Betty Shamel is well known for her delicately painted pottery and vibrant, colorful paintings that display a unique, personal style while reflecting Rockport's "sense of place"-- a sense that many artists in the Rockport area capture and that numerous local residents appreciate.

Ben Sum was an exhibitor at the 2007 Art Festival, and currently teaches studio art at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. Known for his Chinese calligraphy, Sum will exhibit works from his "Door to Door" series and set up the Art Center's first site-specific installation in the Garden Gallery. For more information about Ben Sum, see www.bensum.com.