CURRENT EXHIBIT

HERSHALL  SEALS

Hershall Seals’ roots in South Texas have deeply influenced his connection to the land and its historical heritage, which serve as a cornerstone for his artistic expression. Seals incorporates ancient pictographs and petroglyphs from the Southwest into his diverse array of art forms, including jewelry, glass blowing, printmaking, assemblage art, sculpture, and painting. His work reflects a fusion of traditional visual languages with contemporary materials and techniques, exploring themes of transcendence, power, and the mystical. Seals holds a BFA in Art Education from Sam Houston State University and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from Louisiana State University. His career has spanned over three decades, including a role as Visual Arts Co-Director at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple and a long-standing tenure as a professor at UMHB. Seals’ art is a testament to the enduring impact of cultural heritage and the transformative power of creativity.

Condiuts of Power

           Intercessory

              Living in Harmony

                   More Aware

KURT RITTERPUSCH

Kurt grew up in Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and New Jersey.  He is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC with a Fine Art degree in Studio Art and a concentration in painting.   After completing training in the Army Reserve, Kurt became an Art Teacher in Arlington, Virginia public school system teaching Art, Photography, Art History and Graphic Design. 

Kurt cal called up to active Duty in 2001 serving two combat tours in Iraq and two combat tours in Afghanistan receiving four Bronze Stars.  Retiring from the Army in 2020, he has turned his focus toward painting and capturing nature.  

Kurt is a figurative painter.   He frequently paints local central Texas scenes, especially Belton, Texas.  


Temple Downtown Granary                                                              Through the fence                                                          Bridgeport Shadows

Nakisha Gonzalez

 

 My name is Nakisha, and I am a retired Army veteran with a passion for art. After serving my country with seven deployments, I decided to pursue my artistic aspirations. I am thrilled to share a bit about myself and my diverse artistic journey.

 

I recently graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and Psychology. Currently, I am furthering my education by pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology. This unique combination of art and psychology has dramatically influenced and enriched my artistic expression.

 

As a well-rounded artist, I have explored various mediums and artistic endeavors. My artwork spans across painting, multimedia, ceramics, glass blowing, metal art, wood carving, and wire wrapping. Each medium allows me to convey different aspects of my experiences and emotions, resulting in a vibrant and eclectic body of work.

 

I am excited about the opportunity to showcase my artwork at your esteemed gallery potentially and would be honored to discuss further details or provide additional information. Thank you for considering my work, and I look forward to collaborating with you.

         The Whimsical Elephant

Radiance Within Shadows

                         Echoes of Identity

                                

Barbara Fontaine-White


Experiencing the land is a physical experience that requires engagement from the participant. Painting the landscape is a related experience that forges a connection between the work of art, the artist who made it and the person looking at it. These connections become part of the human experience that recognizes our humanity and connectedness to the earth. My paintings start with observed reality and then are synthesized through composition, memory, and imagination.

 

From my perspective, landscape viewed as a metaphor for the human condition explores the relationship of humankind to the earth. As an artist, I explore traces of past civilization, scars of human activity and the permanence of the land itself. Vast expanses summon calmness and timelessness. Rocky ground or steep cliffs uncertain or dangerous situations. Recognizing a need for interaction with the natural world is fundamental to the emotional understanding of humans as an integral part of nature. 

  

 Seed Pods in the Chihuahua Desert 

                             Stillhouse Hollow Lake in Drought    

            Loop Trail, Enchanted Rock

Zhoo Lee Et


I am a figurative/abstract painter living in Belton, Texas. My art career began in the Peace Corps in Latin America as I spent many years living abroad and working as an artist and educator. I exhibited in Brazil and in Spain and for most of my art career, in Texas. For me, a colorful palette is the beginning.

 

The imagery which is present in my work includes geometric and architectural forms, human contours, animals forms, figurative shadows and vessels, Much of the imagery comes from my everyday life, whether it be sensations which dictate my artistic direction or actual surroundings that envelop my world. I often paint the female form often to represent myself in the struggle and duality of my own grounded-ness vs. vulnerability.

 

I have a Masters in Art Education from Texas Tech University; as art educator and high school guidance

counselor, my students benefit from art therapy activities to promote self-reliance and healing. Art is healing.

 

Self-expression is the essence of self-actualization.


Abstract Chair-Homage to Pierre Chareau 

                                                                                                        

                                                                           

                          Abstract in Gray    

                       Abstract in Blues

KIM BLANKENSTEIN

 

Originally from Arizona, Kim Blankenstein harbors a deep love for the desert and the vast expanses of West Texas, landscapes that inspire her work and fuel her soul. Her true passion lies in Native American art, a field where she finds endless inspiration and connection. Through her artwork, Blankenstein aims to share her unique impressions of life, inviting viewers to experience the world through her eyes and hopefully, to find joy and inspiration in her interpretations of life's beauty.


Blankenstein brings to the art world a unique perspective honed over 45 years of both living with and creating art. With a profound appreciation for the beauty and intricacies of life, she attributes her distinct way of seeing the world to a blessing. Her journey has been deeply rooted in Texas, where she has spent the same number of years enriching her connection to the state's diverse landscapes and cultures.


Before embracing art full-time, Blankenstein dedicated 43 years to a career in Pharmacy at Baylor Scott and White, a tenure that underscored her commitment and work ethic. Now retired, she revels in the freedom to devote herself entirely to her art, exploring and expressing her creative vision without restraint.

   Springtime in Sedona

Enlightened

  Enchanted

Nancy McGowan

Nancy has been an artist since she could hold a crayon, as was evident by the numerous "sketches and drawings" that adorned the walls of her family home.  Unfortunately none survived her mother's scrubbing and cleaning that could attest to her early talent!  At the age off 5 while most children at the beach were busy building sand castles, Nancy drew them in the sand along with the flora and wildlife.  Some of Nancy's educators thought drawing took precedence over schoolwork.  However, they should have known that even great talent needs practice@  That practice honed a talent that can be seen in the artistic commissions she did for the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission and the Texas Parks & Wildlife.  She and her husband, Jim, began extended explorations in Mexico where they documented and sketched unique flora and fauna.  Moving to Temple in 1992 she continues her artistic endeavors and now shares her talent and skills with the community.  


Yellow Warbler  Cane

Chipping Sparrow  Grapevine

       Kiskadee   Cottonwood

Stephanie Chambers

Alaska Birch

            Trees at Caribou Creek

Foliage

Dolan Geima


Dolan Geiman is a nationally recognized mixed media artist known for intricate collage works using salvaged materials found through a lifetime of exploration. Born and raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Geiman’s formative years were defined by outdoor adventures. The rambling spirit of Geiman’s childhood is still alive today in every one of the artist’s contemporary western creations. Though best known for his large-scale paper collages and metal wall sculptures, Geiman also creates paintings, screenprints and three-dimensional sculptures. Together, Dolan Geiman’s art showcases a wide range of media and subjects — all celebrating Mother Nature and the rugged American landscape.

Specializing in the reuse of found materials and objects, Dolan Geiman carefully cuts and combines vintage papers, reclaimed woods and salvaged metals with other artistic techniques like painting, screenprinting and sculpture to create his contemporary western portfolio. Each collage creation is multilayered and rich in narrative inspired by a love for folktales, found objects, and the freedom to explore the expansive public lands of the West.



Dolan Geiman canvas prints are archival pigment reproductions printed with the same Epson inks used in our limited edition paper prints. These are produced on acid-free canvas instead of paper by a fine art printer in Denver, Colorado.

The price point on these artworks reflects the quality of the printing, the time and labor in

coating the canvases, the artisan stretcher bars, and high-end framing. After printing and stretching, the canvases are framed in-studio with hand-assembled wood frames. Similar to our paper prints, our canvas prints are limited to a run of just 50 per image.


Midnight Round Up