Madeworthy Mar/Apr 2022

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Q

Contributors Questions Which artist, either living or dead, would you like to have spent time with?

Issue 28 | For Art’s Sake March/April 2022 Publisher Editor Associate Publisher

Victoria Wise Lee Virden Geurkink Jennifer Kieta

Contributing Writers Hannah Bush

Julie K. Rhodes

Laney Espenlaub

Angela Weaver

Cortney Gumbleton

Eric Zukoski

Contributing Photographer Angie Garcia

Illustrator

Trish

Angie

Hannah

I can think of so many I would have liked to learn from, but for pure entertainment, I think Picasso could give you a run around the table and a lot of laughs.

Richard Avedon – he had a way of capturing raw emotion that was haunting yet stunning.

I’d love to take road trip across the Southwest with Georgia O’Keefe. I’d draw the line at camping though.

(Pun intended.)

Laney

Cortney

Angela

Eric

Steve Penley. Well, maybe Picasso. Yeah, Picasso - final answer.

Vince Kadlubek, the creator of the art collective and immersive experience, Meow Wolf. As an artist, Vince is the most creative guy I can think of.

I have a long list: Josh Homme, Chris Cornell, George Strait, and Willie, of course!

Vincent Van Gogh. He seemed like an interesting guy, and I would imagine he had some great stories to tell.

Trish Wise

Lead Design

Cover Design

Conor Dardis

Victoria Wise

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Whole Foods in the Waterside shopping center.

Places And Spaces, Art And Community Letitia Huckaby remembers being warned by an art professor during her undergraduate studies not to marry another artist.

Now a distinguished photographer, Letitia laughs as she recalls this moment and turns to look at her husband, Sedrick, a highly regarded sculptor and painter. With his hands in his lap and his head bowed, you can just catch the glimpse of a grin on Sedrick’s face. Letitia goes on to add, “Outside of our faith, [art] has been one of the great strengths of our marriage because we understand what the other person is trying to do. And we can support each other in that regard.”

The Huckabys are prominent in the art world, which is a polite and understated way to say that the Huckabys are a very big deal. Both artists are educated in their disciplines, with five degrees between them, have exhibited at galleries and museums all over the country, and have works in permanent collections and the Library of Congress.

To have such lauded artists right in our backyard is a testament to our city, for appreciating and fostering the work of local artists, and to the Huckabys themselves, who have chosen Fort Worth as their backdrop rather than a buzzier and more conspicuous city that other artists of their caliber might flock to. But this is home for the couple,

Lee

Victoria

Julie

There are so many – Artemesia Gentileschi, Frans Hals, Nina Simone, Yo-Yo Ma, Ruby Washington, Ciu Xiuwen, Eileen Atkins, Samuel West, Sophie Okenedo, Dorothy L. Sayers, …

Maybe because of my Oklahoma roots and love for the book East of Eden, I'd have to say Dorothea Lange during her Dust Bowl work. They knew true adversity, nothing like today's problems.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall during the shooting of the famous "Singin' In the Rain" scene with Gene Kelly. Apparently, he was running 103 fever, and yet his performance was flawless. I'm intrigued by a guy who would push his creative adrenaline to those limits.

and home is the setting for their newest endeavor, Kinfolk House, a collaborative project space in Polytechnic Heights where art and community will converge.

Long before it was Kinfolk House, it was the house of Hallie Beatrice Carpenter, Sedrick’s grandmother, affectionately known to everyone as “Big Momma.” A structure that has truly stood the test of time (100 plus years and counting), Sedrick remembers the house as a home in every sense of the word. “Creatively, she [the house] was a place people liked to come to. This is where we would gather. You were always welcome and if you were going through a hard time, it was somewhere you could stay if you needed to,” he recalls. He describes his grandmother as a “real spiritual woman” who loved her family, church, and neighbors, the universal elements that support a strong community framework. These elements are also recurring themes expressed in Letitia’s photography, which documents the experiences of Black Americans, and Sedrick’s paintings, which highlight the remarkableness of everyday people.

The Huckabys’ vision for Kinfolk House did not emerge overnight. Like anything meaningful, it took time to develop. According to Sedrick, “It was the culmination of years of life, years of thinking, and a number of things that cross intersect.” A pivotal experience studying the master paintings in Europe, which inspired his love for Old World chapels, expanded his perception of art as it relates to place. “Visiting these wonderful places and spaces, places that have a certain essence to them, you are just moved by being in this artistic environment.

And that would later intersect with thoughts about community, different communities I’ve been in, thoughts about family, and thoughts about art in general.”

Eventually, the Huckabys determined that Big Momma’s house, a space sacred to the family, should be reimagined as a space to cultivate and harvest art in this richly cultural neighborhood. The

04

mission statement of Kinfolk House states, “Our goal is to uplift the beauty, talent, and culture in Polytechnic and feed its creativity by offering collaborative exhibitions, events, and educational opportunities of various disciplines.”

Details of works by Letitia (left) and Sedrick (right) Huckaby.

Photo courtesy of Kinfolk House

It’s been 12 years since the Huckabys took ownership of Big Momma’s. Kinfolk House officially opened its doors to the public on March 5. To commemorate this momentous occasion, Letitia and Sedrick are hosting their first project, Welcome, a special collaboration of combined works that reflect family, heritage, and legacy. The exhibit pays homage to Big Momma, born Hallie Beatrice Welcome, and runs from March 5 to April 24. As the name implies, all are welcome.

The beauty of art is that it can be anything to anyone. For Letitia, art is found in movement and setting captured with her camera. For Sedrick, it’s best expressed through clay and oil paint. And while their mediums are different, the two perceive art, this abstract expression of creativity and emotion, as an innate form of expression found in all human beings. Simply put, art is their love language.

by Hannah Bush

the beloved sign, which will hang in the art gallery of the complex, and Caya won, beating out over 50 artists with far more experience.

unlike any other.

A junior at Paschal High School, Caya runs cross country, collects vinyl, and has developed a deep love of

When she is not busy with painting murals, winning contests, running cross country, and being a high school student, Caya is preparing art to show at 2022’s Christmas in Cowtown and at the Armadillo Art Bazaar in Austin,

C O G L N U I R K FU A L WAVES M

by Angela Weaver

Photos courtesy of Caya Crum

music, especially that of David Bowie and Kate Bush. She also loves old movie soundtracks, and this affinity for music is reflected in her art.

If there is an embodiment of the archetypal cool, artsy girl, Caya Crum is it. At 16 years old, Caya has made a name for herself in the Fort Worth art scene. With her modern Texan spin on pop art, Caya is making some majorly happy and colorful waves in Cowtown.

Caya works from her bedroom in her parents’ home that is busting at the seams with artistic talent. Her mother Betsy, a talented artist, and father Carl, a photographer, instilled a love of all things creative in her from the start. They have a business called Sort of Cool Art which features works which highlight all things Texas. Think Whataburger, Willie, Will Rogers, Dr. Pepper, and rattlesnakes.

Caya credits her parents as being her biggest inspiration, and rightfully so. Her earliest art memory is running around various art shows across the state with her parents. Betsy and Carl instilled a love of art into Caya from very young age, so it is only natural that she is already running her own business and creating beautiful pieces with a uniquely modern Texan touch

A stunning piece of hers recently sold at the Fort Worth Stock Show features Townes Van Zandt.

Caya and her family spend a lot of time traveling, and she credits her time in New Mexico as another artistic influence. When she’s not running cross country, she spends a couple afternoons a week after school at her booth in the Montgomery Street Antique Mall, where you will find her work for sale. From custom works to portraits of famous people, Caya’s work will make you smile.

Fort Worth’s beloved Swiss Pastry

Shop recently hired Caya to paint a mural on the side of their building.

You can’t drive down West Vickery Boulevard without noticing the girl on the wall eating the bakery’s legendary Black Forest cake. And more murals are coming soon. Caya is currently working on a 55-foot mural on the side of the Welman Project’s building, also on West Vickery, which brings to life the mission of the non-profit to provide surplus materials from businesses to classrooms and teachers in need to encourage creativity in their classrooms. Full of color and warmth, the mural is an exciting addition to this area of town which is undergoing quite the renaissance.

In 2021, Caya was awarded the commission to repurpose the iconic Massey’s Restaurant and Chicken Fried Steaks sign. When the Fort Worth landmark on 8th Avenue was demolished in 2014, the sign remained until Everly Place, a senior apartment community, was built.

A contest was held to repurpose

where she will be the featured artist for 2022. As the featured artist, Caya will design the branding for the show, which features national and local artists and is held two weeks before Christmas.

Caya is as driven and brilliant as any artist, and yet she is undeniably a teenager; her artistic energy and whimsical fashion sense are combined with a professional poise far beyond her years. She dreams of studying abroad and working for the National Gallery in Washington D.C. There are big things to come for this rising star, and we are most definitely here for it.

Fresh Family Recipes

Nancy Lamb’s Stuffed Seafood Portobellos Sculptor and painter Nancy Lamb is the doyenne of the Fort Worth art scene. Her whimsical works delight viewers while challenging them to think of the subject matter in a deeper way.

Her stuffed seafood portobellos are completely delicious and feature locally made Bel Air Ranch Herbs & Spice Seasoning.

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Ingredients 4 large portobello mushrooms, cleaned, gills removed with a spoon, and stems removed and reserved 4 ounces lump crabmeat 4 ounces fresh scallops, diced ½ cup panko crumbs 1 hearty tablespoon Bel Air Ranch Herbs & Spice Seasoning Juice of ½ lemon 2/3 cup shredded cheese, divided use [Editor’s note: we liked Fontina in this recipe] 1 egg, beaten Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste Lemon wedges for serving

Central Market’s Grilled Baby Artichokes with Lemon, Olive Oil, and Mint This recipe is the embodiment of spring. The fresh ingredients are simple and healthy, and the result is utterly delicious.

Ingredients 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped Salt and black pepper to taste 1 cup olive oil infused with Meyer Lemon [available at Central Market] 2 lemons, halved 12 fresh baby globe artichokes

Directions Preheat the oven to 375° and coat a shallow baking dish with nonstick spray.

Directions Juice the lemons into a large bowl filled with cold water. Halve the baby artichokes and place in the lemon water until ready to boil. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drain the artichokes and boil until fork tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Drain the artichokes and set aside to cool. The recipe can be prepared to this point up to one day ahead. Prepare your grill to medium-hot. While the grill is heating, whisk the fresh mint into the olive oil with salt and pepper to taste. Brush the artichoke halves with the dressing and grill until tender and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Transfer the halves to a platter and drizzle with some of the remaining dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Arrange the cleaned mushrooms in the prepared baking pan.

Dice the stems of the portobello mushrooms.

Dice the scallops. Add the stems, scallops, and crabmeat to a bowl. Add the panko, Bel Air Ranch Herbs & Spices Seasoning, all but 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese, and the lemon juice and gently toss to combine.

Serves 4 as a main dish.

Trish Wise’s “I’m Going to Be in the Studio for a Long Time” Stuffed Shells/Manicotti

Season to taste with salt and pepper before gently stirring in the beaten egg. Divide the stuffing between the mushrooms, compressing gently to form a slight mound.

“I can’t recall the first time I made this, but it was a hit with adults and children, so it became a staple. I learned that it’s best made ahead of time, so the flavors have a chance to mix. Rewarm to piping hot just before serving.” – Trish Wise

Ingredients

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the seafood stuffing is set and a light golden brown.

1 pound Italian sausage, sweet or spicy or half and half 2 cups ricotta cheese, full fat or low fat 1 ½ cups Hellmann’s mayonnaise (no substitutes here!)

2 cups shredded mozzarella 1 package manicotti or jumbo shells (according to Trish, the shells are easier to stuff) 1 24-ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

Remove from the oven and top each mushroom with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Serves 4.

Directions Preheat the oven to 350°. Brown the sausage in a skillet. Set aside to cool. Cook the manicotti or jumbo shells according to the package directions. While it’s cooking, mix the sausage, ricotta, mayonnaise, and half the mozzarella together in a big bowl. Once the pasta is cooked, drained, and rinsed, stuff the sausage mixture into the pasta.

Illustrations by Trish Wise

Pour a thin layer of spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a casserole dish.

Layer the stuffed pasta into casserole and cover with the remaining sauce and mozzarella. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through.

Serves 4 to 6.

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enthralled with the act of creating, and her teachers supported this newfound passion. Outside of school, she frequented art museums with her parents and engaged in cultural activities offered in the area.

“As a kid, I was extremely shy… a total introvert.

I tell my friends that I used to let my parents talk for me. They liked to talk, so it kind of worked out. I would literally hide behind them, and people would ask me questions, and they’d answer for me. As I got older, I remember my dad telling my mom that she had to let me answer questions for myself. Now that I’m older, I draw energy from friends, family, and parties. It’s not that I necessarily want to talk during these things, but I like to be around a lot of people to observe and explore.”

Katie started out in college majoring in fashion design but finished with a degree in graphic design.

She found herself gainfully employed and sitting in front of a computer all day, where she spent time daydreaming about her true love – painting. She went Texas Women’s University and earned a Master’s of Arts with a focus on painting. “After graduating with a degree in painting, I had my first child and took some time off. I wanted to get back into art, but I didn’t know how.”

In one of those serendipitous turns that life sometimes takes, Tarrant County College was looking for an adjunct professor of design. Katie got the job and after teaching her first design class, she was hooked.

It was while she was teaching that Katie was offered an incredible opportunity which jumpstarted her career as an artist. Sisters Susan Gruppi and Jessica Miller Essl had formed M2G Ventures and offered Katie a new role in which she could combine her knowledge of graphic design, architecture, and art by creating a series of inspirational murals on commercial buildings. “[Susan and Jessica] hired me to paint murals…

to inject life into old buildings. This added a new medium into my repertoire, and I am forever grateful to them for giving me a public platform to express myself through art… When this opportunity approached itself to me, I was really nervous about it because I had never painted at that skill before.”

We women are our own harshest critics. As soon as an opportunity presents itself, our first response is that we aren’t good enough to take it, or we don’t want to let anyone down.

Imposter syndrome is real, and sadly, it is far more prevalent among women.

“My greatest challenge was overcoming an insecure mind,” said Katie. “It took a lot of selfencouraging… I realized I had to stop the self-doubt and recognize the amazing opportunity I’ve been given. At one point, I actually typed an email to Susan telling her I can’t do this and thank you for the opportunity, and even recommended a couple of artists who I thought would do a great job. I typed it out and it was ready to be sent. I deleted it and decided I was going to make it happen. I’d figure it out.”

Katie took a leap of faith, and now her murals are helping to turn Fort Worth into one of the most colorful cities in Texas.

So, what’s next for Katie? Be on the lookout for ‘unicorn cycles’ which integrate Katie’s design and art in a new partnership between M2G and Fort Worth Bike Sharing, which has bike share stations across the city.

These days, Katie finds inspiration all around her. Katie loves traveling, visiting other museums and galleries, and especially curating. She can find inspiration absolutely anywhere.

“You’ll find inspiration everywhere, as long as you’re open to it.”

“”

I realized I had to stop the self-doubt and recognize the amazing opportunity I’ve been given...

Finding Inspiration All Around Her Artist. Painter. Curator. Muralist. Teacher. Founder.

Mother. Wife. Chief Creative Officer.

These are just a few of the hats Katie Murray wears as she contributes her many talents to the art and culture of Fort Worth.

Currently, Katie is the Chief Creative Officer at M2G Ventures, a commercial real estate group.

Katie is the artist responsible for making Cowtown more beautiful one mural at a time. As a guest on The FoundHers Club Podcast, Katie opened up and shared how “career fear” nearly held her back from making the career move of her dreams.

At her kindergarten graduation, a shy Katie leaned into the microphone and announced she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. During her first art class in high school, she became

by Cortney Gumbleton

Photo by Reverie Photo Co.

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GALLERY ONE Gallery One Frames is known for creating beautiful frames for their residential clients, as well as commercial and corporate collections. With a combined 40 years of experience, Vince Veazey and Alden Williams will make sure your pieces are beautifully framed for generations to come.

Madeworthy: What is the tie between Gallery One Frames and William Campbell Gallery?

Gallery One Frames: William Campbell Gallery and Gallery One Frames are really two sides of the same coin. It’s all one business. It’s great to have Gallery One Frames because we can frame any work of art that we sell out of the gallery here on site. We also get a lot of walk-in customers that have framing work of their own. And we do any type of installation, commercial or residential. The gallery and the frame shop support each other, and that’s been a very successful combination.

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MW: How do you learn to be a custom framer?

GOF: Both Vince and Alden have BFAs in studio art. Their educations in art history and the artmaking process helps them make informed choices when handling and framing artwork. They frame with a focus on the conservation of the artwork. They also consider the chemistry involved, account for different substances, and decide about how the various elements [piece being framed, matting materials, etc.] will react over time.

MW: There are so many styles of frames, how does one know what will work best with the art and with their home or office?

GOF: When looking at artwork you will have colors and patterns as key elements. Considering different color mats and frame patterns, one can mix and match these to create a coordinated display. If you are trying to create a cohesive visual narrative in your home, you will need framing that creates a transition point between the artwork and the home décor.

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Photo by Jen Morley Burner

MW: What are the trendy, new materials you are using to frame art?

GOF: Right now, we have a collection of acrylic frames called "Prisma" that is very trendy. You can choose from a large range of colors and designs that make them highly customizable. As they are acrylic, they are unique in how they create a range of visual depth and dimension to framing.

MW: What is the most difficult piece you have had to frame?

GOF: We have had several challenging projects. Our top three would have to be framing a 10-foot drawing that required us to custom build and finish a frame by hand, a Damien Hurst print with diamond dust (which was very difficult to clean), and a family tree hair wreath.

MW: Does your dream client give you a piece of artwork with free reign, or do you prefer specific direction?

GOF: Each of us has a personal taste, but we really enjoy collaborating with our clients. Clients can oftentimes expand your visual language and problem solving. With more experience, you can create a catalog of visual formulas and troubleshooting. We see ourselves as expert guides to help create something special. Our most successful projects are when clients can give us a good direction of their vision while also being open to input.

MW: Our magazine is geared toward families; how do you help them with photo gallery walls that are so popular? It seems like you have to make the sizes work like a puzzle.

GOF: One format is to have the same size frames for all the photos so that border of the mat will adjust to each photo. The installation is typically a grid lay out. When framing different sizes, all we need to know is the limitation of wall space. Vince, our expert framer and installer, will lay out what is called a “salon style” wall and make the works fit together on the desired wall space.

HELPING FAMILIES BUILD MEMORIES

MW: How does Gallery One support the arts scene in Fort Worth?

GOF: Gallery One Frames and William Campbell Gallery have been members of the Fort Worth Art Dealer’s Association since its inception.

FWADA sponsors Spring and Fall Gallery Night every year as well as microgrants for emerging artists.

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Artist Jay Wilkinson is one of the leading lights of the Fort Worth art scene. Wilkinson grew up in and around Fort Worth, both personally and professionally. After years of being what he calls an “outsider artist,” Wilkinson is a Bass Artist in Residence and a gallery owner.

Now, for the first time, Wilkinson sits down with Madeworthy to talk about his art, his past as the enfant terrible of the Fort Worth art scene, and maturing into a mentor and cheerleader for younger artists.

Madeworthy: Tell us about your youth – where did you grow up?

Jay Wilkinson: I grew up in the Mid Cities area. It was a traditional kind of late nineties childhood in the suburbs. My parents divorced when I was nine… we went through some financial struggles, but my mother was always a huge source of imagination and creativity. One time, she used old craft supplies to paint all our faces like the dog, so he felt more comfortable in the family MW: What made you want to pursue art? Was there an influential teacher who saw your potential?

JW: When I was young, I had an intense case of dyslexia. I wrote backward, reading was difficult, and I hated doing it. My mother got me comics books because [she hoped] looking at the images would provoke me into reading the captions… Instead, it just made me want to draw everything I saw…

MW: Where did you receive formal training/education? Was there an influential teacher who saw your potential?

JW: I’m mainly self-taught. I briefly attended the Pratt institute in Brooklyn after high school, but didn’t stay… My most important teacher was my high school art teacher, Mr. Floyd.

He introduced me to oil painting and saw something in me… he [made me] his teaching assistant so he could work with me one-on-one, and I had two hours of dedicated work time a day.

Portrait of the Artist in His Own Words

by Madeworthy Editorial Staff Photos by Angie Garcia

MW: Did you have the typical "struggling artist" years? What do you propelled you to become a full-time artist?

JW: After I left college, I didn’t actively paint for almost seven years. I was moving around and trying out different careers and lives. I think I lost confidence for a bit. It happens.

In 2010, I came to Fort Worth after losing a very dear friend in a difficult way, and I found a strange little community of musicians, artists, and weirdos at a little underground music venue on the Southside called The Wherehouse. There I found a whole pile of folks like me… I went a little nuts for a bit, creating giant sculptures, murals, and everything in between on a shoestring budget (which I learned from my mother) for the different parties we would throw… I met Jeremy Joel and Brandon Pederson who would eventually help me create my “train track” art collective, Bobby on Drums. We spent years throwing odd parties and over-the-top installation shows... It wasn’t exactly legal, but it was the world under the world, and that’s where artists live. It was the first time I felt like I was an artist.

MW: How did you get selected to be a Bass Artist in Residence?

JW: After some wild years of those outsider adventures, we finally made enough noise to be unavoidable, and we met Lauren Childs of Fort Works Art. Not only did she think what we were doing was necessary, she took Jeremy and me on as represented artists.

She helped us elevate the work and ourselves professionally… she helped our work be seen nationally in major art fairs around the country.

Lauren later introduced me to the Basses through a large-scale sculpture project, and I guess they saw something in me. They have since helped me get my work into spaces and collections I couldn't imagine on my own. They also gave me an opportunity to open my gallery/studio DANG GOOD CANDY, which allows me to pay forward all the support I have received to upcoming artists.

MW: What have you learned about your collectors?

Do you take commissions, and do they influence your work?

JW: I have quite a few very loyal collectors, and I can't stress how important they are to the life of an artist… they are a source of financial support and also of emotional support.

Being an artist is an entrepreneurial endeavor but at the very far end of the [entrepreneurial] branch where it’s scariest. You’re creating something from a vulnerable place that doesn't have any inherent utility to itself except beauty (or ugliness) so using a tried-and-true business strategy is impossible, especially if your inner voice isn't sure you’re good. Many artists are

10

artists because the regular structure of the business world doesn't come naturally to them. Surviving as a career artist is extremely difficult. Collectors are people who see you. They see all the toil and sacrifice. They see the love, and they tell you with their support (and their wallets) that you should continue to bring things into the world. That’s a huge vote of confidence, and I highly recommend everyone buy art at any level they can today! I also do really enjoy commissions they sometimes take you to places you probably wouldn’t normally have gone.

one place… [it] really allows them to see the scope and unified message in their work and [become] a stronger artist... these are the artists to purchase before they take off launch into the stratosphere!

MW: What social issues are reflected in your work?

Which ones are you most passionate about?

JW: My work has been traditionally portraiture, and I’ve always been interested in human socialization and memory and how they influence each other.

On a large scale, [I’m fascinated] with how we communicate with others, how we communicate with ourselves, how we form identities through relationships, and the way our past relationships affect creating new ones. My solo show from a few years back at Fort Works Art was titled Everyone Poops, which is a funny name inspired by the potty-training book, but it’s also about the concept that when forming strong relationships… there is a 100% certainty that you will one day hurt someone, and they will hurt you. Not necessarily on purpose or irrevocably. It could be small, but it will happen…

MW: What was the biggest hurdle and learning experience that the pandemic brought you and the art scene in general?

JW: I was living in New York when the pandemic started. I had moved up there a few months before and was working as an installation coordinator for the Armory Show Art Fair when it struck. It was a very intense experience seeing the devastation and the fear of the unknown in a city that large. I think what was difficult for me was that art had always been side by side in my mind with exhibitions, parties, or social events. I've always enjoyed the work of creating an experience for an audience, and the lack of that audience forced me to re-tool my understanding of how I went about my art.

MW: Why did you decide to open DANG GOOD CANDY, and how are you spotting new talent?

JW: The name DANG GOOD CANDY comes from

MW: How often do you launch new exhibits/bring in new artists?

JW: We usually do one a month to every six weeks.

There are couple other great galleries downtown, (Bale Creek Allen Gallery and Love Texas Art from Artspace 111), and we usually like to time our openings together.

MW: On a lighter note, name three up-and-coming artists from Fort Worth we should keep an eye on.

JW: Enrique Nevarez, Sarah Ayala, and Weston Finney.

“”

I’ve always been interested in human socialization and memory and how they influence each other. an inside joke with my late partner, Jeremy Joel.

He died in May 2020, and the gallery is named for and inspired by him. Our relationship started in the wild days, and our mission was to be the strong antiestablishment voice you’d expect from the young, broke, and unseen... As we grew up and progressed… we were always that leveling agent for each other – it’s about the work; don’t get caught in you don't have.

I guess this is my attempt at being that person that for others. I like to show emerging or midcareer artists who haven’t gotten an opportunity to do a solo exhibition or see a body of their work in

MW: Congratulations are in order! We hear the big date for your wedding is this summer. Tell us a little about your fiancée.

JW: She’s incredible. She's a bit private, so I don't want to say too much but, yeah, she's my right arm.

Being with her is like sleeping when you're tired.

She's brilliant, intuitive, challenging, and a better artist than I am. I’m happy.

Quick Study

Where do you go to get inspired?

I really enjoy walking around the railroad tracks.

It’s quiet and industrial and old. Love it.

Where do you go to unwind?

I’m a big outside guy. I hate the winter.

I recently got into paddle boarding – I’m a big fan.

MW: What are you looking forward to most during your New Orleans wedding?

JW: Beignets!

Best cocktail or bar in Fort Worth?

I’m partial to Tarantula Tiki Bar; it’s next to [DANG GOOD CANDY]… every drink is titled like a Don Henley song.

MW: What do you most want to accomplish with your career and life?

JW: This one is tough because I feel like just when I have an idea, my metric for “success” changes.

I don’t think there exists a stopping point, and I hope things just get weirder.

Are you an early bird or night owl?

Early now [that] I’m 36. I tried to convince my fiancée to call it at 9 o’clock last night!

MW: What do you want to be known for?

JW: I don’t know about this one yet either. I hope I haven’t even begun to make the work that will define me. Hopefully, it’s something ridiculous.

MW: What keeps you up at night?

JW: A lot. It’s a big, complicated time, but I’d say art engagement. There’s a problem between patrons or private business in understanding the value of what we do. Like I said before, it’s tough being an artist, and I know it can be tough working with an artist. Communication isn’t always our strong suit.

If you do choose to commission or work with an artist on a project, remember [the artist has] mastered a skill. Somewhat like a plumber or an electrician, it takes countless hours for proficiency, and sometimes it can even be dangerous. Artists should always be paid as such. I know that so many artists love to create and would gladly do it for free or even at a cost to themselves, but at every level, they deserve compensation for their skill… Help them continue making things more interesting for all of us.

MW: Have you or will you create NFTs [nonArtwork courtesy of Jay Wilkinson

fungible tokens]? What do you think about this new medium?

JW: I haven’t yet tried it, but I have many friends who have… I love the concept that there is a trackable strategy for “royalties” in art. It sounds promising, but I don’t know enough yet. I could use some help with it.

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Favorite place to listen to live music?

Tulips FTW is great. Great room and they have a great booker.

One place you hope never goes out of business?

Jazz Cafe on Montgomery.

Best black beans I’ve ever had.

Biggest pet peeve?

Slow walkers.

Favorite weekend destination?

There’s an amateur wrestling league in Bedford you got to see to believe.

International locale you dream to visit?

Spain - someone just recommended Costa Brava to me today. Honeymoon?

Most coveted art piece in your collection?

I have a portrait I did of a friend who passed away that Jeremy [Joel] collaborated on before he passed, so its two of my pals who are gone together.

It means everything to me.

Who would you like to collaborate with?

My pal and great artist Erik Inkala look him up, it’s great stuff!

Favorite yearly event in Fort Worth?

ArtsGoggle is great.

Is There Such a Thing as

the Perfect Theater Camp?

by Julie K. Rhodes

I’m often asked about which are the “good” kids’ theater classes around town. I say that it depends on your goals. Do you want to help your daughter become a theater professional? Do you want a fun, immersive experience that will bring your son out of his shell? Do you want more general theater training or something specific? Theater, after all, is a broad, bedazzled umbrella. Fort Worth’s theaters offer a myriad of options when it comes to classes and camps. The choices can be a little overwhelming, but I promise your little (and not-so-little) ones will love these programs TAD-POLES STILT DANCING PROGRAM Theater: Amphibian Stage Productions Age Range: 12 to 17 In a nutshell: Tad-Poles stilt dancing program offers youth the opportunity to learn the unique art of stilt walking and dancing while developing a cultural understanding of its West African and Caribbean traditions.

Great match for kids who: Enjoy movement and dance, are adventurous, or just want to try something new.

Cost: $100 Dates: June – August 2022 (Exact dates to be announced

by April at amphibianstage.com.)

Sign-up Deadline: May 2022 For more Info: Contact Program Coordinator Andrea Ballard andrea@amphibianstage.com or call (817) 923-3012.

CAMP CASA – MADAGASCAR JR. Theater: Casa Mañana Age Range: 8 to 14 In a nutshell: Camp Casa provides a chance for kids to rehearse and perform a musical on the Casa stage. This summer’s show is Madagascar Jr. which offers young performers the opportunity to MOVE IT, MOVE IT! Great match for kids who: Want to explore theatre, sing, dance, act with professional teaching artists, have fun, and make new friends. All experience levels welcome.

Cost: $1,200 – scholarships are available BaseballAd.pdf

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Dates: June 20 through July 8, performances July 8 through 10 Sign-up Deadline: No deadline, but Camp Casa fills up quickly; there is almost always a waitlist.

For more Info: casamanana.org/education/ summer-camps/ HIGH SCHOOL PLAYWRITING PROJECT & STAGED READINGS Theater: Circle Theatre Age Range: 14 to 18 In a nutshell: Circle Theatre invites all DFW high school students to write and enter one act scripts for evaluation by an experienced panel of local professionals.

The top four scripts are then performed by professional actors as staged readings in a one-time performance.

Great match for kids who: Have an interest in theater and playwriting. It's also great for those who want to watch professional actors perform one-act plays written by students their same age.

Cost: Free Dates: The staged readings will be performed (tentatively) June 26 at 7 p.m. on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University (outdoors).

Sign-up Deadline: April 1 for student playwright submissions For more info: circletheatre.com/hspp or email hspp@circletheatre.com.

JUBILEE SUMMER THEATER CAMP 2022 Theater: Jubilee Theatre Age Range: 10 to 14 In a nutshell: Young artists will engage in writing, performance techniques, movement, and stage disciplines such as

stage management, design, prop building, production management, and numerous arts and craft projects, all culminating in a devised staged production.

Great match for kids who: Have an interest in performing, writing, and collaborative work.

Cost: $150.00 for three weeks; only 50 slots are available Dates: July 5th – July 22nd Sign-up Deadline: April 29 For more info: Contact DWRichardson@jubileetheatre.org KIDS WHO CARE MINI CAMP Theater: Kids Who Care Age Range: 4-7 In a nutshell: Each day of Mini Camp is filled with creative movement, theatre games, and music. Led by teaching professionals who love working with children, Mini Camp helps kids develop physical and vocal confidence through concentration, observation, cooperation, imagination, and sensory recall.

Great match for kids who: Love having fun, but maybe don’t know much about performing — yet!

Cost: $400 Dates: June 6 through 10, 2022, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Sign up deadline: May 31 For more info: kidswhocare.org.

STAGE WEST’S SUMMER CONSERVATORY Theater: Stage West Age Range: 13 to 18 In a nutshell: The Summer Conservatory is an innovative program offering teenagers a chance to study all aspects of theatre

through the mentorship of professional artists.

Students will perform in a fully produced original adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, as well as help the production team bring design elements to life.

Great for kids who: Have an interest in the professional processes of theatre both on stage and off, whether they are beginners or have plenty of experience.

Cost: $650 – scholarships are available Dates: July 11 through 29 Sign-up Deadline: July 10 For more Info: Email education@stagewest.org ADVENTURES IN THEATER CAMP Theater: Theatre Arlington Age Range: 8 to 16 In a nutshell: Adventures in Theater Camp offers a comprehensive overview of performance and the technical aspects of theater, covering acting, dance, voice, stage combat, costume design, construction, and lighting and sound design using teachers who specialize in their class subject.

Great match for kids who: Are new to performing or for those who are looking for a multifaceted theater camp.

Cost: $425 Dates: July 11 through 22 Sign-up Deadline: July 1 For more Info: theatrearlington.org/acts/

The Heart of Art and Soul There are few things that I love more than creating art. Teaching art is one of those things, and it’s become my life’s work. There’s just something about watching kids create that inspires me and makes me glad I’m doing what I’m doing. I opened Art and Soul with the idea of helping kids explore their creativity in ways that aren’t always available in school or at home.

From a young age, my art-loving mom signed me up for every art class and camp our hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, had to offer. I vividly and fondly remember my instructors, lessons, and the skills that came out of them. Whenever I go back to visit Atlanta and see the art my mom saved from thirty years ago, I smile.

Through all my years, I have set out to explore different mediums and styles, allowing myself to explore the full spectrum that art has to offer. It’s by doing and practicing that we figure out what we really like and where our specialties lie. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help children figure out their own art paths.

“Why kids?” you ask. I see myself as a natural when it comes to kids. I think I get it from my parents. My dad

coached youth sports his entire life, even before my brother and I were born. My mom was a preschool art teacher for 17 years. Teaching and guiding the youth was always in their blood, and I am lucky that passion found its way to me. I love helping to mold the creative side in young kid, giving them a creative outlet to express themselves through art.

I moved to Fort Worth in August of 2010. My brother, Jake, was a student at TCU, and my uncle owned a land service company. When I came to visit Jake, my uncle offered me a salary I couldn’t refuse, and then, a few years later, I fell in love.

When my stepdaughter, Emery, came into my life, art was something that immediately connected us. At that time, I had been working in the oil and gas industry for a few years, and besides the occasional painting commission, art had all but disappeared from my daily life. It wasn’t until I began creating art with Emery that I was reminded just how passionate I was about it and how much I missed teaching art to kids.

She helped relight that inner passion, ultimately pushing me to follow my dreams of opening an art school.

Photo courtesy of Laney Espenlaub

Opening an art school for kids has always been something I’ve considered, but timing always seemed to be off. Then I heard that Van Grow would be closing their doors in 2020.

I couldn’t fathom the idea of kids not having a creative outlet in Fort Worth.

I thought to myself, I can do that.

Around the same time, a neighbor friend and I were walking to an estate sale when she asked me if I knew where The Welman Project’s new location was going to be. The thought that this huge old building was going to be available, and it was so close to my house – it was fate.

I saw renovating the space as an art project in and of itself. We poured our blood, sweat, and tears into this place, but I knew that if I could get it looking the way I wanted that I was 100% capable of running a successful and wonderful place where kids could come and create art. It's just kind of what I was meant to do. Now Art and Soul is space that any creative person would itch to get into. It’s something that I am truly proud of and a place I

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love walking into every day.

It’s a hard place not to fall in love with, and I cannot wait to share it with the community!

I want to help kids create unique pieces of art that are not only fun to create but that the kids will be proud of. When you come to Art and Soul, you know that your child will create something that you wouldn’t get at another art class while having a fun and energetic experience. They will create a mix of unique pieces to keep forever and pieces that are more exploratory. After all, art is more about the process of creating rather than the end result, and I’m happy to help them on their journey!

by Laney Espenlaub

Art or Craft?

The Pottery of Sarah Colby Levings When does a craft become art? was always my goad to make the leap Dictionaries are no help in defining the to making pottery full time,” Sarah said. difference. Merriam-Webster defines “Art is a viable profession; you can a craft as “an occupation, trade, or make a living from it. But you have to activity requiring manual dexterity or invest the time and energy into yourself. artistic skill,” while the Oxford English COVID gave me that time.”

Dictionary defines art as “skill in doing Ceramics is not an easy medium. anything as the result of knowledge and There are so many things that can go practice.” wrong. At any point during the process, Generally speaking, a craft is which usually involved at least two kiln something that can be duplicated firings, something can happen that will again and again, requiring skill but not cause the piece to break. With ceramics, inspiration and passion. Art requires the artist has to balance technical knowinspiration and passion. It’s also implied how, brute strength, and a willingness that you can make a living with a craft, to let the process take its own course. while the starving artist is a clichéd Sarah works with porcelain, which figure in our society. while it gives her pieces the pure white So how do we define the pieces that background she wants, is a notoriously Sarah Colby Levings makes? The bowls, temperamental clay. It is less forgiving mugs, and jars she makes definitely take than stoneware or earthenware, and skill. Throwing on a potter’s wheel isn’t many potters avoid it. But Sarah easy. The technical aspects of working embraces it. with ceramics, especially porcelain, “When I was going through the which is Sarah’s preferred medium and painting program [at UNT], we were is notoriously cranky, take practice exposed to all theses masterpieces that and skill. are very realistic, heavily controlled, But you cannot deny that Sarah’s perfect works, and that’s what I tried works are art. The forms and colors to make early on. But then you start resonate on a level that raises them encountering and interacting with other above mere craft. There is emotion [media]… It’s in my nature to be really and passion in each piece that elevates controlling of my work, but when I them above a useful object. started working with clay, it was a way Sarah Colby Levings is a North Texas for me to let go of control.” girl, born and bred. Growing up in Red Sarah has turned the living room of Oak, just south of Dallas, Sarah said it the Arlington Heights bungalow that wasn’t until high school that she took a she shares with her new husband, Scott painting class. “There were only three Levings, into her studio. “Scott is an of us in that class,” she remembered. “It artist, too. He’s turned the dining room wasn’t a heavily artistic town, and it was into his studio.” She fires her materials a typical small-town Texas high school – at Firehouse Pottery. (It’s hard to fit a lots of football.” full-size kiln into a bungalow.) Firehouse That high school art class, small owner Keith Thomson has become a as it was, sparked something in Sarah. friend and mentor. “Keith is amazing. I She realized that she had a talent for was connected to him through Art Tooth it. Art gave her an outlet, a means of when I did a show with them a couple expression. Like most young artists, of years ago. He was willing to fire my Sarah’s early work was realistic, stuff for the show, and our relationship representational. “I found I was pretty has now kind of grown.” good at a realistic style of painting, and Now that Sarah is making her I wanted to pursue it.” pieces full time, she and her husband Wanting to continue with her art are hoping to take their art to the next education but not wanting to have to level. While her Instagram account travel to far from home, Sarah headed (@sarahandthings) shows her works, to the University of North Texas (UNT) she hasn’t had an easy way to get her for college. “I wish I would have gone pieces into the hands of the public. So farther for college now,” she said.

Sarah and Scott are launching a website But it was while at UNT that she was that will feature both of their art, and introduced to what would become her their goal is to have a shared workspace life’s passion. where people can come see what each “I took ceramics as an elective, and is doing. Scott grew up with local artist something just clicked,” Sarah said. “I Jay Wilkinson (see page 10), and Sarah was initially in their painting program marvels at the interconnectedness of the and had shuffled around in a Fort Worth art scene. lot of different majors, as you “It’s crazy how everyone is connected do.” The ceramics class gave Sarah her here. Everyone from the art scene and artistic medium. “I found my niche. I the music scene supports each other so was allowed to explore and experiment much,” Sarah said. “We also have access at UNT, and I took advantage of the to collectors and patrons, as well as program and the equipment that I museums and big institutions who want wouldn’t have access to otherwise.” to support local artists. You really don’t After graduation, Sarah bounced see that anywhere else.” back and forth between Dallas and Fort After putting her pottery on the back Worth, eventually staying on the cool burner for years, Sarah is finally allowing side of the Metroplex for good in 2015. herself to really follow her passion. And She found work managing the gallery while she’s not sure whether it’s an art or at Fort Works Art under Lauren Childs, a craft, her followers firmly believe it’s one of Fort Worth’s greatest mentors the former. to upcoming artists. But managing an “I don’t know whether it’s an art or art gallery didn’t leave much time for a craft, but it’s really neat to be able to Sarah to pursue her art. And then the make something with your hand that pandemic hit. people have been doing for thousands Like most places, Fort Works of years for people to use and enjoy.”

Art closed down during the initial shutdown. At a loose end, Sarah began

by Lee Virden Geurkink Photos by Angie Garcia to really pour herself into her art. “It Photos by Angie Garcia

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hello

world

Come See

WHO’S NEW AT THE ZOO Every day is a new adventure at the Fort Worth Zoo, especially with a growing Asian elephant calf! Explore our newest habitat, Elephant Springs, learn fascinating facts about our herd with up-close training demonstrations and keeper chats, and follow along with baby Brazos’ growth and development as he reaches new and exciting milestones. Plus, with nearly 7,000 other Zoo residents, there’s always more to explore!

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PROD. ART.:

JOB TITLE:

Zoo Brand Print

ART DIR.:

BL

COLORS:

CMYK

CLIENT:

JOB #:

FWZ

ACCT SERV.:

LB

TRIM:

11 X 8.5”

DATE:

2/10/22

BLEED:

0.125”

LIVE AREA:

NA

NOTES:

MA

No. of PAGES:

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P L A N Y O U R V I S I T AT

fortworthzoo.org

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WHITE INK VARNISH PMS XXXX DIELINE - DO NOT PRINT LIVE AREA - DO NOT PRINT

GUIDELINES FOR GENERAL SPECIFICATION ONLY

It’s time to fire up the grill and char a new course from burgers and brats to delicious worlds of tomahawk steaks, lobster tails, Gulf shrimp, veggies, and juicy watermelon. (Yes, watermelon!) Venture outside the ordinary this spring and let our aisles inspire exciting new grilling adventures!

FORT WORTH 4651 WEST FREEWAY | 817-989-4700 SOUTHLAKE 1425 E. SOUTHLAKE BLVD. | 817-310-5600

North Texas Reads

by Tina Miller Howard and Lee Virden Geurkink

Building on a love of the fantastic, Misty Hayes has become known as an author of well-writen, female-driven YA fantasy fiction. Her Blood Dagger series has won multiple awards, and the first book in the Ascended Guardians series, Shield & Shade, was published last year to great acclaim. When she’s not writing, Misty is directing short films, traveling, and riding herd on her tribe of nieces and nephews.

Although Richard Gonzales was born in Chicago, he has lived in Fort Worth since 1969.

After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in English, he was drafted into the army. He followed his honorable discharge with a master’s in social work from UTA. His book Raza Rising: Chicanos in North Texas is based on articles Gonzales wrote as a guest columnist for the Fort Worth StarTelegram. Drawing on his life and the lives and experiences of his community, Raza Rising is a personal take on issues facing Chicanos in North Texas.

Fabiana Elisa Martinez, linguist, language teacher, and writer, has loved books and words since she was a little girl in Buenos Aires. Her book of short stories, 12 Random Words/12 Palabras al Azar: A Bilingual Collection, has won multiple awards. Each story developed from an exploration of a single word and tells tales of hope, disappointment, and discovery. Martinez is a polyglot, speaking Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and Italian. She is working on a novel.

According to her author’s bio, Kimberly Griffin is a wife, blogger, stylist, foodie, and full-time stay at home mom. Whew! She can now add author to that list. Her debut book, Mama’s Braids, developed out of an extra credit assignment in an English course at the University of North Texas. With her professor’s and her family’s encouragement, Griffin developed her poem into a beautiful children’s book that is a legacy of love and pride for her two young daughters.

Texas Christian University alumna Michelle Marlow’s passion for helping children overcome speech disorders lead directly to her career as a children’s author. In each book in “A Series of Hard-to-Pronounce Letters,” Marlow, along with her sister-in-law Cynthia Ann Marlow, addresses a hard-to-pronounce letter in a fun and engaging way, allowing their young readers to build confidence as they overcome their speech disorders. The latest in the series, SH Is for Shiner, was published in October of 2021.

Dire’s Club, the latest book from Kimberly Packard, tells the story of Dire’s Club, a specialty travel agency. It won the award for Best Adult Fiction in 2021 at the North Texas Book Festival. A graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in journalism, Packard has worked in public relations and communications for almost 20 years. When she’s not writing, she’s running, doing yoga, and enjoying her husband Colby, cat Oliver, and dog Charlie.

What child hasn’t wondered how airplanes stay up in the air? Fortunately, Don Pegram and his alter-ego, Pop-Pop Airplane, are here to help!

After retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, Pegram was a pilot for Southwest Airlines, flying Boeing 737s. Pop-Pop Airplane stars in two books, Pop-Pop Airplane, How Do You Fly? and Let’s Go Fly with PopPop Airplane. Pegram now lives in Crowley with his wife. He has three children and four grandchildren.

Former elementary school teacher Laurie Cockerell collaborated with her brother Travis Dougherty on Magnificent Sam: The Amazing Adventures of Sam Houston and Founders' Fables. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, she has a love of Texas history and has written several books on it. She lives with her family in Fort Worth.

Chris Manno wants you to live his stories.

That’s what he teaches in his classes at Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University. His books aim to draw you in, to have you live the story. His nonfiction draws from Manno’s experiences as a pilot for a major carrier. His book Voodoo Rush was named Best Fiction of 2018 at the North Texas Book Festival, while An Airline Pilot’s Life won Best Nonfiction of 2020 at the same.

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Success Starts at Hill School K- 1 2 E D U CAT I O N F O R ST U D E N T S W H O L E A R N D I F F E R E N T LY.

You want your child to succeed, and we’re here to help. At Hill School, we foster a learning environment that helps every student grow socially, emotionally and physically so they have the skills to reach their full potential.

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Hulen Dental serves the community with a combined 35 years experience, and now we’re making two big changes to serve you better.

WE’RE MOVING OUR OFFICE We’re thrilled to announce we’ve broken ground at our new location at 4000 Bryant Irvin (next to Waterside), which will be open early 2022.

Continue to visit us at our Hulen location through 2021. We’ll will make sure you know when to head to the new location.

WE’RE REBRANDING On January 1, 2022, Hulen Dental will become Fort Dental. This name better represents you — our family of patients from all over Fort Worth.

BEAUTY IN THE

TEMPORARY One of the greatest things about Fort Worth is the vibrant and exciting art scene. One might be surprised to learn just how many talented artists live and work here. One Fort Worth artist, Jan Riggins, is a woman who can create beautiful images no matter the medium or style.

Whether it’s watercolors or chalk; in two dimensions or three; on the ground, on canvas, on a wall, or on the body; Jan creates beautiful and wondrous things.

When I met Jan, she was kind enough to give me a tour of her home gallery. The first thing I noticed was the watercolors. The walls were lined with portraits of animals, drawn with a level of realism and detail that I did not know was possible from watercolors. Among the animals were lions, zebras, birds, and more, all strikingly beautiful. Jan explained to me just how intensive the process was to create these works of art. Each one took weeks of meticulous work and almost pathological attention to detail.

Watercolor was Jan’s preferred medium for the longest time, but that began to change a few years ago.

Jan did not set out to become an artist. Growing up in Norman, Oklahoma, Jan was a talented clarinetist, competing throughout high school and college. Her mother and grandmother were visual artists, and those art genes and the love of creating are strong.

While working in a “real job,” she realized that she had to do something, anything, to let her creative side free. Her interest in chalk art began during the Covid shutdown in March of 2020, when Jan and her daughter began to use their driveway as their canvas.

Intrigued with the possibilities of this new medium, Jan dove headfirst into the world of threedimensional chalk art.

Chalk is a very different medium from watercolors, and making the works seem three dimensional just adds more challenges, but Jan adapted wonderfully. Luckily for her, there is a thriving, although comparatively small, chalk art community that was willing to help her out. Chalk art typically is showcased in chalk art festivals, and Jan has been to many of those, traveling to places like Atlanta, Minnesota, and Michigan to “perform.”

I say “perform” because there is a definite element of performance to it. Part of the fun of chalk festivals is to watch the artists create their art.

Artists are expected to interact with the crowd, answering questions and showing the crowd how the art is made. This can be helpful especially in the case of three-dimensional chalk art, which is a long and difficult process from planning to completion.

After the grid is completed, the artist follows the 'map', recreating the image on the ground. It is intensive, backbreaking work, often taking a full weekend to complete an image.

Once the piece is finished, it can be fully enjoyed by the crowd, but to get full effect, it must be viewed in the right manner. Three-dimensional art depends on perspective. There is one perfect place to stand to experience the three-dimensional effect, and it really helps to view the art through the lens of a camera, which will capture the work forever.

Chalk is temporary.

Most artists at chalk art festivals content themselves with creating two-dimensional art. They don’t want the headaches associated with three-dimensional chalk art. Threedimensional chalk art requires a huge amount of preparatory work before the festival even begins with no guarantee the final image will work, making it a risky choice when you only have a weekend to create a piece of work that is, in the end, completely transitory.

There is no starting over when it comes to three-dimensional chalk art.

A three-dimensional art piece is only as good as its preparation.

Typically, the artist meticulously plans the piece on a grid. Each square of the grid represents a square foot of pavement, with the grid acting as a map for the artist. Creating the grid is one of the hardest parts of the whole project. The artist must stretch and contort their image in just the right way to achieve the three-dimensional effect, making the image look very strange in two dimensions.

That, however, is one of the things that make chalk art festivals so fun.

You get to be one of the few people who can see the art in person as it was meant to be seen. You get to watch the artists as they create their art before it gets washed away. The journey is more important than the destination.

Chalk art is not the only temporary art Jan makes. She has recently started experimenting with body art.

Using peoples’ hands as a canvas, Jan uses the skin’s texture and the shadows created by the bones and sinews to create paintings of nature and animals, which have always been her preferred subject matter. The works are temporary like the chalk, but photography allows them to stick around forever.

Jan Riggins is a truly gifted artist.

Whether her canvas is the ground, the body, or the actual canvas does not matter. She utilizes all of them to full effect, and the results are beautiful no matter what. Those art genes.

They’re strong.

by Eric Zuckowski Photos by Jan Riggins

19

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colorado getaway

4205 Lone Oak Drive 76107 - sold

spring break at the carter Tuesday, March 15–Friday, March 18 1–3 p.m. Open to all ages.

Are you ready for a break? Spend the week with us as we raise our voices! Listen to inspirational stories, get creative, share ideas, and speak up on things that matter! Enjoy this free, fun-filled event with new activities daily including gallery games, art making, creativity challenges, and more.

FOOD • FUN • FREE

FESTIVITIES

APRIL 23 2–6 P.M.

CRoWning CoLor of 2022 Madeworthy reached out to Samantha Stewart of Style of Sam and Frank Moss of Franklin & Anthony to talk about fashion and this year’s spring trends. It’s no surprise these fashion experts chose Pantone’s 2022 color of the year, Very Peri, for their inspiration. Both hit the nail on the head, looking at once formidable and alluring. Samantha said to be on trend for spring, add bright colors, platform heels, preppy looks, micro miniskirts, and low-rise pants. She also warned not let trends dictate your entire look and to wear what works best for you.

- by Madeworthy Editorial Staff Madeworthy: What role does fashion play in your life?

Franklin Moss: Fashion is the key part of my business. Being the owner of Franklin & Anthony Suit Company that helps create looks (suits, trousers, waistcoats, jeans and shirts from scratch) for clients’ daily life, as well as those needing suits for special occasions, allows me to use fashion to serve people, helping them mentally and physically with confidence and pride in themselves, like clothes have done for me in my past.

Samantha Stewart: I've always loved fashion and use it to express myself creatively and emotionally. My mantra "Dress for How You WANT to Feel" is something that I do daily.

My love for fashion started at a young age when my mother and I would watch the "Fashion Report" on the news with Christiane Amanpour. We grew up modestly, and I used inspiration from magazines to recreate outfits with what I had in my closet which wasn't much).

It taught me to be resourceful and creative when it comes to clothes.

2. Accessories like pocket squares, glasses, bracelets, watches, and rings add to your look, but be aware of limits.

Doing too much can be just that – too much.

MW: What do you love about each of the clothing and/or accessories you wore?

3. Do not be afraid to have one pop of color, meaning don't be afraid to simplify an outfit with solid colors with one splash of color through an item, not wearing so many colors and patterns but keeping monotone in place for a harder effect.

SS: Overall, I love the periwinkle (lavender) color that is the Pantone color of 2022, which represents joy and creativity.

Christy Lynn, the designer of my dress, is a Houston-based sustainable luxury brand.

MW: What do you suggest people do to elevate their fashion choices?

FM: I have always suggested three things to add to a person's fashion: 1. Layering in pieces also adds to any outfit, whether vest, sweater, cardigans, or a denim jacket/vest. Creating layers adds more depth even in the summer.

SS: You can have the most expensive item, but if it doesn't fit you well, then the clothes are wearing you instead of you wearing the clothes. Spend that little bit to get something hemmed or taken in. And don't worry about sizes. They are different in every brand. You can always have something taken in if it's too big versus getting something too small that doesn't make you feel good about yourself.

MW: Which accessories do you make sure to include in your ensemble? Where do you suggest people shop for these?

SS: Jewelry is one of my favorite parts of an outfit whether is a statement earring or layered necklaces. Fort Worth has amazing places to shop for amazing jewelry. You Are Here, Bachendorfs, and Neiman Marcus have fantastic fine jewelry selections. Hale House and Beehive have fabulous on-trend jewelry. Laude the Label and The Worthy Co have beautiful sustainable jewelry.

FM: Pocket square, bracelet, and watch. I used to recommend brooches, but now I believe the simpler the better. [Frank recommends finding these accessories at Franklin & Anthony and Thirty Fifty.

You can follow these fashion voices on Instagram at @styleofsam and @franklinandanthony

Frank: Hat 2022 Dobbs Spring release Esquire B (Cotton sweatband Soft finish Milan Bound Edges, Waistcoat & Trousers Franklin & Anthony, purple and White banker stripe Franklin & Anthony, Purple Boss Tie, silk Pocket Square Art by Sunflowerman madeby Franklin & Anthony, Sheec brand of no-show socks, lavender Italian made suede Tassel loafer by Franklin & Anthony Sam: Christy Lynn Sara dress in violet, Bottega Veneta handbag and sandals + Chanel earrings from Neiman Marcus, vintage Hermès Belt from The Real Real.

Photo by Angie Garcia

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