor Get more information about advertising in the magazine by calling the museum or scanning the link above.

NEWSLETTER DESIGN

Board of Trustees Keith Bailey Robert Belt Sherry Chance Michael R. Clark Kristina Coolidge B.W. Crain, IV Britt Davis Marci Duvall Mel Fish, MD Holly Forbes Jamie Fredrick Miranda Fuller Michelle Gamboa Ashly Loyd Nancy Murray Patricia Newman Wally Rhymes Natasha R. Sheppard John Sloan Katie L. Smith Katherine Smith Kimberly Taliaferro Brad Tidwell Devin Tramel Jennifer Ware

Advisory Board Jane Akins Kelly Belt Linda Buie Carolyn Fox-Hearne John Hillier Chuck King Marcia & Stephen McDaniel Carol Manley Jack Mann, Jr. Gordon Northcutt Karen Partee Caryn Pepper Misty Roach Linda Ryan Thomas Charlotte Wrather Patti Wright

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CURATOR OF EXHIBITS Tiffany Nolan Jehorek DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Barbara Scott CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS & PREPARATOR Derek Frazier MUSEUM ADMINISTRATOR Jeannette Rice OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE Gay Gilbert DESIGN & EXHIBITIONS CONSULTANT Stacy Gray Odom

From the Executive Director Dear LMFA Family, Since my involvement with the museum in 1997, I have had the privilege of observing and serving this institution for 25 years in a myriad of roles - as a visitor, an art student, a guild member, a front desk volunteer, a board member and for the last six years as your executive director and curator of exhibitions.

I have seen firsthand how art enriches lives, lifts depression, enlightens minds and creates community and safe spaces for dialogue and connection. Now as the Board of Directors and I have committed to making LMFA the premier art museum in East Texas, we ask you to be our ambassadors in this effort. It will take all of us to transform this iconic historic bank building into a regional draw and cornerstone of our Cultural Arts District.

We have now completed the design phase of the project and understand the cost of the endeavor. Since the cost of goods and services have increased, this project’s costs have also risen. We are not deterred, and we are determined to make the new more accessible LMFA a reality for all.

The Board and community know that arts and culture are “not just a nice to have,” they are essential to a better world to live in that impacts the health, well-being, and growth of our communities. We witnessed this impact throughout the pandemic when citizens around the world turned to arts, music, and creativity to stay sane and safe.

To be the premier art museum in East Texas with nothing like it within 120 miles, your LMFA board and staff are streamlining operations and processes and working on sustainable models of growth to meet the demands that will come with a 50,000 square foot regional destination museum with both indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

We have also hired Derek Frazier to be the museum’s first ever Curator of Collections & Preparator. Derek has a master’s degree in art and is an art historian and preparator with nine years’ experience in museum work. We are beyond thrilled to have his experience and expertise added to our team.

(See page 23 for more about Derek.)

If you are not following us on social media, we invite you to do so. You will learn a little bit about LMFA’ s collection with our daily art posts. Derek’s work entering the museum’s permanent collection into an online database has made this digital outreach possible. This is extremely important as the museum builds its brand across the region, the state and beyond.

I look forward to seeing you at the museum soon. If you would like to know more about how contribute to the dream – a museum for all – please contact me.

LMFA 2024!

Artfully Yours,

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Sophie Bunn EVENT COORDINATOR Jack Barkley WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS Debbie Anderson, Corletia Banks, Norma Cochran, Carol Guess, Jana Johansen, Molly Loving, Carol Martin, Arlene Olson, Isabelle Seeger, Mary Shelmire, Nic Trent

Tiffany Jehorek Executive Director and Curator of Exhibitions lmfadirector@lmfa.org Rendering of the New LMFA Building Exterior

PERSPECTIVE 3

Ignite the Dream LMFA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

An Inspired Vision of the Future of the Museum LMFA is proud to release updated architectural renderings for the Ignite the Dream capital campaign. On February 25, 2021, the LMFA Board of Trustees with Executive Director Tiffany Nolan Jehorek purchased the former Longview National and Regions Bank building on Fredonia Street. Sitting in the heart of downtown Longview, the building, garden, and parking garage will become the new home of LMFA in 2024, increasing the footprint of the

renowned artist Richard Lippold. A similar sculpture was installed at the Lincoln Center in New York City around the same year. The star was purchased by architect Crain in 1957 for $15,000 and was recently appraised at $175,000.

This piece of work, which has been tucked away behind closed since Regions Bank closed its downtown location in 2018, will now be front and center when any guest enters the new museum.

museum from 16,500 to more than 50,000 square feet and fulfilling the museum's vision of becoming the premier art museum in East Texas.

LMFA has brought in a specialized team to preserve the historic architecture and grandeur of the building which serves as a functional piece of art itself. Led by Jehorek, the renovation and creation of the new fine arts museum will be supported by experts in design, architecture, historic preservation, and marketing.

The historic and statuesque building was redesigned in the 1960s by Longview architect B.W. Crain, Jr. of Wilson, Morris, Crain, and Anderson Architects.

The former bank houses The Great Lone Star, a gold, aluminum, and stainless-steel wire sculpture by world4 PERSPECTIVE

The Great Lone Star, Richard Lippold

The 75-foot tile mosaic counter, appraised at $145,000, was designed by the late Herbert Mears, a Houston abstract artist. It is yet another work of art that has sat unseen for years. LMFA will not only preserve but incorporate this functional work of art into our Texas artfocused collection. We plan for the museum's permanent collection to be stored in a visual vault behind the Mears mosaic counter putting the permanent collection on permanent display for all visitors.

As the bank grew, the vaulted ceilings and black-andwhite tile flooring, reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s, were covered to accommodate more office space and reduce noise. The building's Art Deco architectural elements have been inaccessible for nearly 50 years.

LMFA brought in a specialized team to develop a plan that will showcase the historic architecture and grandeur of the 1940s building.

The former bank building includes a garden, teller windows, and a large, enclosed glass-walled kiosk where patrons banking in the 1960s could wait in comfort for their cars’ return. Upgrades will convert the garden into a public courtyard lined with sculptures and green spaces that the community can enjoy during the day and in the evening as they explore downtown Longview.

The drive-through entrance opposite the Gregg County Court House will become a pedestrian-friendly walkway lined by former teller windows which will be turned into public art viewing cases protected from the extreme Texas weather. The covered pathway, or porte cochère, will be lined with seating and comfortable spaces where we envision those in the area can escape from the blaring sun to enjoy an afternoon coffee or attend one of our biweekly yoga classes. We envision portions of this space being used for local artists to present their work at the City of Longview's ArtWalk, a free community event held multiple times per year

The next pre-construction phase of the project will be structural matching to ensure materials sourced today match the materials used in the 1940s and 1960s. This includes the teak paneling and terrazzo flooring. LMFA is also working with vibration and structural engineers to protect the historic artwork and make sure it is secure and protected during the construction phase which includes adding HVAC, egress stairwells, and other structural adjustments to comply to city and state building codes.

Together we can enrich lives and promote the City of Longview as a community that fosters beauty, creativity, and the arts.

Make a Contribution Today to Make the Vision a Reality! < SCAN HERE TO DONATE LMFA.ORG/SUPPORT/CAPITAL-CAMPAIGN

PERSPECTIVE 5

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

Transformation in the Wild World of Mark Nesmith EXHIBITION JUNE 4, 2022 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

The Transformation in the Wild World of Mark Nesmith: A Retrospective exhibition is a testimony to the resilience of the creative spirit.

Throughout his career Mark Nesmith, who lives and works in Port Neches, TX, has explored a multitude of themes, from the bayous, beaches, and woods he roamed as a child in Southeast Texas to whimsical critters addressing the superficiality of modern society and the artist's unease with mankind's relationship to nature. Underlying his work is a deep love for vibrant color and thick, textured surfaces.

From diminutive paintings to large, expansive canvases, his expressive artworks combine observation, memory, and imagination.

Mark has continued his steadfast pursuits in painting through the hardship life throws at us all. Most recently the right-handed artist battled through back and shoulder surgeries affecting his dominant hand. Always moving forward, the artist took up the brush with his left hand creating abstracted images utilizing a grid not unlike Chuck Close and Paul Klee before him. Color and light are brought to the forefront in tapestry like forms that gradually resolve to images of the ocean or land.

Learn more about the artist at marknesmith.com.

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Ellie Taylor A Lifetime of Painting EXHIBITION JUNE 4, 2022 – JANUARY 7, 2023

Artist Elinor “Ellie” Taylor uses exaggerated color and bold impressionistic strokes to celebrate Texas in all its glory.

When asked how long it takes to complete a painting, Taylor will response with “a lifetime.” She is both an artist and an art critic judging every stroke through her process.

Taylor taught elementary school for 34 years before beginning her journey as a full-time artist. She studied art with Earline Barnes in El Paso, Texas for about 6 years and went back to college after retiring to study under Jo Taylor and Dr. Ollie Theisen.

While Van Gogh is her favorite master artist, Taylor subscribes to the same philosophy as William Wendt who said that his art becomes an "adoration sign devoted to the Trinity." Taylor paints for the "love of art and for the passion that my Lord has given me."

Learn more about the artist at ellieartist.com.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION

F E AT U R E D A R T I S T S :

David Bailin | Connie Connally | Brad Ellis | Wosene Worke Kosrof | Jeri Ledbetter | Katherine Chang Liu | Sammy Peters

October 15, 2022 – February 11, 2023 Curated by LA Art Critic, Peter Frank, Towards a 21st-Century Abstraction features painters pushing abstraction into new territories. This exhibition brings together artists who are dedicated to two-dimensional abstract art. They are not defined by what they do or why they do it, but how they struggle to participate in what has become a global discourse in art.

“Theory does not validate something like visual abstraction, it simply frames it,” Frank writes in an essay about the exhibition. “Abstract art endures because artists still make it – still devote their lives to it, still investigate its problems and possibilities, still answer to the challenges posed by other artists, contemporaries and predecessors alike, and still establish visual vocabularies based on elements at once laid bare and intricately combined."

We invite the entire community to experience this exhibition and ask, ‘what is abstract art?’ That is what truly sets this exhibition apart.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY KEITH & VICKIE BAILEY

LMFA LIVE

DOORS OPEN @ 6:30PM SHOW STARTS @ 7:00PM TICKETS ARE $25 @ THE DOOR AND LMFA.ORG

Scott Sean White

THE Arcadian Wild

Christie Len'ee

S AT U R D AY

SATURDAY

SAT URDAY

SEPT 10, 2022

FEB 4, 2023

MAR 10, 2023

scottseanwhite.com

thearcadianwild.com

christielenee.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Cynergy Technology Texas Oncology Courtyard by Marriott

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Cynergy Technology Texas Oncology

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Cynergy Technology Sydney and Anna Lee Allen

EDUCATION

Summer Art This summer was full of bright, smiling faces and spectacular art created by students in the LMFA 2022 Summer Arts Program! Local art teachers gave their time and effort to give students an artful education and create classes where students could learn about the world of art and find creative expression.

“Some Elementary Schools don’t offer art classes, so it’s nice that kids can have a chance to learn something creative over the summer,” said art teacher Holly Harper.

“But generally speaking, offering art classes to young children helps them grow to be better critical thinkers and awakens their creativity.”

Students aged 5 through 17 came from all over Longview and surrounding areas to participate in the Summer Arts Program. LMFA's art teachers took their students on trips through a Tropical Paradise, The Multiverse of Art, Backyards and Summer Gardens as well as teaching students about Acrylic Painting and Photorealism, Wildlife Art, Water and Marker Art, Collaging and Pottery.

At the end of each week a mini exhibition was held at the end of class for student's parents and guardians. It was awesome to see how excited the children were about showing off their artwork!

One student said it herself,

These art classes are so fun. I have come to them for three years in a row! I love getting to see my work at the end all done!"

For 24 years, LMFA has been hosting the Summer Arts Program, and next summer will be no different. We are already hard at work planning for LMFA's 2023 Summer Arts Program. Be on the lookout for updates about Summer Arts in the March issue of Perspective.

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CASETA Symposium Executive Director and Curator of Exhibitions Tiffany Jehorek reveled in meeting and sharing ideas with fellow curators, directors, collectors, artists, gallery owners and art historians at the annual CASETA (Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art) symposium held in Dallas this past June.

Tiffany Jehorek with (clockwise from top left) Judy Deaton, chief curator of the Grace Museum in Abilene; Emily Neff, director of the San Antonio Museum of Art; and Dallas artist David Bates.

CASETA’s mission is to promote the preservation, study and appreciation of Texas visual arts and its history. Tiffany was inspired by the level of professionalism, knowledge, and passion for the arts amongst her peers and now friends.

Anyone interested in learning about Texas art is welcome to join CASETA, visit caseta.org for more information.

PERSPECTIVE 11

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PERSPECTIVE 13

COMMUNITY VOICES

Why Art? Nancy Murray

Board Member, Texas Cultural Trust and LMFA

Art benefits communities on many different levels.

Art can be an economic driver, increase tourism, can

meet the commended status on standardized tests than student with fewer arts courses. These students are 22% more likely to attend college.

In addition, 94% of Texas students with high level of arts engagement went to a 4-year college, versus 7% of those with low level of arts engagement. Furthermore, their SAT scores are higher! These students score 58 points higher on the verbal portion and 38 points higher on the math portion of the SAT. Needless to say, 95% of the parents believe arts should be taught in Texas schools.

improve education and mental well-being. All great benefits that can promote value, advancement, and connection in communities like Longview. The Texas Cultural Trust published the following findings or ‘Artfacts’ in it’s 2021 State of the Arts Report.

In Texas, high school students enrolled in the arts are twice as likely to graduate and are at least 15% more likely to meet the commended status on standardized tests…

ART IS SIMPLY ESSENTIAL IN EDUCATION! Art inspires our children and improves education. In Texas, high school students enrolled in the arts are twice as likely to graduate and are at least 15% more likely to 14 PERSPECTIVE

ART IS GREAT FOR OUR LOCAL ECONOMY! In our economy, art is a growing industry that can fuel our economy. At this point, 1 in every 15 jobs is considered a “creative career”. There are 900,000 Texans employed as: artists, musicians, graphic designers, interior designers, architects, photographers, videographers and computer designers, etc. This group of workers earns a 77% wage premium to the average worker in our state.

The creative sector has grown by 30% over the past

site or listen to live music before they head home. Art

decade and generated $6.1 billion in taxable sales

tourists spend more money and stay longer than other

providing $380 million in sales tax revenue to the

tourists. There are 719,000 jobs generated from travel

state in 2019.

in Texas.

ART CREATES JOBS!

ART IS GOOD FOR OUR SOUL!

Regarding tourism, arts boost tourism! Did you know

Finally, art strengthens our minds and improves well-

that 37% of non-resident overnight tourists engage

being. Attending cultural events once every few months

in cultural activities while on vacation? That means,

can reduce and risk of depression by 32%.

when they visit Longview almost 40% of the time

In summary, art is essential in education, is great for our

tourists will stop in our museums or visit a historic

economy, creates jobs and is good for our soul. Go Arts!

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PERSPECTIVE 15

COMMUNITY VOICES

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

My Thing, My Dream

dance. Simply put, it’s frustrating and embarrassing.

I look to the right, and I am incredibly happy about what my dear friend Amber has found to be fulfilling in life. I look back to the left, and all three of us are miserable.

“This is not our thing,” I say to my husband.

“No kidding,” he replies.

“What is our thing?” I ask.

“Not having kids,” he jokes, and we both chuckle.

Melissa Cosper Miller

Founder & Publisher at SlyGirl Publishing House

“Well, let’s get the hell out of here and go figure it out,” I say in jest.

As we both laughed, we packed up those damned folding chairs and bolted mid-game.

I’m sitting right next to my best friend from high school in our finest lawn chairs in White Oak, TX at our kids’ little league football game. Amber and I grew up together, and now our children are too.

Over the next several months, that question became a staple in our daily conversations. After mowing an acre of lawn or cleaning the pool in the winter, my husband would enter the back door saying, “Well, that’s not my thing.”

On the right side of me is Amber’s family. All of them.

Her youngest is barely walking, yet cutely stumbling around the sidelines sporting white and maroon school colors. Her oldest son runs past in his football uniform as Amber wishes him good luck on the field down the hill. One of the twins is playing his flag-football-heart out while her husband coaches and Amber jumps up to cheer with every good play.

I spent an entire Saturday cleaning a home realizing more than half of it rarely if ever, had any traffic.

“Definitely, not my thing.”

To my left are my husband and daughter. My daughter is a cheerleader for Amber’s son’s team. This is the first game of the season, and I am looking forward to spending time with my best friend every Saturday morning. However, my daughter is decked out in her cheer uniform and big bow but refuses to cheer or join the squad in any manner. My husband is trying to coax her into joining the chant and 16 PERSPECTIVE

We put the house up for sale, all the while still asking and trying to figure out, “What’s our thing?” We started exploring community events in a desperate search for the answer.

Each time we visited downtown Longview for an event, all I wanted to do was walk around to experience the growth and culture. I would return home revitalized by observing art outside, enjoying fantastic conversation, eating great food, drinking craft beer, and so much more.

Lying in bed reminiscing the hours before, “That’s my thing,” I would sigh fantasizing about when I could return.

The Arts & Culture District is where I wanted to be. I started counting down the days until I could go back to my place and do my thing. And eventually, an opportunity presented itself to live in the historic Petroleum Building.

I moved into my apartment two weeks before the world shut down in 2020. I lived in this neighborhood when it felt like a zombie apocalypse was approaching, and I live in it now when the district is thriving. It didn’t matter what was going on in the world, I have been able to look out of my window every day and confidently say, “This is my thing.”

I would return home revitalized by observing art outside, enjoying fantastic conversation, eating great food, drinking craft beer, and so much more.

Being immersed in an area with art, culture, and wonderful neighbors inspired me to take a leap in my career as well. I resigned from my 9-5 in 2021 to go out on my own. My dream was to work alongside artists of all kinds; poets, novelists, photographers, sculptors, and the list goes on. Alas, SlyGirl Publishing House was created. Making big publication dreams happen for myself and others has been the most rewarding experience of my life.

I spend my days collaborating with artists, walking the streets of my artistic ‘hood, waving at and chatting with fellow downtowners, sitting on the grass in the sculpture garden with my children, eating sophisticated food while the cook comes to say ‘hello’ or ‘thanks for coming,’ drinking craft beer with locals, and listening to talented live bands in my “backyard.”

From the cooks to the business owners to the frequent visitors to the downtown residents; they are my friends and neighbors. My people.

This sense of belonging and connection to a community is the thing I have been looking for my entire life. As I’ve said before, perhaps this is the dream… my dream, to be surrounded by art, culture, food, and incredible company.

PERSPECTIVE 17

COMMUNITY VOICES Sharecroppers, 1965 by O. Rufus Lovett’s father, Opal Rufus Lovett

Weeping Mary

BY O. Rufus Lovett

It was spring in 1965 near the Pea River in Alabama.

My father was driving along when he noticed a woman toting a fruit jar of well water to her husband who was plowing a mule in a nearby cornfield. As my dad pulled up to the corn rows, he began a smooth rap revealing his kind and honest persona that no doubt allowed him a brief but sincere encounter into the lives of his newly found photographic subjects. The woman was at first hesitant to be portrayed in their work clothes in the field with the mule and plow. He assured her that it would be a picture that would not be made fun of and they agreed to be photographed.

My father’s awareness of the beautiful light falling on the couple’s faces, and his capturing the translucency of the drinking water, gestures that reveal their strength, the composition and careful cropping of the animals so they would remain a secondary notion within the frame is stunning. My father’s unobtrusive, non-invasive presence as a white blond blue-eyed stranger is also remarkable 18 PERSPECTIVE

considering the political/social era of racial tension and segregation in Alabama. He had become a part of that picture. A self-portrait so to speak, reflecting his own background. It revealed where he is from and who he is.

He knew those people, and those animals, and the trees and the sky. His rapport created a sincere kinship that allowed him to make this honest environmental portrait.

Opal Rufus Lovett in 1995 with his old 5X7 Split Frame Studio Camera at his home in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Trey’s Ride, 1994 by O. Rufus Lovett

Cherry’s Wallet, 1994 by O. Rufus Lovett

My father’s photographic experience from that one afternoon has created a path in a direction that I have chosen to follow. Perhaps seeing that image of my father’s “Sharecroppers” throughout my childhood and discovering its qualities and his genuine empathy for the couple, conceivably inspired me to make the intimate photographs I have made in Weeping Mary, Texas.

29 Years Later…

It was spring in 1994 in East Texas and my long-time writer friend Gary Borders said, “There’s a place called Weeping Mary.” What? “There’s a place called Weeping Mary.” Weeping Mary, where? “Down in Cherokee County and you ought to go check it out,” he said.

That’s how the photographs of Weeping Mary began.

The name is so beautiful, and I had been thinking of that name since the day he first spoke it.

Weeping Mary is a small community that I have heard dates back to post Civil War days, hidden in the Neches River bottom flat within the East Texas piney woods.

Weeping Mary is a small community that I have heard dates back to post Civil War days, hidden in the Neches River bottom flat within the East Texas piney woods.

Folklore (I call front-porch-lore) has it that an AfricanAmerican lady landowner named Mary was tricked out of selling her land to a wealthy white man. The white man had used a black man to make the purchase of the land for him without Mary’s knowing that the white man would become the property owner. This deceitful act upset Mary so much that she wept and wept and became known as Weeping Mary. Later the

Mrs. Martin’s Porch, 1994 by O. Rufus Lovett

church and the community were named Weeping Mary.

I’ve heard slightly different versions of the story, and I have read that perhaps the community was named for Mary Magdalene, who wept for Jesus or perhaps it is derived from a Catholic Church name, Our Lady of Sorrows. I am partial to the former legend about Mary who lost her land.

I began my introduction to Weeping Mary without my camera, to get acquainted and create a rapport and friendship with the adults and earn a sense of trust. I gradually began asking permission to make photographs of the children, at first to create picture pages for The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches. I continued to photograph as I attended family reunions, church events, holidays and visits experiencing everyday life in the community.

The children at Weeping Mary grow to graduate from schools, work for the highway department, work for the local forestry service or sawmills and stay in Weeping Mary raising children of their own. Their lives are intertwined with those of parents, grandparents, cousins and uncles and neighbors reflecting limited conditions enlightened by play and laughter and hope.

At least for now the future is theirs to dream about and, perhaps, to fulfill. It is my interest in the human condition and visualization of the community that I wish to recognize the importance of the lives of these children and their influences.

Interpreting Weeping Mary, it was my goal to make a photo essay about the people and their relationship to their environment – how they are married to this place which is theirs and appears to stand still but subtly moves with the rest of the world in the 21st Century. I have been asked if I was perhaps exploiting the people there. Anne Wilkes Tucker of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, answered it best in my book Weeping Mary when she raised a question at the end of her quote, “When a fresh subject, such as Weeping Mary, is discovered, and when, as with Lovett, the photographer feels a strong personal resonance with the subject, it is PERSPECTIVE 19

C REA TI VE

Demitria’s Shoes, 1994 by O. Rufus Lovett

“When a fresh subject, such as Weeping Mary, is discovered, and when, as with Lovett, the photographer feels a strong personal resonance with the subject, it is hard to walk away. How does one balance whatever harm the invasion of privacy might cause against the value of preserving something of beauty and human relevance?”

STRA TEGI C

VERSA TI LE

“Thank You!” to Longview Museum hard to walk away. How does one balance whatever harm the invasion

of Fine Arts for entrusting us to explore

of privacy might cause against the value of preserving something of

creative and innovative ways to share your

beauty and human relevance?”

advertising messages. We look forward to

I spent ten years photographing Weeping Mary with the early images

serving you – our customers, friends, and

published in The Daily Sentinel and in 1998 in Texas Monthly and other

community – for many more years to come.

publications including Lenswork and LIFE magazine. The work has been collected in the permanent collections of the Amon Carter Museum in

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Fort Worth; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Ransom Humanities Research Center at UT Austin; and the Birmingham Museum of Fine Art in Alabama. It has been exhibited throughout the country in New York, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Durango, Colorado, Portland, Oregon and Birmingham, Alabama. University of Texas Press, with Foreword and Q&A by Anne Wilkes Tucker, published the book Weeping Mary in 2006.

20 PERSPECTIVE

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Philip Scott is an area artist who has been a member of Longview Museum of Fine Arts since 2008. He has seen LMFA grow and develop into the museum it is today.

Philip says he loves that LMFA exists in Longview and is available to everyone!

Philip was not introduced to art by LMFA. He began drawing as a child, encouraged by his friends and family. Philip’s first subjects were dinosaurs. Gaining experience and pursuing his love of art he moved on to begin his artistic career as a surrealist painter.

During this time of artistic growth and experiences Philip also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre.

Philip’s current favorite genre is abstracts, and he can be found with a notebook at all times; making notes on favorite artists, techniques he finds interesting, and anything he might find inspirational for new works. If he is “stumped” on a new piece of work, he refers to his notebook for ideas or seeks inspiration from his favorite artists Philip Hale, a surrealist from England, French artist Philipe Druillet, American artist Edward Hopper, and his very favorite Frank Lloyd Wright.

Other than LMFA, Philip enjoys the Dallas Museum of Art

and The Brooks Museum in Memphis. To this day, Philip’s favorite exhibit is the 1975 “King Tut” exhibition at The Cabildo in New Orleans. He still has a vivid memory of the beauty and perfect curation of the artifacts.

Philip belongs to LMFA’s Artist Brainstorming and Critiquing (ABC) group and attends almost every ArtWalk where he can likely be found exhibiting his work at Lil Thai House.

When asked what his favorite thing is about LMFA Philip’s response was immediate “Longview Museum of Fine Arts is not an Ivory Tower business, but it is a place for the people”. Philip said one of the things he admires most is the friendliness and dedication of LMFA’s staff. He credits their knowledge, welcoming attitude, excitement and desire to share the arts as a reason for LMFA’s success.

Philip is incredibly excited about the new building and future plans for LMFA. He says the new building just “knocks his head off,” and that it will be a cultural hub for the city and the rest of East Texas.

LMFA thanks Philip and all of its members for their support, dedication and excitement in seeing the development of the premier art museum of East Texas.

HOLIDAY MARKET TEA ROOM T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT L M FA . O R G Join us for our Annual Holiday Tea Room Luncheon & Market hosted by LMFA’s Guild. An exclusive dining experience with pop-up shopping from local artisans.

Tickets are available for individuals or tables of 8 guests.

Dec. 6-9

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Member Spotlight

We welcome Longview residents to experience our innovative and contemporary lobby atmosphere!

Sample our classic breakfast options for a great start to your day or unwind on our beautiful patio (complete with 15 ft. firepit) while savoring one of our tasty dinner options and enjoying a cocktail from our fully stocked bar.

Need to re-energize? Courtyard proudly serves Starbucks around the clock, day or night!

1125 E. HAWKINS PKWY. LONGVIEW, TX 75605 P: 903.230.2700 F: 903.230.2701

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HAVE HAVE YOU YOU VOTED VOTED YET? YET? 22 PERSPECTIVE

Meet Derek Frazier Is there any particular type of art that appeals to you or anything that unites all the works in your collection?

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

My favorite art movements have always been Italian

I have a BS in Biology/Ecology, and worked for many years as a scientist and consultant. I was a freshwater biologist, an environmental regulator, a storm chaser, a fisheries biologist, and designed, built, and operated industrial wastewater treatment systems for companies like Halliburton and Sarah Lee. Also, my third degree is an MA in English literature, and I’m a published literary author.

Baroque such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Minimalism

What was the first piece of art you purchased?

How old were you at the time? Why did it make such an impact?

exceptional craftsmanship.

I was a studio artist in college, and all of us students would trade works. I have art in my house that is extremely gratifying, because it was made by some of the best friends I’ve ever had.

like Bill Montgomery, a strange combination, I know.

Both evoke emotions, although in very different ways. There are works in our collection that affect me similarly, like Otis Dozier, William Montgomery, Billy Hassell, and Porfirio Salinas- all exceptional Texas artists. What all these artists have in common is

How important is it for you to meet the artist behind the artwork?

I am absolutely enthralled with the lives of the artists (to reference Vasari, one of the first art historians). I love the legendary competition between Borromini and Bernini, for instance, and the biographies of the early modern artists like Duchamp, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

Of course, it’s always fun to install work from a living artist, then watch their face as they explore the gallery.

If I’ve done my job right, they’ll be impressed.

How do you discover works by emerging artists, especially when we’re all remote?

I have a network of artist friends, and we’re always sharing work we like through social media. Luckily, I’m friends with some very competent artists, some of whom are in our permanent collection. I am an artist myself, and I like surfing the net to find work like mine (I usually can’t).

When did you get involved with LMFA? What drew you to the museum then and now?

I love the energy that everyone brings to the museum.

Derek in Florence, Italy in 2010

How do you know when you stand before a really great piece of art?

The first thing I notice is craftsmanship. My standard question is, “Did the artist consider every inch of the piece?” They didn’t have to manipulate or change all of it, but they should have at least made an intentional decision to leave it alone. Even Jackson Pollock addressed the entirety of his canvases. After that, I look to see how the artist dealt with the formal elements of art- color, form, shape, space, texture, and value. And of course, I can’t help but notice references to art history.

That’s kind of the fun part!

Our exhibitions are dynamic, and showcase not only established artists but also local talent. In my time here, I’ve hung everything from Picasso and Dali to high school work. Pretty cool.

Describe Texas art in 3 words.

Scenic, current, accessible.

Where do you think the Longview cultural arts community will be in 3 years?

For my part, our entire collections will be online.

I also expect student tours to greatly increase, and the museum will be a family destination.

PERSPECTIVE 23

MEET THE STAFF

Derek Frazier, Curator of Collection & Preparator at LMFA, holds a BA in Visual Art & Art History. Derek comes to us after nine years at the Tyler Museum of Art.

SHOP. DINE. PLAY. STAY. CREATE. LISTEN. LIVE. LOVE. DREAM. LAUGH.

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Art Around Town Derek Frazier

Curator of Collection & Preparator

A number of years ago I was fortunate enough to spend a little time studying Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture in Italy. I saw all the have-to’s, of course Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, even Giotto’s Scrovengi Chapel – but I also reveled in the local art. Each city had its own brand of creativity; the five-hundred-year-old apartments of Florence, the Eureka III by Melinda Buie

concrete and stone sidewalks of Venice, and the ever-present Roman graffiti that covers anything that doesn’t move are examples. (See a photo of young Derek in Italy on page 23.)

As Curator of Collections at the LMFA, it is my job to track art as it moves in and out of the museum. When I started here, a little less than a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised at how much art we have installed all around Longview and surrounding areas. And not just whatever was available at the time; we have good, solid artwork from Texas artists on display, many of them native to or hailing from Longview. In this way, we’re like the great Italian cities I visited.

If you go to the Belcher Center at LeTourneau University, you can see nearly 40 works of art that are on loan from the LMFA. Most of those are paintings by the late 20th century illustrator and Texas native Charles Shaw, but the one that really grabs my attention is Eureka III by an East Texas artist named Melinda Buie. It’s a simple painting of a cow’s face, done in a style that resembles a graphic illustration, or stained glass. The reason I like it is that my extended

Abandoned Building, Church Street in Winona, TX

by Hank O’Neal

family ranches here in East Texas, and I’ve had many face-to-face moments with cows just like the one portrayed by Buie. Good stuff.

If you visit Maude Cobb Convention Center, you will undoubtedly notice the 43 photos by Hank O’Neal hanging in the lobby. O’Neal was born in Kilgore and has been a prolific photographer and author for the last sixty years. The photos on display at Maude Cobb are scenes from around East Texas and just beyond.

It’s worth visiting the Convention Center just to see his work.

If you go just outside the Longview city limits to the Gregg County Airport, you’ll find another collection of outstanding art made by Texans. Perhaps the one with the most intriguing backstory is simply called Untitled. It was made

by Kilgore artist, Anup Bhandari. He was born in the mountainous nation of Nepal and moved to the United States when he was 19. He eventually settled in Kilgore. He became a vital part of his adopted community, helping non-profits and charity organizations. He died much too early at the age of 40. His work at the airport celebrates his adopted home, featuring the image of a Texas longhorn surrounded by shapes and colors. If you look closely you will notice a familiar flag decorating the center of the painting.

This is part of the LMFA art you can find around town. Keep your eyes open

Untitled by Anup Bhandari

as you run errands, visit friends, and conduct business. We’ll explore more art destinations in later issues. Until then, happy hunting!

PERSPECTIVE 25

DECEMBER 3, 2022 S AT U R D AY | 9 –10:30A M Join in the holiday fun at LMFA’s Breakfast with Santa! Bring your camera to capture your little ones with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Listen to stories, make crafts, and of course enjoy a delicious breakfast.

T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT

LMFA.ORG

Thank You TO CASA FLORA

FOR PROVIDING BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENTS FOR OUR EXHIBIT OPENINGS

903.753.4492

casafloraflowers.com

314 MAGNOLIA LANE • LONGVIEW

26 PERSPECTIVE

MEMBERSHIP

LMFA depends on members for crucial operational support. Your tax-deductible membership donation underwrites the amazing exhibits and educational programming LMFA organizes and curates throughout the year for Longview and the greater East Texas region.

ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE: • Subscription to the full color PERSPECTIVE biannual magazine.

• Invitations to members-only receptions for exhibit openings.

• Free Admission to Yoga and Clay Club • Building rental privileges.

• First notice for all exhibitions, lectures, classes and special events at the museum.

CONTRIBUTOR AND ABOVE MEMBERSHIPS RECEIVE: An LMFA NARM (North American Reciprocal Museums) Card. This membership card gives two persons free or discounted access to more than 1700 cultural institutions across the U.S., Canada, El Salvador, and Mexico for unprecedented access to arts, science, history, botanical gardens and more.

B ec om e A M em b e r !

Join Today!

Sign up at LMFA.org by scanning the code below, visiting the website, call the office, or simply drop by the museum.

LMFA IS A PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:

BLUE STAR MUSEUM PRESENTED BY

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS and BLUE STAR FAMILIES arts.gov/bluestarmuseums

museums4all.org

PERSPECTIVE 27

Thank You for Partnering with LMFA! Support from our community sponsors enables LMFA to bring outstanding art exhibits, educational programming, and cultural offerings to Northeast Texas.

City of Longview & the Cultural Activities Advisory Commission

The Crain Foundation | VeraBank Anonymous Friends of the Museum | Charlotte & John Wrather CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health Systems | Copeland Insurance | The Joyce Family Foundation INLINE Network Integration, Inc. | Sorey & Gilliland, LLP | U.S. Title Company | Worthington National Bank A friend from San Angelo | ACTION Coach of East Texas | Bartlett Fine Jewelry | Brad Tidwell | Susan & Bill Pope Gans & Smith Insurance | Hollandsworth Foundation | Jeffrey Gibbs | Longview Regional Medical Center | Nell & Johnny Ward Panel Truss | The Projects Group | Texas Bank & Trust AEP SWEPCO | Beth & Paul Matlock | Brenda & Gil Gillam | Cablelynx Broadband | Carol & Richard Manley | Cynergy Technology | Cobb Electric DeAnne and John Sloan | Eagle Capital Advisors | East Texas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Eastman Credit Union | Hugman Architecture & Construction Jennifer & Vince Ware | Johnson & Pace | Lynda & Mike Maxwell | Marjorie Dome | Marcia & Stephen Daniel | Marissa & John Martin Mimi & Bruce Cammack | Misty & Nelson Roach | Roof Care, Inc. | Spring Hill State Bank | Tim Lee | Vicki & Roger Johnson | Women's Health Boutique SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR IN-KIND SPONSORS: ARTWorld | Casa Flora | Courtyard by Marriott | Edge Office Products Forbes & Butler Visual Communications | Interface Networks | R&K Distributors Inc. | Republic National Distributing Company Sherwin Williams | SIGN Pro | The Summit Club

If you would like to become an LMFA sponsor, call 903-753-8103 to speak with Director of Community Engagement Barbara Scott or Executive Director Tiffany Jehorek. We would love to speak with you about becoming an LMFA sponsor.

Circle Sponsorship Benefits Patron's Circle

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Magic & Mayhem Benefits & Recognition

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Person/Company Recognition During the Year Private New Building Tour Private Exhibition Tour with Cocktail Reception

28 PERSPECTIVE

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A rendering of the proposed exterior of the future LMFA.

CONTACT

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Phone 903.753.8103 Fax 903.753.8217 Email fineart@LMFA.org

TUES. - FRI. 10am to 4pm | SAT. 10am to 2pm | SUN. & MON. Closed

LMFA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization operating for the benefit of the public. This project is sponsored in part by a grant from the City of Longview and the Cultural Activities Advisory Commission.

A $5 admission fee is charged for non members. Children under 12 are admitted free. Museum & galleries are available to rent for private events.

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