FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 2014
CONTACT:
Linda Calvert Jacobson
830-221-7676; linda@casadelinda.com
Artists open studios, galleries for New Braunfels’ first downtown Art Walk
If you’ve ever wanted to see what goes on inside an art studio or visit one on one with an artist, you’ll have your chance on May 17-18 during the first ever Downtown New Braunfels Art Walk. Hours for the event are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Thirteen local artists will host open houses at nine studio/gallery spaces, all conveniently located downtown. In addition, the New Braunfels Art League Gallery will be showcasing their May Special Show, “Art in Bloom” and the Artist of the Month feature display, as well as its on-going exhibits. And finally, art lovers are encouraged to visit the four murals downtown, which are part of the New Braunfels Historic Outdoor Museum.
In addition to meeting the artists, seeing their art, and getting to watch demonstrations, works of art, ranging from hand-crafted gifts and notecards to paintings of all sizes and prices, will be available for purchase.
All of this is within less than three blocks of each other, providing a pleasant stroll filled with art and culture.
Since the Art Walk is a self-guided tour, you can start at any point but you’re encouraged to begin by picking up a brochure and enjoying some complimentary refreshments upstairs at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery. An elevator is available for convenience of guests.
There, you’ll find four studios open for visitors, including those occupied by Myra Knapp, oil painter; Lynette Clauser, pastel and fused glass artist; and Linda Calvert Jacobson, who works in acrylics.
A fourth studio is home to the Guadalupe River Arts Group (GRAG), which is comprised of six artists: Linda Bateman, watercolor, acrylics and mixed media; Motoe Belote, watercolor and oil; Virginia Carruth, pastels, watermedia and mixed media; Pat Deltz, oil, acrylic, mixed media and watercolor; Cindy Jennings, acrylic, pastels, oil and clay; and Carol Martin, watercolor, oil and acrylic.
During the event, Carruth will be demonstrating pastels and Deltz will be working with collage in the GRAG studio.
When you leave the second floor, go back downstairs, out the front door and make a left. Walk the short half block up the street and over the railroad tracks, make another left walking past Huisache to the Grassmarket Courtyard behind the restaurant. There you’ll find the Art Cottage where four more artists will greet you with refreshments, tours of their studios and galleries, and demonstrations.
Members of the Art Cottage include Sherry Wooley, oils; Kathy Perales, acrylics and oils; Mary McIntosh, pastels; and Sherry Kelley, pastels, clay and fabric art.
After you’ve visited with the Art Cottage artists, head back over the railroad tracks and get ready to view some of the amazing murals in the downtown area. Head toward downtown on San Antonio Street to North Castell and make a left.
First stop will be the tile mural of Hermann Seele, who is considered the “soul of New Braunfels.” It’s on the side of the building facing the side of McAdoo’s Restaurant and across the street from 2Tarts Bakery. The tiles were actually fired with an image reproduced from an original painting by local artist Brent McCarthy. The mural was dedicated Oct. 28, 2012.
Make a u-turn, head back up to San Antonio Street, cross over and make a left. Follow it around the plaza over toward Naegelin’s Bakery where you’ll see Ferdinand Lindheimer keeping his watchful eye on downtown. Dedicated on May 21, 2001, the mural celebrated the 200th birthday of the “father of Texas botany.” Lindheimer lived much of his life in New Braunfels and started the community’s first German newspaper.
Retrace your steps past the plaza back to the corner of West San Antonio Street and Castell Avenue where you’ll see the first mural of the New Braunfels Historical Museum.
Titled “City of a Prince,” it showcases the founding of New Braunfels and was dedicated on March 21, 1999.
Walk just past the towering figure of Prince Carl of Solms to the alley, look to your right and you’ll see our last mural on the Art Walk, “Spass und Gemulichkeit.” Another work of art by McCarthy, this mural pays tribute to New Braunfels rich tradition of food and drink: sausage, bread, beer and wine. This mural was dedicated on April 19, 2007.
Come back around the corner to San Antonio Street and make your way back to the NBAL Gallery.
As you enter the door and look to your right you’ll see the Artist of the Month display. The featured artist for May is Pam Pohl, who is well known for her pressed-flower and mixed media artwork. Pohl will be talking about her art and doing demonstrations on Saturday afternoon during the Art Walk.
The main gallery where you came in showcases a wide variety of work by NBAL members. Each person went through a jury process to be considered as a displaying member. You’ll see a range of styles, themes and mediums.
The room through the door to left of the front entrance is the Elaine Felder Gallery, named for the NBAL president emeritus who was also one of the founding members. The exhibit in this gallery changes every month. The special show for May is “Art in Bloom,” a judged exhibit with ribbons and judge’s comments displayed on the winners. All of the work is also available for purchase.
Walk through the Elaine Felder Gallery and you’ll enter the Prince Carl Gallery. This is really two galleries in one. First, there’s an amazing selection of both 2-D and 3-D art, from photography to fabric art. But in the corner to your right when you entered from the Elaine Felder Gallery is the Gift Gallery, which features a wide range of smaller items as well as note cards created from art by NBAL members.
By the time you’ve completed the Downtown New Braunfels Art Walk, you will have seen works by more than 100 artists, met and visited with at least 15 artists, watched several demonstrations, checked out award-winning art, and saw four murals showcasing the historical and cultural history of New Braunfels.
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