Texas Visions: Contemporary Texas Regionalism at the Nave Museum
Beginning June 11th through July 2nd, William Reaves Fine Art brings its notable group of Texas Regionalist painters to Victoria’s venerable Nave Museum, presenting residents of the Cross Roads area a stunning assemblage of Texas subjects. The exhibition entitled, Texas Visions features works by fifteen of the foremost painters working in the state today, all affiliated with Houston’s William Reaves Fine Art, one of the state’s most respected purveyors of Lone Star fare. The gallery has gained notoriety over the past nine years for showing the best of Texas art from all periods, and one look at works by the fifteen artists included clearly confirms their spot in the “Best of Texas” category. Participating artists hail from all across Texas and include: Randy Bacon (Albany), Mary Baxter (Marfa), David Caton (Utopia), Margie Crisp (Elgin), Keith Davis (Austin), Charles Ford (Houston), Pat Gabriel (Fort Worth), Billy Hassell (Fort Worth), Lee Jamison (Huntsville), Rob Kendrick (Austin), Laura Lewis (Mason), William Montgomery (Elgin), Noe Perez (Corpus Christi), Jeri Salter (Round Rock), and Debbie Stevens (Cypress). While most of the Contemporary Texas Regionalists are painters, the group also includes printmakers, sculptors and photographers. Regardless of their medium, however, each artist works in a manner consistently reflecting the highest of quality, imbuing their final products with a unique blend of style and authenticity. The Nave venue represents the third recent museum show featuring this high-profile group, with members having received significant critical acclaim in publications such as Southwest Art and American Fine Art magazines, as well as important awards and commissions. Victorians will especially appreciate Corpus Christi artist, Noe Perez’s recent commission to paint the Centennial image of the King Ranch headquarters, as well as Debbie Stevens’, the noted waterfowl painter from Cypress, Texas, recent inclusion in the national “Birds in Art” exhibition. Likewise local patrons will appreciate Laura Lewis’ recent mural project that will adorn the new Chevron campus in Midland Texas. The list of distinguished accomplishments among all fifteen artists really goes “on and on.” Texas Visions takes viewers on an eye-popping waltz across the Texas art scene. While divergent in style and media, all members of the group work with Texas subject or narrative in mind. Striking images of a grand and diverse Texas landscape prevail, as do engaging paintings of the distinctive flora and fauna of the Lone Star countryside. From the Big Bend to the Hill Country, from South Texas to North Texas, from Panhandle to Piney Woods, from High Plains to Coastal Plains, the works contained in the exhibition adroitly capture and celebrate the richness and diversity of our great state. The Reaves group conveyed their particular pleasure in showing in Victoria and especially at the Nave Museum. Reaves noted, “It is ideal that works of regionalist painters can be shown in regional museums throughout the state, and we find it especially fitting that our artists can show in a museum like the Nave, which through its name and continuing arts programming memorializes the contributions of Victoria’s Royston Nave, one of the state’s most important early artists. We know of no other museum named for such a regional artist, and thus it is a real honor for us and our artists.” Thus, Texas Visions is a “must see” exhibition for Victoria area art patrons, certain to bring great viewing pleasure and brimming with grand Lone Star imagery bound to make a Texan’s heart swell with pride. Special Events On View: June 11 –July 2, 2015 (12-6pm, Tuesday-Friday; 12-4pm, Saturday-Sunday) Opening Reception: Thursday, June 11, 6-8 pm Artists Reception hosted by William Reaves Fine Art: Saturday, June 27, 6-8pm Location Nave Museum 306 W. Commercial St. Victoria, Texas 361-575-8227 www.navemuseum.com
