LASTING IMPRESSIONS INSIDE THE LIVES AND WORK OF FIVE LOCAL ARTISTS SHAPING THE COASTAL BEND’S CREATIVE LANDSCAPE
The Artist Issue
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SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET
Join us at Switchgrass Landing for our Sunday Brunch Buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., featuring bottomless mimosas, hot and cold buffet, carving stations, desserts, and more. Enjoy Coastal American cuisine with beautiful bay views at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel and let us elevate your culinary experience.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Rachel Benavides
Deux Boheme
Jason Page
Shoocha Photography
SENIOR WRITERS
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Jacqueline Gonzalez
Vanessa Perez
CONTRIBUTORS
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Ava Coronado
Evelyn Martinez
Lauren Pieper
Darcy Stineman
Elizabeth Welsh
Natalie Werkhoven
Leila Ydrogo
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The Bend Magazine Volume 12 / Issue 9. The Bend Magazine is published by Bend Holdings Sub, LLC. Copyright © 2025 Bend Holdings Sub, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. The Bend is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials. The Bend reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed detrimental to the community's best interest or in questionable taste. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.
The Inspiration of Creation
I have to be honest: I turn into a bit of a fangirl every time the Artist Issue comes around. While I connect with many local artists through the boards I serve on and the community events I attend, plus the fact that many of my friends are artists themselves, the talent we ultimately feature in this yearly showcase never fails to amaze me. With this issue, you get to peek behind the curtain a bit.
That’s what the annual Artist Issue does: It introduces the people behind the artwork and the stories behind those people. The inner workplaces of artists’ minds are sacred spaces, as are their physical studios. Starting on page 34, feature writers Luis Arjona, Evelyn Martinez and Vanessa Perez, along with Deux Boheme’s striking artist portraits, invite readers into those hallowed grounds.
And with this year’s selection of artists, you might find yourself fangirling a bit, too. Though we typically aim to include one or two up-andcoming artists in this issue, this year we instead chose to give flowers to those who’ve helped shape the local art scene in countless ways.
Much like the feature’s title suggests, each of these artists—through their work, their teaching and their presences on gallery and museum boards—continues to leave a lasting impression on our community.
As you read each profile, a bit of wisdom will be imparted to you by each one. Whether you identify as a creative person or not, their words should resonate.
Local art legend Greg Reuter reminds us that letting go of the idea of perfection allows for something greater to be created. Professor and mixed media artist Cassie Normandy White emphasizes that sometimes, just showing up for yourself and your craft is enough. The king of K Space, Gerald Lopez, champions the importance of allowing ourselves to be a bit silly sometimes. Fine arts painter Karen Dellinger stresses that beauty is all around us. And the fabulous, wickedly talented Elena Rodriguez points out that failure is never final.
If you want my advice, dear readers, take in the feature at least twice: once to really immerse yourself in the visionary worlds of each artist, and again to connect their works with their stories, processes, challenges and inspirations.
I hope you close this issue feeling inspired, be it by the artwork itself or any of the stories you’ll discover this month. Enjoy the masterpieces waiting inside.
KYLIE COOPER, EDITOR IN CHIEF kylie@thebendmag.com
THREE HIGHLIGHTS
DESIGN AND ART IN CONVERSATION
How lucky are we to not only learn more about local artist Elena Rodriguez’s creative process, but to peer inside the gorgeous home she shares with her partner, Brian Gillette? As one would expect, it’s bursting with art, color and energy. Pg. 26
PLATED EXCELLENCE
Artfully plated dishes abound at Ruby Ladle. Blending French Cajun tradition with creative local flavors, the chef-led restaurant is already generating quite a buzz. Pg. 54
THE PURPOSE OF CONNECTION Artist and Texas A&M University - Kingsville professor Omar Gonalzez’s newest exhibition, “Parte de usted,” explores themes of purpose, grief and cultural heritage. Gonzalez opens up to us about the works and the process behind them. Pg. 62
Rhonda Bosquez, Senior Designer and Project Manager, majored in architecture at Texas A & M University, before graduating from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics/Interior Design, receiving Highest Honors and Special Honors. She has been practicing in Coastal Bend for over 48 years.
Active in her community, Rhonda volunteers her time and talents to the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Pan American Round Table of Texas, and formerly Leadership Corpus Christi and Leadership Texas. Rhonda specializes in kitchen/bath design, construction documents, and construction supervision, residential and commercial design. She views the design and construction and decorating process as analogous to an orchestra, where all the participants play key roles in creating the vision of the Client. For more than 28 years, her Susan Castor Collection clients have relied on her to assist them in creating their dream spaces.
RHONDA BOSQUEZ SERVICES
Meet The Up Brothers
Through community efforts, the Castillos are helping the world see ability, not limitation
By Leila Ydrogo Photos by Shoocha Photography
During the non-stop commotion of everyday life, the Castillo family has set an example of what it means to slow down, celebrate uniqueness and embrace challenges with open arms. Brothers Blake (age 16) and Dalton (age 12) Castillo, also known as The Up Brothers on Facebook, were both born with Down syndrome. To celebrate the boys, the family created the social media page to document their journey and everyday adventures with the community they have cultivated within the Coastal Bend and beyond.
“I got these awesome babies, and I want to show them to the world,” said dad Juan Castillo of The Up Brothers’ origin. “I wanted to put a positive spin on it, so instead of Down syndrome brothers, we decided on the ‘up brothers.’”
The page was created shortly after Dalton was born, and became an outlet to help document all the local organizations and events the family supports and promote Down syndrome awareness in the community. Little did they know then that their community would grow to include people from all around the world, with thousands of followers and counting.
The Up Brothers’ annual Funky Sock Walk takes place in March to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Day, which is March 21. That
Interested in supporting The Up Brothers’ next Funky Sock Walk? Reach out to see how you can sponsor.
significant day highlights the triplication of the 21st chromosome, which is the characteristic associated with Down syndrome. This past March, their little sister, Peyton Castillo (age 9), spoke to a crowd to explain why the day is important.
“First of all, they can do anything they put their minds to,” Peyton explained to the crowd. “Second, I think people with Down syndrome are some of the most lovable people on earth, and I think the world should get to know them. Lastly, it gives people a chance to see how wonderful they are.”
“The boys have done so much in their short amount of time, and they are just going to continue,” Juan shared. Both Blake and Dalton participate in the Miracle League of South Texas and Special Olympics to keep active and support their community, but their favorite sports to play are baseball, hockey and basketball. When they aren’t playing, they are cheering for their favorite teams: The Hooks and Ice Rays. Special Hearts in the Arts and C.A.S.T. for Kids are other local organizations the boys use to participate with friends in some of their favorite hobbies. After a long day of activities, you can most likely find them fueling up with their all-time favorite meal, Whataburger.
“I encourage everyone, especially parents just receiving a diagnosis, to reach out to us or any organization to build your village,” Juan said. “It’s not just about my boys, but everybody with disabilities. They want to feel included, be seen and be a part of something.”
The boys are a gentle reminder of how important it is to not only build a community but also serve as an inspiration to be a part of something greater.
CONTACT
Keep up with The Up Brothers’ latest adventures on Facebook.
GULF COAST CAPITAL NIGHT
Visit Corpus Christi brought the community spirit to center field with its annual Gulf Coast Capital Night, as the Corpus Christi Hooks faced off against the Amarillo Sod Poodles. The evening celebrated the Coastal Bend’s vibrant growth and local pride, filling the ballpark with energy and excitement. Fans enjoyed interactive photo opportunities, fun giveaways and a dazzling post-game fireworks show.
Marcinell L.
From Sunkissed to Soothed
Curated products at Zenfinity Apothecaria for your post-summer recovery
By Ava Coronado Photos provided by Zenfinity Apothecaria
The end of summer nears, and after days of soaking up that golden sun, it’s time to enter into a season of restoration. Zenfinity Apothecaria, a local apothecary and spa that supports mind, body and soul, is here to help by offering services such as massage therapy, reiki, energy balancing, skincare and more. We asked Erin Adair, Zenfinity owner and clinical master herbalist, for her top product recommendations as we move from one season to the next.
"I'm a clinical herbalist, so I take formulation very seriously,” Adair shared. “Every product I create is rooted in both traditional plant wisdom and evidence-based research. I cross-reference [what I study] with insights from professionals trained in pharmacognosy and natural therapeutics to ensure each formula is safe, balanced and effective."
ZENFINITY RECOMMENDATIONS
MOROCCAN RED CLAY MASK
Refine your skin with the Organic Moroccan Red Clay Mask, which deeply hydrates and nourishes your skin to feel radiant while controlling acne and blemishes.
How to use: Apply evenly to dry skin. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes until dry, then rinse off with warm water. Use 1-2 times a week or as needed.
IMMORTAL SKIN ELIXIR
Transform your body with the Immortal Skin Elixir, designed to soothe, hydrate and renew. This facial and body oil reduces fine lines, calms redness, clears blemishes and improves skin tone.
How to use: Massage two drops daily into skin as a moisturizer, and for targeted care, use morning and night on blemishes, scars or patches.
All of Zenfinity's products are available for purchase in person or online.
PURE RADIANCE BOTANICAL REJUVENATING BODY LOTION
This body lotion exfoliates dead cells with organic sugar crystals, revealing luminous skin. Infused with organic coconut oil and vitamin E, it deeply moisturizes and calms redness, making it perfect for a radiant glow.
How to use: Massage a small amount into damp skin in gentle circles and then rinse thoroughly. Use 1-3 times a week.
PROSPERITY ORGANIC LOTION CANDLE
Elevate your space and spirit with this radiant lotion candle. Infused with bright notes of bergamot and orange, it’s designed to energize your surroundings and inspire joy, confidence and success.
How to use: Light the candle to fill your space with its uplifting, citrusy aroma. Once the flame is extinguished and the wax has slightly cooled, apply the warm, melted lotion to your skin for a nourishing and hydrating self-care ritual.
PUMPKIN SPICE CHAI HERBAL TEA BLEND
Enjoy the tastes of autumn in a cup with the comforting Pumpkin Spice Chai, enriched with ginger, cardamom and cinnamon to help with digestive support, stress reduction and overall well-being. Its high caffeine content boosts energy for any time of the day, but is still perfect for soft mornings or mid-day recharges.
How to use: Simply enjoy.
CONTACT
4922 Everhart Road
zenfinityapothecaria.com | 361.815.3362
What do you think of when considering quiet luxury? I’ll tell you what it is not: an expensive designer product in a neutral color palette, but that’s composed of lowquality ingredients, such as an expensive polyester dress. No thanks.
Quiet luxury emphasizes comfort and value through high-quality pieces, rather than focusing on prominent logos or price tags. It’s about elevating your lifestyle through understated elegance, and is personal to each individual.
I have three essential, irresistibly luxurious and intentionally supportive
Quiet Luxury
Elevate your quality of life
By Natalie Werkhoven
LET’S BE SOCIAL!
@Castor_and_Glow
I love local businesses, and I’d love to hear from you. Contact me on Instagram with recommendations for your local health and beauty business or product. Sharing the Coastal Bend's beauty and wellness bests is my forte!
items to share that promote self-healing by design. I simply cannot keep quiet about them.
THE ESSENTIALS
ZOEFULL WILD OLIVE OIL zoefull.com
For a touch of everyday luxury and self-care, I chose this exquisite extra virgin olive oil, wild grown and small-batched in Lakonia, Greece. Although initially taken aback by the robust and peppery-bitter taste, I’ve grown quite accustomed to it and now look forward to drinking it without a chaser. Yes, you read that correctly: I drink this high phenolic (health-promoting antioxidant to support body, heart and mind) olive oil, one tablespoon or a little less than a shot to be exact. The bitter taste is evidence of the high polyphenols.
an impressive 15x more polyphenols than regular olive oil, and there are a multitude of benefits, such as reduced cellular inflammation. This olive oil is a vital part of my daily routine, supporting my gut health, metabolism and immunity. Chronic inflammation can cause a variety of issues, including weight gain, accelerated aging, fatigue and weakened immunity. This is a simple daily ritual that actually works.
This luxurious hair and scalp tool is artisan-made in Taiwan. I found it fascinating that even the signature long brush needles come from a single family that has been creating them for generations. Before being plated in 24k gold and pinned by hand, the needles are naturally polished with river stones.
It offers an incredibly soothing sensation unlike any other brush I’ve tried, leaving lingering goosebumps as I gently sweep it from my scalp down my neck, activating a massage function. With consistent daily use, I’ve noticed new baby hairs emerging around the three-month mark. This is a quiet luxury I love to yell louder for the people in the back.
I’m keen to the hype and benefits of Korean beauty products. However, I did not realize there was a full-body treatment and facial that goes beyond simple skin beauty. I just wish I had found the cutting-edge and non-invasive Ella B service sooner.
Ella B uses a quantum device and acupressure pen to gently stimulate blood and energy circulation through natural energy frequencies, alleviating pain, improving overall circulation in the body and leaving you with a sense of calm. When the energy is applied to the skin, a chemical reaction enhancing light absorption ensues, revitalizing cells and encouraging healing.
I had visual results following my treatment and received positive feedback from family (who were not privy to the treatments). I especially loved the facial contour that moved stagnant lymph in my face, neck and head; and my joints and muscles felt soothed from the body treatment. I was in good hands with the staff at June’s Day Spa, who are highly knowledgeable and well-trained. I love this holistic approach to health and beauty and that it offers memberships for repeat visits to enhance results.
photo by ASHLEY PETTIBONE
Ella B - June’s Day Spa 4758 McArdle Road, Corpus Christi
blinds with Alexa, Google Home, Z-Wave or Zigbee. Instant digital quotes and same-day samplesupgrade in minutes.
How Elena Rodriguez and Brian Gillette created an exquisite collaboration
Design and Art in Conversation
By Elizabeth Welsh, ASID
by Jason Page
Corpus Christi has long had a strong grassroots art scene. From burgeoning higher education art departments and the array of museums, galleries and studio spaces to the evergrowing collection of murals, this community has staked its claim as a preeminent player in the Texas art world.
It is here that artist Elena Rodriguez had a chance encounter with Brian Gillette, Esquire. As their story unfolded, weaving in separate but overlapping living experiences in Brooklyn, New York, the couple decided to set down roots together in the sparkling city by the sea.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Gillette and Rodriguez purchased and began renovating a classically structured mid-century modern house. Their guiding principle: Preserve the soul of the structure while breathing new life into it by infusing design selections key to their unmistakable style.
“I wanted to bring some of that aesthetic back in a way that would reflect well with our art,” Gillette said of developing their renovation approach. With a deep respect for the home’s clean lines, single slope roofline and original bones, they layered in bold personality through intentional color selections, design details and samples of the couple’s extensive art collection.
Gillette made use of the open plan layout, a primary characteristic of mid-century interiors, as a central opportunity to blend their passions of art and entertaining. Serving as his proof of design concept and their initial foray into the world of remodeling, they transformed a once closed-off study into the now swanky, color-drenched bar and lounge—a favorite spot, whether for morning coffee or an evening gathering.
“We wanted it to feel like a quieter space,” Rodriguez said. Finding a pink with seal gray terrazzo tile was the
jumping-off point in establishing the home’s reimagined color story. Dusty pink flat panel millwork, penny round tiles and dark peacock green paint envelop the space, while furniture sourced from vintage dealers sits beneath an 8-light Sputnik-style ceiling fixture.
Around the corner, the standout feature of the living room and kitchen— which the couple hired Ted Amaro of Coastal Bend Restorations to help build—is the masterful use of color blocking. “There was never a question of ‘Do we want color?’ We’re both Leos,” Rodriguez cheekily added. “My theory is, if everything is loud, it makes a chorus.”
Spoken like a trained artist with a firm grasp on color theory and when to break the rules. Yellow, coral and bright pea green define the space—each tone a statement on its own—and harmonize beautifully in unison. By weaving in the golden yellow billiards cloth and Herman Miller tri-color dining chairs with the
How Elena Rodriguez and Brian Gillette created an exquisite collaboration
Photos
THE COUPLE FILLED THE BAR WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ART, SUCH AS A NIGHTTIME STREET SCENE PAINTED BY RODRIGUEZ HERSELF
Valentine coral backsplash tile, colormatched grout and green cabinetry, the house feels alive; modern but rooted, stylish yet sincere.
The island doubles as a communal dining table, which they designed to host up to 10 guests. It helped them foster an environment where conversations of art and life happen over shared meals, with the buzz of kitchen activity always nearby. Unexpected details such as plateless wall plugs and knurled brass toggle switches at waist height lend optimal functionality while maintaining creative form.
Gillette and Rodriguez view their art collection as a vessel to fuel connection
and conversation. Each piece they collect carries a story, primarily with a tie directly to the artist behind it. Rodriguez pointed out how pieces created in unrelated time and space have the ability to whisper storylines like soulmates. Art means more when you know the hands that made it, and as she remarked, “I think it’s really important for us to support local artists — I’m a big believer in that.”
Much like its owners, this vibrant mid-century home is a celebration of creativity and connection: to people, to place and to art.
NOW GROWING
Squash
How to successfully grow summer and winter varieties in your Coastal Bend garden
By Justin Butts
September is the perfect time to plant both summer and winter squash in your garden, as the heat of early fall leads to cool weather for the harvest. Plus, planting squash now means the Thanksgiving and Christmas tables will be filled with your own bounty.
Planting warm-weather vegetables in September provides many advantages to the gardener. There is plenty of heat in early fall to hasten the maturity of the plants. Then, as the fruit matures in late fall, the cooler weather means less heat stress and fewer pests. Fall is, in many ways, the best time of year to garden in the Coastal Bend.
Both types are delicious, nutritious and easy to grow in our area, but there are a few differences in summer and winter squash for the gardener to consider.
Summer squash, which grows as a bush with large leaves, is also referred to as bush squash. It has thin, edible skin and should be eaten as soon as it ripens, as it does not store well. Examples include zucchini, yellow crookneck, scallopini and lemon squash.
Now for the winter squashes, which grow on largeleaved vines that can reach up to 10 feet in length for some varieties. Winter squash varieties—such as butternut, acorn, spaghetti, delicata and hubbard—are named for their ability to be stored in root cellars throughout the winter. Unlike summer squash, they have tough skins and require a longer maturation period.
Whether planting from seed or transplant, be sure to provide plenty of water in the heat of September to keep the tender young plants alive. In fact, when planting transplants, have a bucket of water nearby to immediately water the new planting.
GARDENER'S NOTES
GROWING UP
Spacing, bush: 24” to 36”. Spacing, vines: mounds 6’ apart. Can plant from seed, but best planted from transplant. Rich, well-drained soil. Squash are heavy feeders. Add three or more inches compost to soil. Mix two cups native wood ash per plant or mound into compost. Add two cups pastured poultry manure per plant or mound when planting, then two more cups side-dressed at first fruit. Water regularly, especially in September heat. Mulch with native leaves.
PROFILING
Winter squash vines can be quite expansive, potentially overshadowing other garden plants. When planting, create compost mounds about 10 inches high and six feet apart. Each mound requires approximately 20 pounds of compost. Sow three to five winter squash seeds in the center of each mound, allowing the vines to spread and fill the space between them.
FUN FACTS
When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, the first crops they planted were corn, beans and squash using a Native American companion planting technique called The Three Sisters. The Pilgrims learned this planting method from the legendary Squanto. We actually get our word for the vegetable from its Narragansett term, “askutasquash.”
Leading the Way in Modern Healthcare
THE ARTIST ISSUE
WRITTEN BY
LUIS ARJONA
EVELYN MARTINEZ
VANESSA PEREZ
PORTRAITS BY
DEUX BOHEME
PAGE 34
KAREN DELLINGER
GERALD LOPEZ
CASSIE NORMANDY WHITE
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
GREG REUTER
ELENA RODRIGUEZ
KAREN DELLINGER
EVELYN MARTINEZ
Abstractionist Karen Dellinger wears her heart on her sleeve. She wears it around her neck and fingers, within the layered gold jewelry sparkling in the reflection of the South Texas sun, each ring and chain carrying its own distinct story. She holds it in the same hand as her paintbrush, her pieces all lovingly crafted. Whether shown at curated gallery shows or in the living room of any one of her lucky clients, with just one look, viewers feel cleansed in the serenity of every canvas.
Leaving behind the bustling San Antonio art scene she called home, Dellinger followed her husband Jamie to the quieter one out on the coast. The second her feet touched the sands of the Corpus beaches, she dug her toes deep and never left. Graced with the eyes of a newcomer at the time, she began to pull inspiration for her large-scale pieces from the waves and dunes, alongside the myriad vibrant textures that surround her in her everyday life. Dellinger’s well never dries in a city like this.
“I love living here,” she said. “The water is a huge inspiration for me, nature and the water. Every chance I get, I will drive on Ocean Drive so I can see the water. A day does not go by that I don’t drive on it just to look over there and be grateful for its beauty. People don’t realize we’re so fortunate to live here.”
Corpus Christi became home, Dellinger said, once she met Art Center Director Dianna Bluntzer Sherman. “Gorgeous Dianna,” as Dellinger described her, immediately adored Dellinger’s bubbling energy. Sherman knew Dellinger’s art would prove revolutionary in the local scene, and the two worked together to organize her first solo exhibition at the Art Center in 2014. Dellinger would go on to serve as the Art Center’s President of the Board of Governors throughout 2016. Once she found her people, falling in love with the city proved easy.
“It gives us [at the Art Center] such joy being able to empower these artists,” said Sherman. Regarding her time as board president, “[Dellinger] provided a very level head. She’s got that combination of being very lighthearted, but also being very intelligent and pragmatic. She helped get us where we are today.”
Known for the use of grandiose canvases, Dellinger discovered her love
for oversized paintings after years of working as a muralist and wall artist in San Antonio. Experimenting with treatment techniques like lime wash and Venetian plaster gave her unique tools she later went on to apply to her own personal artistry. Though these specialized methods catch the eye of any abstract aficionado, a real Dellinger original radiates pure joy and peacefulness.
As Sherman put it, “everything about Karen is a smile.” She achieves this seemingly endless glow through what she describes as an essential part of her life—the importance of meditation, visualization and prayer. Before she sits down at a canvas, she goes through vital steps to ensure she approaches in the right headspace. When she feels blue with sadness or red with anger, though the colors may end up in her final piece, the emotions stay far from the canvas.
“Obviously, there’s sadness sometimes,” she explained. “I just try so hard to look at it and think ‘It’s going to be okay, we can figure this out.’ I believe it’s all about energy. I want my mood to be contagious, and hopefully it’s a positive, wonderful feeling.
“When I stand at a piece of art, I try to visualize wonderful things,” she continued, “whether it’s nature, whether it’s my blessings or my beautiful family. Whatever it might be, I try to go there. I would never want somebody to look at my piece and think it’s chaos.”
Currently splitting time among her commissioned pieces, her real estate work and her personal life, Dellinger remains busy and active. She avoids burnout thanks to her perfectly crafted home on Ocean Drive, across the street from the water she loves and uses for inspiration. Her real estate work in Port Aransas also means interacting with excited prospective homeowners and engaging with the beachfront daily. From these places, she pulls all the material she needs to come home and pour herself onto a brand-new canvas.
“Everything I look at, I can relate to something I could use in a painting,” she said. “Whether as inspiration, as texture or color, or even just a mindset. I wish everybody could see the world like I see it, and find that beauty everywhere. That’s part of being an artist, sharing that vision.”
WRITTEN
BY
EVELYN MARTINEZ
At the end of Starr Street in downtown Corpus Christi sits a stairwell with painted walls offering a view beyond the veil. On concrete canvas, skeletons dance, ride bikes and play drums. This party of cartoon delight created with the help of homegrown muralist Gerald Lopez reflects the childlike energy his work has carried throughout his entire career.
“I made the face of a horse, a hat for the horse and I cut it out so it was a physical object,” Lopez said of his very first piece of art. “I didn’t really show it to anybody, but I liked having it around as something I created. I drew it, painted it, then cut it out as a 3D object. Start to finish, I did it by myself. I was so proud.”
In the decades since his handmade horse head, Lopez went from an audience of one to audiences in the thousands as his expansive career took him to galleries across the country. Known for his depictions of traditional Mexican culture, such as luchadores and loteria cards, alongside smaller projects like the bright portraits he paints over antique photographs, his work embodies all of himself—his identity, the culture of his hometown and his funloving personality.
“I try to make my work lighthearted,” he said. “I like to be playful in my work, just like I do in my personality. You can see it mostly in my photography pieces. It allows me to be freer than I would be painting or sculpting.”
Art in its many forms quickly became the shy and reserved Lopez’s preferred method of communication. Spending his tweens and teens experimenting with a variety of styles, he soon fell head over heels for the one he still practices today—surrealism.
“My art is somewhere between realism and surrealism,” he said. “I’ve always done surrealism, even when I was a little kid.”
Lopez graduated with an art degree from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, looking to make a name for himself as a South Texan surrealist. Going on to the University of Delaware in pursuit of his master’s, his eventual return to Corpus Christi meant starting from scratch. He nestled inside K Space Contemporary’s studio space, a haven for creatives like himself in the heart of his hometown. With a loving community like the one inside K Space, it didn’t take long to find his new creative family.
“He’s my studio brother,” said Jimmy Peña, local artist and a lifelong friend of Lopez. “He’s not as open as I am; he’s a very quiet person. If you piss him off, you won't know it until you get hit,” he laughed.
The pair spent hours on end working in the studio together when they first met, and decided to dedicate their time to fixing up the once dilapidated space in an attempt to invite new resident artists. Since then, the renovated studio has continuously boasted a full house.
Alongside his initial commitment and beautification of K Space, Lopez’s immersive Día de los Muertos mural, completed in 2011, which also involved Peña’s work, helped usher in the decade of change that hit downtown.
“Years ago, downtown used to be a very different place than it is now,” Lopez recalled. “As the area [remained stagnant], K Space continued to grow and helped anchor a lot of change. The Día de los Muertos Festival, mural projects and guest artists [we organize] are all part of the catalyst that helped the area grow. I look forward to still seeing that continue.”
Now fully blossomed as an instrumental figure in the local arts scene, over the last 15 years Lopez has served as studio manager for K Space, taught at three separate college campuses in the area and now works as a preparator for the Art Museum of South Texas, ensuring the safety of each invaluable piece that cycles through the galleries. Each of his past and current job titles, especially the delicate magic of handling artworks and their history, directly influences the way he views and approaches his own craft to this day.
As his time serving as creative leader for three different spots in the scene winds down, Lopez continues his work with artists of all backgrounds at K Space. Artist headshots line the walls leading up to this inner sanctum of creativity in the Coastal Bend, in reverence to all who ever ventured into the fully-booked studio. Lopez appears twice: In one shot, he looks into the lens, young and bright-eyed, the other, with a look of a seasoned artist. Both pictures will hang for the rest of the studio’s life, forever immortalizing the influence of the shy, surrealist superstar.
Reverent curiosity” is the term Cassie Normandy White borrows from teacher and indigenous seedkeeper Rowen White to describe the depths she seeks in living, working and simply being. From watching ants crawling in a tulip bulb as a child to staging seeds in the light of a microscope in her more recent works, White maintains a playful intrigue in the living beings that inhabit our world.
“What I’ve come to learn is [curiosity] is a form of nurturing the heart,” she said, waxing on the nature of her philosophy. “That idea is very unacademic, but it’s become increasingly central to who I am as a person and, by virtue of that, my work.”
Steeping herself in the research of other processes has proven a helpful path of discovery for White. An introduction to printmaking her first semester in college enticed her into unknown territory with endless potential.
“[Printmaking] was this totally unfamiliar medium, which fascinated me because there was so much to learn,” she shared. “It felt like you could spend an entire lifetime just learning these different processes. I was really interested in non-traditional printmaking processes.”
Much of White’s early work used fabric, monotype printing, which can still be seen in more recent collections, though her work has expanded across mediums and displayed the versatility of her techniques. White’s body of work captures an aspect of play in the craft, as well as a desire to stretch the capabilities of the materials in use. While her collage and printing works lend themselves to spontaneity and experimentation— cutting out shapes and fitting them together like a sort of puzzle—White said drawing can be more measured, though her process overall remains intuitive.
Whether broadening the idea of what intelligence and cognition are, such as in her “Resting Vessels” body of work, or tapping into the “aliveness of the more-than-human” experience in “We live through time”—a collaboration with her husband, artist and fellow Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) educator Ryan O’Malley—White’s constantly unfurling sense for external discovery and self-inquiry typically leads her to the next piece.
“I was thinking about taking this phrase and imagining it from different perspectives, as it relates to other ideas I’m interested in: the beingness of nonhuman life, our interconnectedness with the natural world,” White said of the “We live through time” series. “Spiritual practice has become an increasingly stronger part of my life. All of that is about the heart and self-inquiry. [‘We live through time’] was a convergence of those different forms of inquiries.”
White is a familiar and warm presence in both the academic and cultural spheres of the arts scene in the Coastal Bend. Many seasoned artists own her work, have collaborated in curating and showing art alongside her or have sat as students early in their craft in her drawing and design classes at TAMU-CC since 2018.
Thinking back to her first memorable exposure to the arts scene in Corpus Christi, she recalled the time when, before they were married, her husband constructed a Viking ship; took it from the House of Rock down to the beach; and set it on fire in a sort of Norse funeral ceremony. The seemingly lawless energy and freedom to cultivate creative spaces in the community instantly drew her in.
"[When I moved to Corpus,] I loved the celebratory nature of the culture here; getting together and making things happen,” White said, “and how supportive folks are of one another. People are interested in collaborating, as well as young people sticking around and recognizing this is a special place.”
Now an established, working artist and educator, White not only focuses on what she can impart to students at the beginning of their careers, but also opens her mind to the impact they may have on hers.
“I remember when I was in school, one of my teachers was like, ‘You just need to show up. You just need to devote as much time as you can, not necessarily working every day, but tend to your creative practice consistently.’ I try to pass that on to my students,” she said. “But it’s certainly reciprocal. There are times when a student’s excitement about a drawing will energize me.”
It's that exact mindset that has allowed White to not only show up for herself in her own career, but leave a mark on the next generation of creatives.
Walking into Greg Reuter’s studio is like entering an oasis. There is a massive dog sculpture as you enter, and though the piece embodies Reuter’s signature style, the sculpture makes you feel as though he’s the South Texas Jeff Koons. With decades in the Coastal Bend, Reuter has shaped his home and studio as much as he’s shaped the art scene in Corpus Christi. Stepping into his home gives insight into how the space is conducive to his ability to create. It’s molded by decades of creative rhythm and a commitment to his craft running as deep as the kiln burns hot.
Having taught at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi for 40 years, Reuter’s story and influence here may have started in 1978, but before his fateful arrival, he was a young Californian exploring his love for clay.
“I was always a maker,” he shared. “When I took my first pottery class in high school, I thought, ‘Oh! This is what I want to do.’” That early pull would ultimately shape his life. Encouraged by his mother and grandfather, a postman and part-time painter, Reuter pursued a degree in art with support from his family and later earned his master’s degree at the University of Hawaii to further develop his skills. Eventually, a teaching position brought him to South Texas, and the Coastal Bend has been home ever since.
Getting under the hood and understanding thematic notions in an artist’s work is always interesting. Reuter’s work spans decades and themes, yet there is a consistent thread of humility and wonder. Dogs and birds frequently appear, rendered with character and a sense of creative freedom that is evident in each piece.
Meandering through his collection of ceramics, sculptures and bronze work, notions of freedom and loyalty, and how these animals serve as vessels for his ideas, are apparent. The symbolism may be evident through each animal, but the motifs are further ingrained by the methods used in his pieces. He is constantly experimenting— by burning found feathers to create ghostlike prints or making bronze molds of imprints from the beach to create a fossil-like piece of animal trails—illustrating his passion for delivering interesting work for viewers to enjoy.
For much of his early career, Reuter was consumed by a need for perfection.
“I used to sand my surfaces forever, using 10 different grits, to get it perfect,” he said. But after retirement, his work shifted. “I don’t feel that pressure anymore. The work is freer now. Looser. And I think it’s better for it.”
That philosophy also shaped his approach to teaching. Over the years, Reuter pushed students to think critically, to simplify and amplify their ideas. “One of my former students told me she still hears that phrase in her head,” he shared. "'Simplify and amplify.' It stuck."
And through this evolution— stepping away from perfectionism and moving more toward presence and freedom—a thesis, an energy, is manifesting. With sunlight overlooking Reuter’s stunning backyard, where his studio is located, there is a palpable energy in his oasis. Brimming with the heat of the day, Reuter’s flow state includes audiobooks, listening to the blues and savoring a lovely beverage from one of his homemade ceramics.
Now, despite never setting out to leave a legacy, Reuter has become a pillar in the Coastal Bend art scene. He shared his admiration for the next generation, especially with the developments downtown. “K-Space has continued to build an art scene downtown, and did you know they are responsible for the [genesis] of First Friday?” he said, lighting up with enthusiasm.
The boom downtown reflects the hard work of creatives such as Reuter, who have left a lasting mark on our city. He is equally proud of his son, Clay, who has helped launch Third Thursday at the Art Museum of South Texas and is a studio artist at K Space. “It’s bringing in all these young artists and musicians. It’s exciting to see,” Reuter said of his son’s artistic endeavors.
In Greg Reuter’s world, art is a way of being, a way of navigating your own experience. His advice for younger artists is simple yet difficult: “Follow your passion. Don’t stop. Keep working. It doesn’t always have to be what you think it should be right away, but it will evolve into something.”
Then, almost like a ceramicist smoothing the edges of a form, he softens the moment with a quote from Willa Cather: “The end is nothing. The road is all.” In what can only be described as a giving creative spirit, Rueter is a quiet master, grounded in the work, and generous enough to pass it on.
PEREZ
In the soft edges of her paintings, Elena Rodriguez navigates the feelings of awe, fear and beauty that British Romantics once called “the Sublime.” Walking a path illuminated mainly by the safety light worn on her chest—meant to steer off the dangers of oncoming traffic—she takes in the numinous images cast in darkness, grounded only by two large dogs and a keen sense of the natural precariousness that lurks in the night. Still, in the background of her panels are signs of life: a street lamp, a stop sign, a Toyota Corolla. The blended phenomena of primal fear and exceedingly human comfort are where Rodriguez chooses to linger.
“The dark is all-encompassing, and some primal part of us remembers that nighttime is when there is danger and predators,” Rodriguez said. “This ‘scary’ nighttime is when all the artificial trappings of humanity bring some comfort, whether that's a car’s headlights or a street lamp.”
Rodriguez has called many corners of the art world home. A Dallas-area native, she explored the Dallas Arts District in adolescence and took an early interest in painting before going off to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine art at Washington University and finally a master’s in fine art from the New York Academy of Art. After learning her craft and studying traditions based in French Classicism, she traversed the realities of being a working artist in New York City. Paying rent, juggling a job to pay said rent and keeping a secondary studio in South Williamsburg and then Bushwick—Rodriguez recalled all with fondness but no envy given her current slot in life.
“I was still trying to figure out my voice,” Rodriguez said of her early career in New York. But longing for her home state and a change of pace, she embarked on the long haul from the East Coast to the Coastal Bend, settling first in Rockport and then Corpus Christi. The novelty of a new place soon became routine, and from routine burgeoned inspiration. In the flat landscape of South Texas, she found beauty in endless horizons, wide blue skies and a dense creeping fog found only on the humid shores of the Gulf Coast.
An oil painter with a preference for crafting images on wood panels, a method used by most painters prior to the Dutch popularization of canvas in the 16th century, Rodriguez captures
the tactile feel of her environment while casting it from a snippet in time. Her nightscapes, in particular, marry the comforting and liminal qualities of a neighborhood cast in total darkness, illuminated by a limited light source.
“A lot of the work is me taking the photo while walking my dogs,” Rodriguez said, explaining the method behind some of her night scenes. “I have a giant light that I wear so I don’t get hit by cars. And I seek to put it in there because I think it suggests a human presence you cannot see. There’s a light source that’s being cast off-frame onto this scene.”
In her campfire series, including “Cherished Destiny” and “What are you doing Sundays,” Rodriguez returns to figures in a communal scene. Adept at departures from tradition, the artist plays with distortion in the foreground as it appears in her references, whilst choosing to paint the figure simultaneously in imperfectly captured motion. Concentric patterns of humans gathered around a flame speak to the sense of community in these pieces, while her nightscapes convey a sense of empathy in seeing the world like memories or dreams conjured into the mind of another.
Seeking community while present in her work has also played an integral role in Rodriguez’s career as an artist since moving to the Coastal Bend. She sold her first painting upon moving to South Texas in 2013 and worked out of a studio at K Space starting in 2020, where she recalls beginning to feel empowered by the accessibility of the space to paint what she wanted. Rodriguez credited the artistic community here as cultivating a sense of support and non-competition.
“Corpus and the Coastal Bend area are very friendly; people tend to help each other out,” she said. “And I think that’s true statewide, but also specifically here. People buy because they like the art and support the work, which is really important.”
Empowering herself to take steps forward in her career also informs her practice as an art educator at Del Mar College, where she hopes to encourage artists in the beginnings of their craft and career.
“The hardest thing for students to overcome is that they’re scared to fail, but it’s just art. You should take risks,” Rodriguez said. Imparting advice for future artists, she was simplistic. “Be happy. There’s a lot of non-success. You gotta find a way to be happy.”
ELENA RODRIGUEZ
agaperanch.org/gala
SEPT. 4,
Ruby Ladle blends French Cajun tradition with creative local flavors
Starting Smart
Healthy breakfasts to fuel your fall
By Kayla Butts MS, RDN, LD Photos by Rachel Benavides
Ahealthy breakfast sets the tone for your day, and simple, nutritious options like egg white bites and fresh salads can make all the difference.
Egg white bites are protein-packed, low in cholesterol and easy to prepare. Alternatively, a fresh salad comprised of produce from this week’s farmer’s market run can make for a delicious, fiber-rich way to kick off your day. Crisp greens, cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumbers are the stars of this salad, and the addition of avocado or a light vinaigrette boosts flavor and healthy fats.
These balanced meals support sustained energy and focus throughout the morning. Prioritizing whole, fresh ingredients helps you stay full, satisfied and ready to take on the day ahead.
RECIPE
Egg White Bites
Makes 1 dozen
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
16 ounces liquid egg whites
3/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 cup packed spinach, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F with a rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack. Spray a non-stick muffin tin generously with cooking spray.
Combine egg whites, cottage cheese, salt and pepper in a blender for 30 seconds, until smooth.
Divide chopped vegetables evenly among the 12 muffin tins and then top with the egg mixture until 3/4 full.
Working quickly, place muffin tin onto the preheated baking sheet and pour enough water to fill the baking sheet halfway full. Close the oven door and bake the egg bites until they’re set, or for about 20-25 minutes.
RECIPE
Farmer’s Market
Breakfast Salad Serves 1
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 7 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs
1 cup greens (radish, mixed, sprouts, chard, kale, etc.)
1/4 cup tender herbs
2 cups seasonal vegetables
Dressing:
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 clove of garlic
3 green onion stalks
1/2 cup herbs (mint, tarragon, parsley, cilantro or basil)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Place a pot half-full of water over high heat until simmering. Lower the eggs with a slotted spoon and cook for 6-7 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and immediately run cold tap water over the cooked eggs for 30-60 seconds. Gently tap and crack the shell, then carefully peel each egg. Cut each egg in half. For the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Arrange the greens, herbs and seasonal vegetables in a shallow bowl or plate. Top with the peeled boiled eggs and serve with the dressing.
Eggs Benedict
From classic renditions to unique takes—these five eggs Benedict dishes are a must-try
By Kylie Cooper
Photo by Deux Boheme
The magic of a great eggs Benedict is in the ritual: slicing into a perfectly poached egg and watching the yolk spill across the plate, mingling with hollandaise and whatever savory base is holding it all together. Each bite becomes a balancing act of textures and flavors until there’s nothing left but a satisfied sigh. From the tried-and-true to the slightly reimagined, these five Coastal Bend versions prove there’s more than one way to master this brunch icon.
Pork Belly Bennie RIDLEY’S
When a brunch spot has an entire portion of the menu dedicated to this staple, you know it’s going to be good. This version lays seared pork belly atop two pieces of housemade sourdough, topped with poached eggs, sundried tomatoes, a bacon marmalade and hollandaise sauce. 11862 HWY 361
Copenhagen Eggs Benedict SUGARBAKERS
Also referred to as Eggs Hemingway, the Copenhagen Eggs Benedict brings smoked salmon into the mix. There isn’t anything necessarily inventive here––toasted English muffins, poached eggs, fresh dill and hollandaise—but just as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Sugarbakers knows this to be true. Plus, the dish is served with a side of the cafe’s beloved potatoes O’Brien. 2766 SANTA FE ST.
Oscar Bene PIK-NIK
This Rockport culinary market, deli and wine bar switches things up with its take on the brunch classic. An everything bagel sets the scene with poached eggs and a succulent crab and shrimp salad, drizzled with hollandaise and a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing zing. A sprinkle of paprika and fresh chives form the cherry on top.
1005 ST. MARYS ST., ROCKPORT
Jordan’s Crab Cake Benedict
CHOPS & EGGS
You really can’t go wrong with any of the “Farm Benedicts” from this Southside brunch staple. For the sake of choosing just one, Jordan’s Crab Cake Benedict hits all the right notes. A homemade all-blue crab cake acts as the base for two eggs, tomatoes and asparagus, all topped with a chipotle cream sauce.
5802 YORKTOWN BLVD., B107
Eggs Benedict THE POST AT LAMAR PARK
Only available on the Sunday Brunch menu, The Post’s take on the classic dish allows the choice of either ham, brisket, sausage, barbacoa or soft shell crab as your protein. The rest of the order is fairly standard (English muffin, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce), but if you’ve never had an egg benny with barbacoa, we can’t recommend it enough.
411 DODDRIDGE ST. #102
RIDLEY'S
Plating Excellence
Ruby Ladle blends French Cajun tradition with creative local flavors
By Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos by Jason Page
At Ruby Ladle, a menu that is as creative as it is distinctive and packed with flavor awaits hungry diners. Since opening in late June, this chef-driven concept from Chef Michael S. Smith and Chef Jessica Chappell has already garnered buzz for its beautiful presentation, exceptional service and food that fuses Southern roots with elevated execution.
The chef duo met about five or six years ago at a Chef’s Association meeting, where Chappell was recruiting students for events to keep up with the catering leads she was gaining. They married in March of this year and, just a month later, decided to combine their talents to open a restaurant that would bring something new to the city’s dining scene.
Smith is the creative force behind the restaurant’s concept, bringing more than two decades of experience in private clubs and fine kitchens, including the Corpus Christi Yacht Club and mentorship under chefs from Commander’s Palace in New Orleans.
“I’ve lived here for 25 years, and I’ve always looked for an opportunity to bring something new,” Smith shared. “[I’ve always wanted] to offer the kind of food Corpus has been missing.” His French Cajun-forward style draws from indigenous ingredients, fresh seafood and seasonal produce. His accolades include being named Texas State Chef of the Year in 2022 and joining the highly regarded Epicurean World Master Chef Society, along with national competition wins and
To stay in the know about changing menus, dinner dates and event bookings, visit Ruby Ladle’s website or follow it on Facebook.
years of leadership as director of the Texas Chef Association’s local chapter.
Now, at his own restaurant, Ruby Ladle’s menu features dishes that manage to feel both comforting and adventurous—all of which are plated to perfection. There’s the grilled duroc pork loin, rich with flavor and char, or the Cajun-seared flounder served over wild rice and topped with sautéed crawfish in creole butter. The “Lindsey” burger, made with Akaushi beef, creamy brie and Maker’s Mark bacon jam, is a standout, as is the house-made muffuletta stacked with smoky meats, provolone and olive tapenade.
Other savory offerings include the Blue Crab and Gruyère Quiche, a decadent blend of fresh crab and cheese with asparagus, and the Shrimp and Nilgai Sausage Gumbo, which layers Cajun spice with the richness of wild game. Don’t skip dessert, with options like bread pudding with Maker’s bourbon sauce or fresh beignets.
Though Ruby Ladle offers lunch and reservation-only Sunday brunches, dinner is where the restaurant truly shines. The evening menu is intentionally small and changes weekly, built around what’s in season. Expect fresh seafood, wild game and dishes that showcase new ingredients, styles and concepts, all intending to bring a higher-end dining option to Corpus Christi with unique flavors.
While Smith commands the kitchen, Chappell brings her background in hospitality to the front of house, curating the service experience and leading hands-on training for staff. “My focus is on operational excellence on the front end,” she said. “I want every guest to feel welcome and know they’re in good hands from the moment they walk in.”
Together, they use their strengths to create something special for Corpus Christi: a restaurant with a thoughtful menu, genuine hospitality and a commitment to showcasing flavors guests will remember long after the meal is over.
Brunch Under the Sun
With a fresh menu and more, BUS has redefined brunch in downtown Corpus Christi
By Lauren Pieper Photos by Jason Page
In 2017, Bar Under the Sun (BUS) transformed a bus station into downtown Corpus Christi’s premier cocktail destination. BUS has seamlessly blended garden party vibes with the upscale energy of Austin or Houston, all while staying true to Corpus’ distinct character. Now, it has embraced every major city’s love language: a vibrant brunch spot where savory food, craft cocktails and live entertainment create the perfect weekend escape.
Open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., brunch at BUS welcomes everyone, from couples playing giant Jenga with their kids while sipping frozen screwdrivers to birthday groups toasting with mimosas. Owners Ben and Lesley Lomax have cultivated a family-friendly environment, also a distinguishing characteristic of the brunch experience at BUS. “We love seeing families enjoying an afternoon at BUS,” shared Ben. “We try to have something for everyone.”
Entertainment enhances the experience with a DJ collective every first Saturday and live music every Sunday, featuring local talent like Eric Graham, Joseph Martinez and Damon Scott, plus Texas country artists. The inviting atmosphere encourages guests to laugh, clink glasses and dance. “What sets us apart is how our brunch brings people outside, while staying true to the downtown Corpus experience,” Ben said.
While the trendy atmosphere impresses, Executive Chef Jackson Hayes’ creative menu truly elevates the experience. “Our food is not
BUS is petfriendly and welcomes children until 9 p.m.
an afterthought here,” Ben said. “We put just as much care into our food as we do our drinks.” Hayes has crafted a brunch menu featuring “hot weather bar food” with South Texas flair, balancing citrus and herbs to avoid heavy dishes.
Nearly everything is made from scratch, including housemade sauces like tabasco aioli and the signature salsa matcha, a chili crisp hybrid Hayes called an “amalgamation of flavors.” This versatile sauce appears across both brunch and dinner items.
Hayes ensured enhanced equipment was available to create quality ingredients, including stone-ground tortillas, used in Mexican breakfast classics like the Chilaquiles. Standout menu items include the Raines Sandwich with signature salsa matcha, tabasco aioli and fried eggs, and the Chorizo Smash Burger, made with chorizo-spiced Dean & Peeler beef, fried egg, guacamole and hot sauce.
On the sweeter side are the Croissant
Beignets, garnished with Mexican vanilla chocolate sauce and orange whipped frosting. A crowd favorite remains: potato cracklins—twice-baked potatoes that are airy and addictively crisp.
The BUS brunch menu pairs perfectly with its craft cocktails. General Manager Casey Ortiz remains dedicated to curating a cocktail menu with fresh, quality ingredients. “I don’t want a pre-flavored vodka or already made product. I want quality ingredients I can create something fresh with,” Ortiz said. Noteworthy brunch drinks include the Carajillo, cold brew coffee and Licor; the Sundog, made with Ancho Reyes Poblano liqueur; and (of course), the mimosa carafe.
BUS is recognized as a defining presence in Corpus Christi’s downtown bar culture, and since adding brunch, it proudly continues that role. “We’ve shifted a bit from an upscale craft cocktail bar to a garden party both day and night,” Ben said. “Whether you’re sticking a straw in your mimosa carafe or sipping on an egg white whiskey sour—we do it all,” Ortiz added, capturing the playful yet elevated vibe that defines BUS.
702 N. Chaparral St. | 361.462.4121 | @bus.corpuschristi
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi seeks a Director of Special Collections & Archives to work in Corpus Christi, TX to build, maintain and provide access to archives and special collections in a variety of formats. Master’s in Library Science, Archival Studies or rel. field or eq. from an ALA-accredited program with specialization in archival studies & 7 yrs. rel. exp. req.
Apply online at https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/TAMUCC_External
Job code: R-086057
RHarness the Power of AI to Grow Your Business
AI Tip of the Month
TIP: "Thinking about updating a room?
AI interior design tools let you upload a photo of your space and instantly preview it with new paint colors, furniture layouts, or decor styles. See your vision come to life before making any costly changes!"
Try this Prompt:
“In an AI room design tool (like RoomGPT or Remodel AI), upload a photo of your living room. Then, use this prompt: ‘Redesign this living room in a “Coastal Chic” style, incorporating natural textures and light blue accents. Suggest a new sofa and coffee table.’”
HILLIARD LAW
TEXAS TRIAL LAWYERS
ooted in the heart of Corpus Christi for 40 years, Hilliard Law remains a steadfast advocate for the Coastal Bend community. Established by Robert C. Hilliard, the firm now has a 40-year legacy of unwavering dedication to the people and places that make this region home.
In 2025, partners Bob Hilliard, Chris Pinedo, Matt Hull and Jessi Pritchett, along with attorneys Sopanha Anderson, Leslie Bearden, Chelsey Gandy, Eric Lopez, Matthew McMullen and Alexis Medina, are proud to be recognized among The Bend’s Top Attorneys. This honor reflects their deep connection to the community and their relentless pursuit of justice for Coastal Bend residents. Hilliard Law’s commitment to Corpus Christi goes
championing their rights in landmark cases to supporting local initiatives, the firm’s work is driven by a profound dedication to the well-being of its neighbors. Whether representing individuals in personal injury, social justice or high-stakes litigation, Hilliard Law strives to make a lasting impact on both its clients’ lives and the broader community.
With a history of success that includes hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements since 1985, the firm has earned its place in the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Yet, its ongoing contributions to the Coastal Bend community are what truly define its legacy. For Hilliard Law, justice is not just a profession — it is a promise to the people of Corpus Christi.
AROUND THE BEND
Artist Omar Gonzalez explores identity
The Purpose of Connection
Artist Omar Gonzalez explores identity and meaning while mentoring new talent
By Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos by Jason Page
Omar Gonzalez has long known art would play a role in his life. Growing up on a ranch outside Kingsville, he found inspiration early from his elementary school fine arts teacher, Mrs. Cruz, who encouraged his creative spark. But after high school, he took a more traditional route, earning a master’s degree in business before realizing his true calling was art.
With the support of his parents, he returned to school and earned a master’s degree in fine arts from UTSA. Here, he found his niche in printmaking, although, as a multidisciplinary artist, his practice also extends into sculpture and installations.
For Gonzalez, printmaking covers a wide range of techniques, each with its own origin and history, making it a fun, multi-layered art form. He often begins with collages of source photos and then chooses the medium that best serves the subject.
In grad school, his work began centering on his identity––growing up with no close neighbors, surrounded by open pastures and cattle, shaped his sense of place. That environment became the heart of his autobiographical work.
Over time, his father also became a central figure in his art. “He was my subject, my figure in my work,” Gonzalez said. “The tools that I associate with my dad, the labor that he would do every day, that’s what I connect with.”
Gonzalez's solo exhibition, "Parte de usted," is on view at K Space Contemporary until Sept. 25.
After his father’s passing last year, Gonzalez’s art shifted from exploring his upbringing and environment to focusing on the grief process. His latest series, featured in his solo exhibition at K Space Contemporary until Sept, 25, centers on his father’s actual tool panel, complete with its painted outlines and nail hangers.
“Each tool has a purpose, a function. I think we ourselves have a purpose to each other, our family, our friends,” he said.
“When someone is no longer in our life, we have this sense of void that we can’t fill.” For Gonzalez, the work symbolizes that shared purpose and also reflects how losses are unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Balancing the heavy, personal nature of his studio work is Mucha Lucha Press, the collaborative venture Gonzalez runs with Jesús De La Rosa, who was once his professor and continues to be a valued mentor. What began as live printmaking demonstrations
with custom woodcut prints has become a performative experience. Wearing a luchador mask, Gonzalez blends the theatrics of performance art with the craft of printmaking, creating an interactive experience for participants.
When he is not creating, he is shaping the next generation of artists as a professor at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, teaching advanced printmaking, design and drawing. Inspired by the mentors who encouraged him as a budding artist, he now strives to offer that same support to his classroom. “I want to be like that for my students,” Gonzalez said. “Where I’m at, I want them to go beyond.”
With exhibitions currently lined up in Austin, Dallas and Corpus Christi, Gonzalez continues to build on his current body of work while exploring new ways to merge personal history with creative expression. His art remains a space where memory, identity and craft meet, and where the tools of the past continue to inspire the work of the present.
CONTACT
ogprints.com | @ogprints | @muchaluchapress
AMARILLO, BOERNE, BRECKENRIDGE, CORPUS CHRISTI, DONNA, GEORGETOWN, LAREDO, LUBBOCK, ODESSA, OKLAHOMA CITY, NORTH HOUSTON, ROCKPORT, SAN ANTONIO, SOUTH HOUSTON, TEXARKANA, WEST HOUSTON
Eyes on the Sky
HawkWatch International gears up for its annual Celebration of Flight
By Darcy Stineman Photos provided by HawkWatch International
Migration is a huge part of life for many animals. Every year, birds of all kinds, and even some butterflies, leave their habitats to seek warmer weather for the winter. Luckily for the Coastal Bend, the area is perfectly situated to observe the migration of the incredible group of birds called raptors.
HawkWatch International (HWI), an organization dedicated to observing and conserving raptor populations, has significantly grown in scope since its inception in 1986. The organization’s work educates over 40,000 people annually, and its volunteers and staff observe at eight HWI sites.
Every year, HWI hosts special events in Corpus Christi and Mexico to celebrate the wonderful creatures, and the Celebration of Flight at Hazel Bazemore Park is one of them. The park along the Nueces River is an ideal place to observe hawk migrations—counts at this site often exceed one million raptors of up to 28 species, ranking as some of the largest and most diverse counts ever recorded in North America.
Kirsten Elliott, development and communications director for HWI, reminisced on her time as a watcher. “Migration is magical,” she shared. “Raptors are all around us everywhere we are, making them a really easy way to connect with nature.” Elliott said observing raptor migrations can give us a better understanding of the health of raptor populations and their environment.
Unfortunately, the HWI community suffered a sudden and devastating loss in 2023. Dane Ferrell was a nature educator at the Nueces Delta Preserve for many years and longtime volunteer counter who had a deep love for birds and touched many hearts with his sheer enthusiasm. He is survived by his wife, Libby Even, who carries on his HWI legacy as a great birder in her own right.
For a full schedule of events of this year’s Celebration of Flight, visit HawkWatch International’s website. All events are free and open to the public.
“Dane made hawkwatching fun for everyone,” Even said. “He was so enthusiastic about birds in general, and raptors in particular, that you couldn’t help but smile if you were with him on the platform. That enthusiasm made him a great teacher of the young and old alike.”
Now entering her 20th year as a counter, Even loves sharing her experiences with new and longtime birders, and is grateful to the HWI community for supporting her in her time of grief. “This is the time of year I am embraced by my HawkWatch family, without whom I would not have survived the loss of my soulmate,” she said.
This year’s Celebration of Flight event, occurring Sept. 26-28, promises fun, learning and of course, hawk watching. Each morning features a guided bird walk with a seasoned birder. Learn the difference between hawks and falcons at the “Parade of Raptors” programs or join the “Reading with Raptors” program to hear a family-friendly story and meet a Raptor Ambassador.
Speaking of Raptor Ambassadors, the HWI is excited to introduce these birds to the public. “For the first time ever, our birds will be making their own epic migration journey to Corpus Christi, offering visitors the opportunity to see a bird of prey up close,” Elliott said.
Every Celebration of Flight ends with a Native American blessing ceremony and dance with an intertribal drum circle. About this ceremony, Even said, “Many years during the drumming, we have had bald eagles and large groups of migrating hawks fly over, as if the drums called them to us.”
CONTACT
Hazel Bazemore County Park, 4343 County Road 69 hawkwatch.org
A Pioneer's Archive
Dunn’s Museum was a record of early Corpus Christi
By Jillian Becquet Photo Courtesy of Corpus Christi Public Libraries, La Retama Special Collections & Archives
While parts of the United States were undergoing industrialization and the Gilded Age, Corpus Christi was a frontier land during John B. Dunn’s young adult years, the 1870s and 1880s. He was one of the earliest residents of the brand-new City of Corpus Christi, witnessed the bombardment during the Civil War, served as a Texas Ranger and then went on to live until WWII … what a life!
But to me, the thing that makes him stand out among others who lived similar lives on the frontier is a hobby he took up at age 17, when he started collecting items for a museum he’d work to build for the rest of his life.
Dunn’s collection wasn’t simply a collection of items on a single topic or theme; it was a wide variety of items—
evidence of the life lived by him and others in early Nueces County. Fossils, guns, swords, art, household items, furniture, rocks, minerals … the list goes on. Dunn’s obituary called his museum “probably the largest privately owned collection in the United States.” I think they’re leaning hard on the word probably here, but it puts into perspective how shockingly large his collection was.
During his life, Dunn’s Museum was displayed at his homestead on Shell Road (now Upriver) and at the Corpus Christi College-Academy, for which he was a benefactor. Eventually, part of the collection was purchased by the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. If you’ve visited, you’ve likely seen one of these items collected by Dunn, a Corpus Christi pioneer … and so much more.
John B. Dunn (1853-1941) poses with artifacts from his museum, 1935.
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