On August 29, 2013, the Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce and Schertz Chamber of Commerce held a dual chamber mixer for their constituencies and council men /women back-dropped by an art exhibition featuring artists from the Schertz Area Artz Council and the Live Oak League of Artists. With a turnout of over 75 people, there was a variety of citizens ranging from Garden Ridge, Universal City, Schertz, Selma, and San Antonio areas, among others. Also in attendance were Schertz Mayor, Michael Carpenter; Garden Ridge Mayor, Andrew Dalton and a surprise appearance by Senator Donna Campbell (R).The art exhibition,
50 Shades of Blue was the mastermind of Schertz Area Artz Council President, Whitney Leigh Wiedner. “It was a coy-ish play off the 50 Shades of Grey book because my thought was this show will be anything but provocative; I wanted to see what individual artists’ take on the title and theme -- expressing it in their own creative way.”
Schertz Area Artz Council has a membership of about 30+ artists, artisans and craftsmen; including everyone from quilters to clothing designers to jewelry makers, with about 50% of its members exhibiting work in
50 Shades of Blue. While the Live Oak League of Artists had an entry hallway dedicated to their membership’s artwork, combining 2-D and 3-D.
“Schertz Area Artz Council was established in June of 2009 by the non-stop efforts of a local artist, Stella Marroquin. Stella was fortunate enough to gain the encouragement and support from the wonderful people at the Schertz Civic Center including Brad Bailey, Jessica Robinson and Mary Spence and the City of Schertz, who shared her passion for the visual fine arts and also wanted to see the fine art scene grow within our community”, says Wiedner.
For the last four years there has been a partnership and commitment with the Schertz Chamber of Commerce and the local art community. “We talked about an idea of local artists getting together to expose and educate the general public to the art and artists in their area and neighborhood”, says Mary Spence, Events Coordinator, City of Schertz – Civic Center. “We started by having art related events on a monthly basis in 2009, then we went quarterly, but this one (
50 Shades of Blue) was the first art exhibition at the Civic Center this fiscal year.”
As part of the collaboration between the Schertz Area Artz Council, the Schertz Civic Center and the City of Schertz the rental is free of charge as an in-kind donation to the arts organization, its artists, and patrons.
“Arts is important in our history as well as our future”, says Spence. “We look forward to continue to provide opportunity to educate the public on the artists and the art that is exhibited at our facility.”
The art exhibition and mixer allowed an opportunity for the artists to meet and greet their local representatives and talk with them about the art community, while showcasing the talents within their respective populations.
Wiedner also kept a spirited approach to the evening of events with games and raffles. The kickoff event was a lively martial arts demonstration by Universal City’s Patriot Martial Arts which included a youth performance amidst the artwork. Plus, guests were encouraged to draw pictures on pieces paper provided at each table with blue crayons. At the end of the night, three winners were chosen by Wiedner; first, second and third prize -- with top winner, Ashley Ladewig receiving a bottle of wine for her close-up and realistic eye drawing.
With Senator Campbell in attendance, not all the responsiveness was on the art. She had her own civic take on the night with a cordial, open-minded and appreciative art approach. When asked which piece of art was her favorite, she replied, “I see art in the day to day lives of the people here, the artists and the public; the lives they lead tell the stories, art is not just on the canvases.” Her big picture mentality lent an approachable manner to her patronage and attendance.
The art exhibition included a vast expanse and diversity of talent, genre, medium and style. Although each artist chose their own pieces to present, a variety of art made for an eclectic array of art, some fitting within the confines of the theme, others not.
Depression, suicide, seduction, gothic aesthetic, godly intervention, abstract epiphanies were mixed with Blue Jays, blue jewels, blue quilts, blue stones, and blue flowers; a conceptual vs. literal interpretation.
Highlights of the exhibition include Live Oak League of Artists President and Schertz Area Artz Council member, Laura Rhodes and Schertz Area Artz Council Food and Entertainment Board Member Ashlee Collins Mathis.
“Frayed”, a small painting by Rhodes encapsulates the more emotional side of the blue themed exhibition. A three-quarter profile of a man is lost in thought, enclosed in shadows and speak volumes about depression.
“Life is too much for him, the blue in his eyes are the only sign of life he has…life got the best of him”, says Rhodes.
With two different grouping of work by Ashlee Collins Mathis in the main exhibition space, we see a world influenced by pop culture, women’s rights and unspoken gothic undertones.
One set of female portraits with elongated necks were reminiscent of Italian painter, Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920), with a 20
th century post-graffiti aesthetic.
“Broken” presents a surly and pagan-esque women holding a bleeding and broken egg as she entertains black birds in her crown of thorns – seemingly a conceptual painting of sorrow reflective of a morbid, life-changing and personal loss while maintaining a motherly love amidst other environment distresses.
Although both artists work with the human figure, these select portraits that are complete opposites; one immersed in misery and hopelessness, while the other reaches out to us to steal our own life-force.
Look for more events by the Live Oak League of Artists and the Schertz Area Artz Council. They are planning on a monthly live painting event at Taza’s Coffee Shop in Universal City and a continued exhibition schedule at the Schertz Civic Center.
For more information on the Schertz Area Artz Council visit their website at www. schertzareaartzcouncil.org. Rental information on the Schertz Civic Center can be found at
www.schertz.com or by calling (210) 619-1611. Schertz Civic Center is located at 1400 Schertz Parkway Schertz, Texas 78154.
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