ARToberFEST

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ARToberFEST is Galveston’s premier juried fine arts festival. This weekend, it was the biggest attraction on the island. Literally, thousands of full- and part-time residents, as well as visitors from Houston and. beyond, made their way downtown to check out the art and associated festivities. All, like me, wanted to meet the featured artists and see their incredible works of art

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Held on Postoffice Street, in the heart of the Galveston Cultural Arts District, the event featured art, food and fun in a beautiful historic setting. Additionally, live music performances and a variety of products from the island’s local Farmers Market were located throughout the festival site.

ARToberFEST, now in its 22nd year, is sponsored annually by the Grand 1894 Opera House.

My visit to ARToberFEST this afternoon was somewhat like a maiden voyage. I knew the destination, but I wasn’t quite sure how well the journey would go. Would the event live up to my expectations? I was eager to find out!

Robin Renee Hix

Robin Renee Hix

This is one of the prints by Robin Renee Hix that currently hangs in The Bungalow. It’s bright and colorful like the rest of the decor in the house, and it’s one of my favorites.

This is one of the prints by Robin Renee Hix that currently hangs in The Bungalow. It’s bright and colorful like the rest of the decor in the house, and it’s one of my favorites.

As it turned out, I was somewhat surprised by the variety of media and the quality of the art I found. There were painters specializing in acrylic, oil and watercolor, jewelry designers, metal artists, photographers, printmakers, sculptors and wood carvers. And, all were creators of fine works of art. I was truly delighted!

There were more than 120 artists participating in the festival this afternoon, each showcased their creations inside sun-protected white tents., It was fun going in and out of those tents, meeting and chatting with some of the artists and spending extra time with the art I was drawn to.

I was especially happy to go into the tent of artist Robin Renee Hix of Wimberley, Texas.

This iRobin Renee Hix print is another favorite of mine. I hope to purchase a copy of it soon. Unfortunately, she did not have one with her today!

This iRobin Renee Hix print is another favorite of mine. I hope to purchase a copy of it soon. Unfortunately, she did not have one with her today!

Robin’s signature style combines two of her loves: photography and painting. Her works are well known for stunning color and dynamic mood. These works offer up a modern twist to the nearly lost art of the hand-colored photograph, a skill which flourished long before color film was invented.

Robin is the artist who created some of the framed art hanging on the walls of The Bungalow. I love the pieces, and II had hoped to meet Robin (someday), so running into her here was a nice surprise! As it turned out, she was very familiar with The Bungalow; she had actually been inside the house several years ago. Coincidentally, she is a good friend of one of the previous owners!
(While I was there, she took a photo of the two of us to send to him!)






















The Dolphins

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In 1975, The Dolphins, created by Galveston sculptor David W. Moore, was installed downtown in the center of the pedestrian corridor on Postoffice Street - that once ran between 21st and 24th Streets. Standing six feet tall, the solid bronze sculpture, is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

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The Dolphins was created in conjunction with the Al Shakis Art Foundry in Houston. The Dolphins were donated to the city and citizens of Galveston by the collective efforts of a private donor and Galveston Foundation, Inc.

When the Postoffice Street corridor was re-opened to vehicular traffic, the Galveston Commission for the Arts made the necessary efforts to relocate the statue to its current location at Fort Crockett Seawall Park, located on Seawall Boulevard at 45th Street.

About the Sculptor
Born Feb. 16, 1921, David Moore grew up in a large home in Galveston, located at 31st and Avenue O, where the Galveston Artillery Club now stands.

Moore worked for the Moore Lumber Company, a family firm and the second-oldest lumber company in Texas, and for Moore-Climatic, Inc. He was a trustee of the Rosenberg Library and helped form the Galveston Cultural Arts Council. Moore died in 2001, at the age of 80.

Other sculptures created by Moore can be found in Galveston. They include The Heron, on display at Galveston's Ashton Villa; Young Girl with Turtle, at the Rosenberg Library, and Boy with Seagulls, displayed at the Texas Seaport Museumt. The 1900 Storm Memorial, which Moore was planning long before he was commissioned to do such a work, was unveiled in September 2000.