New BAL Exhibit Features Works by Art Educator

Brazosport Art League opened a new exhibit this week, “Education: Idealized Never Realized” by artist and art educator Jennifer Lehnert. The show runs through Saturday, October 16.

Lehnert received a Master of Arts degree with a studio arts concentration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake last year and currently teaches art at Hood-Case Elementary in Alvin.

Her love of art began during childhood, thanks to her mother, grandmother and a few television shows.

“Early on, I learned to draw from watching television shows like The Secret City on PBS,” she said. “My Grandma was a painter and we enjoyed watching Bob Ross together. She always encouraged my artistic talent. When my mother struggled to cope with life, she turned to ceramics as a way of connecting with me, her first child, and I have a very deep connection to it because of her. She taught me many fundamental art skills and I am grateful to her for that.”

The art displayed in Lehnert’s show reflects her personal observations after negotiating her first experiences as a public school teacher.

“My artwork attempts to portray the contrast of how a child’s education should be and how it is,” she explained. “It is my hope that viewers feel the conflictions that my pieces are trying to evoke.  The Hebrew proverb “A child is not a vessel to be filled, rather a lamp to be lit” was the foundation of my would-be teaching philosophy. Now it is the underpinning of my compositions.  My wish is for my body of work to create an awareness and stir up a desire in all who view it to make positive changes to the current state of public education.”

Lehnert uses the experiences and challenges in her life as inspiration and a source of creativity.

“I find bringing my concepts to life very therapeutic, exciting, and rewarding,” she said. “As an adult, I have advanced my skills under the direction of the excellent art professors at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Collaboration is one of my favorite endeavors and I adore teaching children to find their inner artist.”

Tickets to the art gallery are free, but reservations are required and can be made in advance online or once you arrive. Hours of operation are 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

The views and opinions of this artist are uniquely her own and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Center for the Arts & Sciences, Brazosport Art League, or its staff, volunteers, or board of trustees.

Brazosport Art League’s “Open Juried Show” Exhibit Featured in The Facts

Check out the article featuring Brazosport Art League’s current exhibit, “Open Juried Show” in the Brazos Life section of The Facts weekend edition, Open Juried Show recognizes work of local artists! Thanks to reporter Raven and photographer Jenna for coming to the gallery last to visit with our artists and take photos of some of the fantastic pieces in the show.

If you haven’t stopped by the gallery yet to see this exhibit, don’t miss out!

Tickets to visit the gallery are free, but reservations are required. Hours of operation are 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Make your reservations online: https://bcfas.org/visit/

(Photo by Jenna Kieser for The Facts.)

Teen Studio Time Registration Open Now

Registration for Brazosport Art League’s Teen Studio Time is OPEN NOW! Teens of all artistic skill levels, ages 13-18, are welcome to join us on Tuesdays this fall, from September 7 through December 14. Sign up for either Session 1 from 1:30-3:30 PM *OR* Session 2 from 4:00-6:00 PM.

The registration fee is just $60 for the entire semester and includes all supplies…it’s a great deal for a great class! Instructors are Linda Strickland and Mark Cameron. Don’t miss out on Teen Studio Time and get signed up ASAP!

Get more details….and register NOW!

Brazosport Art League Hosts “Open Juried Show” Gallery Exhibit

8/16/21 UPDATE:

The following list includes the winners of the 2021 Open Juried Show:

GRAND CHAMPION: Rocks by Robert Ruhmann

On Canvas

First Place: Fawning Spirit by Inga Kervin

Second Place: Imoh Ifok by Sherry Hall Shelton

Third Place: The Lone Duo by Hussan Mehmood

Honorable Mention: Eye of the Beholder by Jerry Bachman

On Paper or Yupo

First Place: Red Bird’s Kiss by Jerry Bachman

Second Place: Flowers in a Pot by Linda Strickland

Third Place: Socks! by Ron White

Honorable Mention: Breaking Bad by Connie Cheatham

Honorable Mention: Under the Cedar by Robert Ruhmann

Photography

First Place: Summer’s End by Julie Chapa

3-D Free Standing

First Place: A Little Can Still Love Big by Dana Moody Stevens

Honorable Mention: Curly by Ocean Nicolle Londreneau

Wall Hanging Mixed Media

First Place: Smoky Starry Night by Ruth Wooters

Honorable Mention: Tie of the Giant by Ruth Wooters             

Honorable Mention: Words that Manifest by Inga A. Kervin

Honorable Mention: Ghost of the Past by Hussan Mehmood

**********

Brazosport Art League’s new exhibit, “Open Juried Show,” opens this week in the gallery and features artwork from more than 20 BAL members and local artists. Sponsored by The Law Office of Michelle Stover, the show runs through Saturday, September 11.

The exhibit is comprised of 44 pieces of art in a wide variety of techniques and styles, including paintings, mixed media art, photography, mosaics and more.

The category winners and the Best in Show award are being selected by this year’s judge, Brazosport College art professor Molly Arc, based on criteria such as skill demonstrated, composition, use of colors, perspectives in landscapes, etc. Award winners will be announced at the opening week reception, slated for Friday, August 13 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the BAL gallery.

Admission to the gallery is free, but reservations are required. Hours of operation are 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Register for FREE tickets!

Spark Imaginations: 2021-2022 Season Announcement Party Slated for July 9

YOU’RE INVITED! We’re throwing a P-A-R-T-Y to celebrate the upcoming 2021-2022 season with Brazosport Art League, Brazosport Center Stages, Brazosport Museum of Natural Science, BASF Planetarium and Brazosport Symphony Orchestra! RSVP to join us for our “Spark Imaginations” Season Announcement Party and full evening of activities on Friday, July 9.

Festivities will include Brazosport Art League’s “Members Challenge” exhibit reception, BASF Planetarium activities, Brazosport Museum of Natural Science Open House, Brazosport Center Stages’ opening night performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and the Season Announcement Party after the musical!

RSVP by July 2 at 979-265-7661 or thecenter@bcfas.org.

Teen Artists Open Colorful and Creative “Trending Classics” Exhibit

The young artists in Brazosport Art League’s Teen Studio Time may have worn masks during class each week, but their creativity was allowed to spread unchecked in unique and beautiful ways this year. Close to 20 students have their art displayed in the “Trending Classics: The Teen Studio Show,” which kicks off this week in the art gallery at The Center for the Arts & Sciences and runs through Saturday, July 3.

The show is sponsored by the family of Charles Bernard, in loving memory.

Primary instructor Linda Strickland, who has been teaching Teen Studio Time since its inception six years ago, said students start out in the fall learning the primary art mediums (watercolor, pastels, acrylic, clay, etc.) and basic techniques.

“We take a very loose approach, but we teach them the principles of art by letting them do it themselves,” she explained. “Our lessons are practical and very hands-on. We can give them a challenge and if they go off in another direction, we are okay with that. By the time March rolls around, they have learned the mediums and techniques. From there, they choose whatever medium they want to use for their final end-of-year project.”

Teen Studio Time met weekly on Tuesday afternoons, with two sessions available to safely allow the maximum number of students in the Brazosport Art League studio. Artist Mark Cameron also worked with Strickland and the students weekly, while several other Art League artists also stepped in during the year to teach lessons in their favorite mediums.

Students chose various mediums to work with for their final projects, from pastels and clay to glass mosaics and mixed media. Videos featuring each artist talking about their project pieces are available for viewing in the gallery via QR codes next to the works of art.

As they prepared their artwork to be displayed in the gallery this week, Strickland said the students learned a whole new set of skills.

“Learning to help hang the show is one of the most important lessons we offer,” she said. “Students not only mat and frame their art, but they also learn to work with wire hangers, drills, hammers and screwdrivers, they clean the glass and paint the frames. They have to title and put a price on each piece they plan to make available for sale.

“They begin to see what it takes to prepare art for sale or exhibition. There’s a lot of practical stuff the students pick up from Harry (Sargent, Director of Exhibitions and Gallery Installations) and they learn how much work goes into putting together a show. Then at the Opening Week Reception, they have the opportunity to talk to people about their work.”

Strickland is proud of how the students worked through the uncertainty of COVID-19 and a year with many roadblocks to get to this point.

“Last year was horrible because our students never got to come back after Spring Break, but we worked with them and sent home materials so they could finish their projects,” she recalled. “This year was crazy as well, with missing a week in September after the hurricane, continuing COVID-19 issues and the big freeze in February. It seemed like we just kept having to add classes to make up for these disasters.

“These kids are so easy going though, and they just roll with it and keep coming to class. It’s a place where they don’t have to worry about all the other things going on around them…they can just be and create.”

In previous years, students worked on group paintings, but due to COVID-19, instructors had to come up with an alternate plan. They took a painting by artist Vincent Van Gogh, divided it up into 20 equal sections and had each student paint their section in their own personal style. The small acrylic paintings have been put together to create a large polyptych, which will be offered in a silent auction throughout the exhibit to help fund the program.

Tickets to visit the art gallery are free, but reservations are required. Hours of operation are 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations can be made online at https://bcfas.org/visit/ or during business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday) in person at the Box Office and over the phone (979-265-7661).

Brazosport Art League, BASF Planetarium Officially Consolidate with The Center

(Pictured from left to right: BASF Planetarium chair Diane Hill, BFAC president Elaine Polemenakos, Brazosport Art League chair Margarita Prinz)

Leadership from The Center for the Arts & Sciences, Brazosport Art League and BASF Planetarium gathered Wednesday evening, May 26, to share a champagne toast and sign paperwork signaling the official consolidation of both partner groups with The Center. Congratulations to everyone who made this exciting move possible!

The Art League and Planetarium join Brazosport Center Stages in the consolidation process, as the theater group officially became part of The Center in November 2019.

The Facts featured the event in the Friday, May 28 edition of the paper. The story and photos can be viewed online.

Brazosport Art League Hosts Migration Celebration Photography Exhibit

Migration Celebration may have been cancelled in 2020 and 2021, but area nature lovers can still appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors at Brazosport Art League’s newest exhibit opening this week. More than 60 photos from the Migration Celebration Photography Contest are on display in the gallery, featuring entries and winners from the last two years.

A project of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the annual photography competition is underwritten by the Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges. The exhibit at The Center features photographs in seven categories (birds, plants, mammals, insects, landscapes, around the world and digital art) and is being sponsored by Shintech. The show runs from Tuesday, May 11 through Saturday, June 5.

Lisa Myers, president of Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges, said the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex’s Migration Celebration has transitioned over the years from a bird-focused event to an annual, family-friendly weekend that celebrates nature and the outdoors.

“Originally a bird migration-related festival, Migration Celebration is now a free family event held each April that focuses on many aspects of nature and the outdoors,” she said. “This includes trail tours, birds of prey programs, kids fishing and nature art, reptile expo, butterfly encounter, touch tank, kayaking, marsh buggy tours, vendor displays and more.”

Kim Richardson heads up the committee that oversees the Migration Celebration Photography Competition, which survived the event’s two-year closure due to concerns about COVID-19.

“U.S. Fish and Wildlife, as a part of its mission, encourages nature photography,” she explained. “The Migration Celebration Photo Contest provides photographers with wonderful venues to display their photos. We haven’t been able to have Migration Celebration for two years, but the photo contest made it through! We want everyone to come to Migration Celebration in April next year. Much thanks to the Brazosport Art League for hosting the contest again!”

Myers explained that the photography contest has been an integral part of Migration Celebration for many years, as it celebrates and encourages the enjoyment of and participation in all aspects of nature, both locally and around the world.

“Entrants are not professional photographers, but those who seek to capture moments in the outdoors and share those moments with others,” she said. “Generally, all submitted photos are displayed at the Migration Celebration Kickoff fundraiser dinner and at the two-day event as well. The photo display is an attendee favorite and reminds viewers of the treasures we have in our refuges and other outdoor areas that are practically in our backyards. Many of the images have the ability to transport viewers to a lovely time and place and inspire us to pay closer attention to nature’s gifts.”

Tickets to the Brazosport Art League gallery, located at The Center for the Arts & Sciences, are free, but reservations and a mask are required. Hours of operation are 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Reserve FREE Tickets to the Gallery

People’s Choice Exhibit Featured in Facts Article

The Facts’ reporter Corinna Richardson wrote a feature in this weekend’s paper about the Brazosport Art League’s current People’s Choice exhibit, “Art exhibit lets visitors determine winners”. She and photographer Jenna Kieser visited the gallery to take photos and interview league members and artists Dana Moody Stevens and cloth figurine artist Joyce Patterson.

Check out the article on The Facts website.