"The colors attracted me to the painting. I became attached to the mystery of the place. My imagination was hooked." -anonymous Board Member

As part of the Art Center-sponsored Performing Artists Series, Austin-based world music ensemble Mundi put on a stellar performance. Their style weaves Celtic, Gypsy and Classical influences. A crowd of over 250 were present to hear the music on Sunday, January 20, 2008.

After 5 weeks of voting for their favorite artist in the 2007-8 Currents exhibition, the people have chosen Pleasanton-based artist Jeannette Cuevas as the 2008 People's Choice Merit Artist. Cuevas will join 5 other Merit Artists in a group exhibition in August 2008.

The 2008 Merit Artists have been named by Juror Michelle Locke, Curator of the Permanent Collection at the Art Museum of South Texas. Locke noted the difficult task of narrowing down her choices in a gallery full of variety and quality. See full story for the winners!

Billy Keen addressed an early crowd at Rockport Center for the Arts on Saturday, Dec. 8. Keen unveiled his 2007 Santa portrait with a "Rockport twist."

Kay Barnebey was invited by Padre Island National Seashore to create a Christmas ornament that will hang on the 2007 White House Blue Room Christmas Tree. She recently attended the special reception hosted by Laura Bush at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Blan Shephard of Victoria, Texas died Tuesday evening at Citizens Hospital. Blan won the Texas State Hair Styling Contest twice, and took two Honorable Mentions in the International Hair Styling contest in New York, before taking the first prize in 1961.

Filmmakers, Artists, and Enthusiasts from all over the country converged at the 2007 Rockport Film Festival. Over 50 films were screened, over a dozen awards were given, and organizers are already discussing the 2008 Film Festival. Rockport Center for the Arts is proud to have been a part of this successful inaugural event!

See full story for nominees and winners for this year's Film Festival.

Pat Bailey, an exceptionally gifted artist who has struggled with homelessness and is featured in the Austin-based film "Art From the Streets" will exhibit and sale recent works at Rockport Center for the Arts during Film Festival weekend.

Jacqueline Pontello, formerly of Southwest Art Magazine, was present on Saturday, October 27 to jury and award winning entries in the Architecture Show. 1st and 2nd place prizes were awarded in Painting, Photographic, and 3D/Non-traditional media categories.

David Murrah, Ph.D, a trustee of the Aransas County Historical Society, gave a talk Saturday October 27 to kick off the opening reception of the Architecture Show at Rockport Center for the Arts. Murrah offered listeners examples of how historic preservation defines a community, and encouraged support for the Aransas County Historical Society.

George Mendoza, a legally blind painter and nationally recognized visionary artist, will give a special Artist Demonstration and Talk on Tuesday, November 6th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Rockport Center for the Arts. The event is open to the public.

Our dear friend Daniel Brigham passed away on October 13, 2007 from cancer. Dan loved our community and the Arts and surrounded us with his artistic talent. He touched and filled us with his love and talent of culinary arts and gardening.

Marcia Nichols Miller from Rockport/Cuero/Houston Texas passed away suddenly on September 14, 2007 near Cuero, Texas.

Al Baha-Sketchbook is a verbal and visual journal of Koutnik's 1991 visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where her husband was employed as a surgeon at King Fahad Hospital. Although she is an American citizen, she must discard her previous lifestyle and identity to comply with the stringent morays that have controlled women in Saudi Arabia for generations.

Artist Billy Hassell is currently in two places at once; a solo exhibition entitled Migration at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, and as part of a group exhibition entitled Printmaking Now at Rockport Center for the Arts. Billy was present at both opening receptions, and signed limited edition prints of "Red Wing Blackbird" at Rockport Center for the Arts.

Katherine Brimberry, co-founder and co-director of Flatbed Press in Austin, gave a gallery talk on Saturday September 22 to offer an insider's look at Printmaking Now: a group exhibition of original, limited edition prints.

Watercolor artist Teresa Justice has been named the 2008 Poster Artist for the 39th Annual Rockport Art Festival. She was selected to promote next year's festival by a special panel of judges, who reviewed the work of dozens of nominated artists.