“Touching the Land” at the Dougherty
Touching the Land
26 years ago, Imagine Art founder Debbie Kizer, began an unwavering mission to provide community through art. This fall, the dream is actualized with live + make where Imagine Art claims it's forever home at 1127 Tillery St. This is our story.
preface to Touching the Land Exhibition
The Mona Lisa, with her alluring eyes, grips your attention when you enter the front doors of the Dougherty Arts Center (DAC). In fact, there are eleven Mona Lisa paintings by Kelly Reider enticing you to explore this longtime community gallery at 1110 Barton Springs Road. The Mona Lisas’ expressive faces and the earthy background landscapes set the tone for the Touching the Land exhibition. All artists from Imagine Art have contributed to this effort.
The Touching the Land exhibition comes together at the DAC on December 14, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. It’s an opportunity for the public to view the art and visit with artists, and better understand Imagine Art’s mission and goals for the future. That day celebrates the artists’ unharnessed creativity and the passion they have for creating art. The true nature of Imagine Art is brought to the public's eyes through drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media.
Some of the Featured Artists
One of the more prolific artists is John Molina. Circles and lines play and important role in the development of his colorful abstract works. John also makes ceramics and commissions to paint on hats and other wearable items.
The Titanic
The sinking of the Titanic is a tragedy. Gabby Duran captures it on canvas as the billowing smoke engulfs the ship and the ominous red waters warns of what is to come. In her other paintings, Gabby likes to do landscapes and plants.
Creatures and Fantasy
Mason Day creates Jurassic-age type creatures and fantasy beings such as menacing Leprechauns and short-winged Dragons. As well as the everyday monsters like the Mummy and Frankenstein. He can produce two to three art works a day.
Tools of the Trade: The painter’s palette heavy with vibrant oils, brushes in glass jars, and aprons for the splatters and drips.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Larin Harp makes tons of ceramic transportation vehicles: everything from cars, trains, boats, airplanes, helicopters, motorcycles, utility vehicles and horses. Also, he is quite the artist when drawing with pastels.
Whacky Bunnies
Billy Roelander’s art transcends humor in ways that are uplifting.
Clay Beads
Amy Chagoya makes hundreds of clay beads, glazes and then fires them. Finally, she strings them together on cords to make necklaces. She also makes the traditional wares such as mugs, bowls and plates.
Elegance
Patricia Simpson is focused on her art, not only with her jewelry making, but also with the other art she creates.
Multi-talented
Ebony Young, it seems, can do it all. She draws, paints, sculpts, does ceramics and collaborates.
Mixed-Media Artist
Debra Beauchamp can bring together items and arrange them in a certain way that they take on a life of their own. In this case, a broken piece and a found part were brought together.
Looking to the (near) Future
Imagine Art is breaking ground on our Live+Make project in the winter of 2023. Live + Make is a mixed use, affordable housing project, anchored in the arts, targeting artists and individuals with and without disabilities.
