Art Guild Hosts ‘Lasting Impressions’
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Local artist Carmen Willey has dedicated her very long life to promoting art all over Texas.
Canyon Lake Art Guild will honor the 101-year-old’s commitment at their annual Lasting Impressions Art Show, from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, May 17 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at Tye Preston Memorial Library, 16311 S. Access Rd., Canyon Lake.
Admission is free, and many works of art will be available for purchase. The event is sponsored by the Greater New Braunfels Arts Council and by individual donors with Veterans for the Arts.
“There is a tremendous amount of talent in this small group of artists,” said Debbie Alvarado, vice president of the Canyon Lake Art Guild. “Most of our members have their own business. Gail Graham owns Gallery G in Wimberley, Kathy Perales is a partner in the ART Cottage in New Braunfels, Carol Bryant owns Thistle Dew 2 Art Studio, Rita Ball has an internet business, and Matthew Skylar owns a photography business.”
She said members of the art guild also award high-school scholarships, visit nursing homes and rehabilitation centers to paint with residents, and spend time in schools helping with art classes.
Artists will compete in four categories of two-dimensional art: oils and acrylics, water, drawing, and photography and digital.
Three-dimensional art includes jewelry, glassworks, pottery, ceramics, sculpting, stone, mosaics, collages, fiber art and mixed media.
History of the Canyon Lake Art Guild
Pat Kirkpatrick, historian and charter member of the guild, writes:
“The Canyon Lake Art Guild (CLAG) was organized by 24 local artists on May 9, 1984, meeting in the home of Kathleen Markham. The membership grew to 73 by the end of the year with Grant Lathe serving as the first president.
“CLAG met and held art shows at various places around the lake for many years. In 1985, Gladys and Emmett George created the Heart’s Desire Art Center in Sattler, where the art guild had a gallery and meeting room and held outdoor shows. The Center was sold and renamed The Art of Texas, owned by Patsy Ledbetter. After its closing, CLAG again held meetings and shows at other lake locations.
“In 2010, CLAG relocated to its permanent home at the new Tye Preston Memorial Library on the River Road in Sattler, Texas. Meeting rooms, display spaces on walls and in cases are available for art ‘show and sell.’ Members’ art is also displayed for sale at several community businesses.
“The annual member show is now called ‘Lasting Impressions’ and has been held in New Braunfels until 2019. That year the show moved to Canyon Lake. This two-day show features works by members of CLAG and art vendors from the community.
“CLAG gives a scholarship to a deserving high-school senior each spring. Because of the generous support of the community, it has grown over the years. Fundraisers and donations have helped to supplement the scholarship fund.”
Last year’s winners of the Lasting Impressions show are, front row (l-r): Kathy Perales, Gail Graham, Diana Popham, and Nancy Ellis. Back row (l-r): Karen Frazier, Betty Smith, Chris Wooten, Cheryl Wooten, James Foster, Debbie Alvarado, Arlene Rhodes Baese, Marlene Skaggs, Susan Calafrancesco, and Leila Reynolds.
