MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Ormsby, RCA Communications Manager
(361) 320-2064 / vanessa@rockportartcenter.com
TRADITION MEETS ABSTRACTION IN “JUXTAPOSITIONS”
New solo exhibition features paintings of Rebecca Bridges Rice
ROCKPORT, Texas (Aug. 28, 2024) — “Juxtapositions,” the solo exhibition of artist Rebecca Bridges Rice, will be displayed Sept. 13–Oct. 27 at Rockport Center for the Arts.
A celebration of tradition and innovation, with themes of nature, growth, and inspiration, "Juxtapositions" explores art in two distinct yet harmonious directions. Guests will see traditional scenes using watercolor, oil, and acrylics, drawing inspiration from the natural world, as well as abstraction, using color and design to explore a vast emotional landscape, a reflection of Rice’s inner artistic evolution, offering a canvas for experimentation and self-expression.
“I strive to create pieces that provoke thought and reflection, encouraging viewers to lose themselves in the beauty and complexity of the visual experience,” said Rice. “My art is a testament to my lifelong love for the visual arts and my ongoing desire to explore, adapt, and evolve as an artist.”
Rice’s art will be on view and available for collection Sept. 13–Oct. 27 in the McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery with a public artist reception on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 5–7 p.m., to coincide with the monthly Austin Street Art Walk a free, alfresco, walkable art experience featuring RCA and other galleries located in downtown Rockport. The show and reception are free and open to the public.
“Juxtapositions is a showcase of work that is divergent yet compatible,” said Catey Arnold, The Barrow Foundation Curator of Exhibitions for RCA. “Much like the career of the artist herself, both a seasoned artist and designer whose influential career spans more than 40 years in the Arts world on the business side through creative design and publishing and as an artist with her own original works.”
Rice’s artistic journey began in her childhood home, surrounded by the art books and creative endeavors of her mother, Wanda McCary, an art major and a creative force in her own right, who cultivated an environment rich in painting, needlework, fine tailoring, stained glass, and gardening.
A summer scholarship to the University of Kansas—Midwestern Music and Art Camp introduced Rice to various contemporary styles of painting and design, igniting a lifelong passion for art. This early exposure laid the foundation for her formal education in fine art at Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, where she studied on a full scholarship. She furthered her education with a specialization in commercial art at the Regal School of Art in Houston, and later digital graphics at The Art Institute of Houston.
Throughout her career, Rice has worked as a freelance designer for ad agencies and corporate clients, creating illustrations and designs for advertising and corporate communications. This period of freelancing allowed her the flexibility to immerse herself in painting through various classes and workshops, refining her artistic skills.
Her career took a significant turn when she joined Southwest Art Magazine as Creative Director, merging her love for magazine design with her affinity for fine art. She then contributed to establishing a fine art gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon, specializing in bronze sculpture. In 1993, she transitioned into the role of Director of Product Development for Somerset House Publishing in Houston, a prominent fine art company producing limited edition prints for nationally known artists. This role deepened her appreciation for art from a publishing perspective.
Rice relocated to Rockport two decades ago, after her mother suffered a major stroke, devoting herself to caring for her mother until her passing earlier this year.
“My artistic path has been deeply influenced by a personal journey of care and reflection,” said Rice. “After moving to Rockport and caring for my mother through her illness, my work has evolved to embrace themes of growth, transformation, and resilience. This period has enriched my perspective, adding layers of meaning to my art.”
Rice’s continued exploration and adaptation as an artist underscore her enduring love for the visual arts and her commitment to evolving creatively.
For more information on “Juxtapositions,” visit rockportartcenter.com follow RCA on Facebook and Instagram, or call (361) 729-5519.
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The new 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts, the Coastal Bend’s first multidisciplinary arts organization, is located a block away from Aransas Bay in the heart of the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Designed by the award-winning team at Richter Architects, the state-of-the-art campus features a two-story, 14,000-square-foot, visual arts and education building with four galleries and five classrooms (204 S. Austin St.); The Rockport Conference Center, a one-story, 8,000-square-foot conference and event center, known as The ROCC, (106 S. Austin St.); with a 16,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden serving as a visually inspiring transition space between the two buildings. The hours of operation for the showroom, galleries, and gift shop are Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday from noon–4 p.m. Admission is always free. For information on event space, or to book an event, call (361) 450-8033. For general information and to become a member, visit rockportartcenter.com, follow RCA on Facebook, or call (361) 729-5519.
About Austin Street Art Walk
Austin Street Art Walk is a collective effort of the Rockport Center for the Arts and Moon Over Water Gallery in partnership with Rockport galleries, restaurants, and businesses located along Austin Street in the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Scheduled the second Saturday of each month, April through December, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Art Walk is a free, alfresco, walkable art experience featuring an ever-changing mix of participants and art mediums such as paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, textiles, as well as live music, artist demonstrations, food and more. Follow us on Facebook for more information.
###