Art Valet:Arts community shrinks at Soot to Soul show

Soot to Soul - A Winter Street Studios Art Show, is this Saturday, February 25, 2023, 5-9:00 p.m. hosted by Hardy and Nance Artist Studios at 902 Hardy Street, Houston, TX 77020.

El Guajillo Food Truck will be on site, and they are delicious. Winter Street Studios, the original building of the now vast campus of art studios in multiple buildings known as Sawyer Yards, was damaged extensively by fire set by an arsonist, December 20. The 2 story, 3 winged building with 77 art studios is closed while undergoing renovations, some parts extensive. All tenants were affected and have had to move out.

At a recent press event, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a $250,000 donation from the City of Houston to the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) Emergency Relief Fund for artists affected by the fire at Winter Street Studios. The press conference took place inside the burned-out studios at Sawyer Yards in Houston’s Arts District.

The loss of income, not to mention property and artwork is staggering. While the artists are displaced from their studios, multiple opportunities, events and shows like Soot to Soul, have been created by the arts community to help out.

This show demonstrates just how small the art community is in Houston. Here we have the art tenants of one studio, hosting their displaced colleagues from another, not just because they can, because they are compelled to.

Kelley Devine (https:// kelleydevine.com), is a former tenant at Winter St. now at Hardy and Nance, and is one of the event organizers. Devine lamented in an email invitation for Soot to Soul about her sup- port for her artist friends from Winter St.

“Winter Street was my first art family, and I cannot stand by while my friends and colleagues count their losses without doing what I can to help,” Devine wrote.

“With that in mind, we invite you to join us this Saturday for Soot to Soul – a Winter Street Studios art show at Hardy and Nance Artist Studios. Artworks from over 30 Winter Street Studios artists will be in the main gallery and throughout the building.”

“Our aim for this show is to support our neighbors and strengthen our arts community as they recover from a devastating building fire,” Devine continued. “The artists of Winter Street will be there to talk about their work, and many of the studios throughout the building will be open as well. We hope you will be part of this event that is so important to our community.”

Participating artists include Micah Simmons, Rikki Mitman, Lucy Caire, An- gela Rose Walling, Brenda Schoesser, Sandi Seltzer Bryant, Olga Porter, Manju Unnikrishnan, Salli Babbitt, Amy Cantu, Cary Reeder, Crystal Wreden, Marie Casamayor, Stacy Gresells, Rhonda Lancios, Katherine Erwin, Vicki Zahand, Teresa Staley, Michelle Huff, Juliana Villareal, Maxine Rothman, Eddie Hall, Alex Wilhite, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Terry Leavitt-Chavez, Edilia Bautista, Olga Tarasova.

Details about Hardy and Nance https://hardyandnancestudios.com

For more information on the HAA Emergency Relief Fund, conservation support and to donate, visit ready.haatx.com. Hardy and Nance https://hardyandnancestudios.com

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.