Counties » Calhoun County

Subscribe

Port Lavaca guild promotes community art

Elisabeth Montgomery, a vendor at the Port Lavaca Art Guild showcase, paints a still life at her booth Sunday.
  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • BY ERICA RODRIGUEZ - ERODRIGUEZ@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published November 8, 2009 at 11 p.m., updated November 9, 2009 at midnight

  • PORT LAVACA ART GUILD

    The organization offers classes three days a week for adults and after-school children's classes throughout the week. For more information contact Patty Lowire at 361-649-4036 or Carol Stewart at 361-552-6070.

The artists of the Port Lavaca Art Guild have one thing that unites them - their love for community art.

"It's exhausting, but it's so fun," said Carol Stewart, show chair for this year's event. "It's just so worth it."

Sunday, the guild celebrated 38 years of its annual arts and craft show. More than 700 residents and art enthusiasts turned out to support the event. All proceeds went to the guild to fund operating expenses for their building as well as supplies for classes they offer.

For Barbara Burkett, a 68-year-old painter and jewelry maker, the Port Lavaca Art Guild arts and craft show has nearly become her life.

She's been a part of the show for 33 years, showing watercolor paintings of the Texas Coast, necklaces and brooches. Her booth is a hub of white-haired ladies ogling over a case of bright stones.

For Burkett, the atmosphere the guild creates a place to be inspired.

"It's very important," she said holding a pair of pliers and a piece of jewelry in progress. "It doesn't matter if the person is a beginner or advanced, if a person inspires you, there's something that just clicks in your brain."

Burkett has seen sales of her paintings drop along with the sour economy. However, jewelry sales are steady. She, along with other artists, is hopeful things will turn around.

"I just think it's a cycle," she said. "It'll change eventually."

For vendor Elisabeth Montgomery, a Gonzales native who weaves fabric and paints landscapes, the show allowed her a place to share her works.

"The last step in creating is sharing," she said. "You're not ever through creating something until you share it."


Sign Up
CLOSE

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •