Monday, April 29, 2024
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: The Shanley House Gallery Center for the Arts is hosting the Lake Granbury Art Association’s 50th celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.
TELLING A STORY: Catherine Angle explains each painting’s unique style, showing how collaboratively the paintings express a story of a mutual love of art from their creators.
CREATIVITIY COMBINED: Catherine Angle, who also owns Framed!, Granbury’s newest custom art framing store, is a lover of all things art. She finds beauty in the multitude of talent that surrounds Hood County in the art community.
5O YEARS OF ART: One gallery in the 50th celebration exhibit features themed pieces of artwork from current LGAA members depicting different interpretations of the 50th milestone, like this one pictured above.
ABSTRACT ART: Pictured above, shows paintings done by Kay Wirz, former LGAA president of 2021.
PRESIDENT TRIBUTE: LGAA’s 50th celebration includes a gallery containing paintings from former presidents of the organization.
For 50 years, the Lake Granbury Art Association has provided a creative outlet for Hood County residents to express their love of painting, sketching and everything artistic.
To celebrate its 50th year, the organization is hosting an open house and reception from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the Shanley House Gallery Center for the Arts, 224 N. Travis St.
Two galleries will be set up in the exhibit: a gallery showcasing the artwork of all of the past presidents of LGAA and a gallery featuring 50 themed pieces from LGAA members celebrating the milestone.
Cake, wine and punch will be served at the exhibit to commemorate the organization’s 50th year.
“The word is, it was started back in the 70s. I think ‘72 was the first organized year. There were four women artists who lived here in Granbury, and they had an art gallery upstairs on the second floor (on the square),” said Bob Cook, former LGAA president and current member. “That was their first place before they went to the Shanley, so those gals organized the art club in Granbury in 1972. Pat Tomlinson was the first president of the LGAA.”
According to Cook, the Shanley House was originally built in the 1870s as a furniture manufacturing company. Later, the upstairs was converted into a hotel for residents who performed at the Granbury Opera House, leading to the creation of its name, Opera Hilton.
The LGAA hosts two shows every year — a spring show open to members only and an open show available to anyone in the U.S. who wants to enter their artwork in the competition.
“We get artists that come in and do demos from everywhere. We’ve had people from California and New York that are coming through Granbury,” Cook said. “We also have workshops where we’ll have a famous artist, and you sign up and pay a fee to take their workshop and learn how to do a particular style. There’s hundreds of artists that do this all over the country and the LGAA is a major place that top artists stop.”
Every Monday, LGAA hosts a portrait class where live clothed models pose for members so they can practice sketching.
“You don’t have to be an artist to be a member; you can just have an interest in art,” Cook added.
The exhibit will be open to the public until the end of August.
"I’m most excited about the energy, fellowship that happens during a reception," said Vickie Guthrie, fall show chairman and former LGAA president. "In the mix will be artists, art patrons and visitors to Granbury. It’s always a pleasure sharing the joy of art, especially with visitors."
If anyone is interested in joining LGAA, they can show up to one of the meetings held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month at the Shanley House and pay their dues of $40 for singles and $60 for couples.
"It feels great to share this important milestone with the Granbury community along with LGAA members," Guthrie added. "We continually bring awareness and enjoyment that art offers to everyone. Gives me a sense of pride."
"Fifty years is a long time for anything,” Cook added. “I've been there for 12 years in the association and was on the board of directors for 10-12 years. We have all kinds of unique things that we plan to do (at LGAA).”
For more information, visit the website online at lakegranburyart.blogspot.com.
