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!)