Schulenburg Native Takes Home Blue Ribbon

At the ARTS’International Competition opening, Stephanie Shroyer, a talented local artist, won first place in the 3-Dimensional art category.

Last Saturday, the atmosphere at the ARTS Gorman Gallery was electric, with a packed house eagerly attending the event, where prizes exceeding $6,000 in cash and merchandise were awarded. Among the esteemed accolades, the prestigious top prize, The Alisa Rowe Award of Excellence, was presented to Stephen Henry in recognition of his captivating oil painting titled “Sunrise on Caprock.” Hailey Herrera secured first place in the fiercely competitive 2-Dimensional category with her awe-inspiring piece, “El Arco-Arch at Cabos San Lucas.”

The highly anticipated second annual art competition attracted talented participants from diverse locations, reaching as far as Canada. Following a meticulous jury process, the selection was refined to showcase a captivating collection of 50 artworks currently exhibited at the prestigious ARTS Gorman Gallery until Sept. 16. This vibrant display encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, including intricate sculptures, captivating fiber arts and masterful paintings. Renowned art expert James Busby, former Chair of the Art Department at Houston Baptist University, thoughtfully evaluated each piece, ultimately awarding 15 distinct prizes and ribbons that celebrate excellence in artistic achievement.

Stephen Henry, art teacher at Brenham High School, painted the grand prizewinning piece, “Sunrise on Caprock.” Henry’s artistic prowess has garnered notable recognition in the past year, including winning Best of Show at the Buda Plein Air Contest and securing First Place at the ARTWALK in Fayetteville. His remarkable talent has taken him to a competition in Jackson Hole, WY, where he showcased his skills. Furthermore, his exceptional abilities propelled him to a notable placement in the Wasatch competition in Midway, Utah. Now, Stephen Henry stands proudly as the recipient of top honors in the ARTS International Competition.

“El Arco - The Arch at Cabos San Lucas” was painted by Hailey Herrera from Bryan, Texas. After completing her Ph.D. in research at Texas A&M, Hailey Herrera decided to pursue her passion for art and devoted herself to painting. She has been recognized as a signature artist in many Texas-based watercolor societies, and her work is widely collected by corporate and private collectors. Herrera has been selected as one of the 30 esteemed artists featured in the Art of Texas Parks project and has been acknowledged by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a “Centennial Painter.” In addition to claiming the coveted blue ribbon for her artwork, she achieved further acclaim as her piece “Spring Day” was honored with the Jerry’s Artarama Award.

Local sculptor and print artist, Stephanie Shroyer, won first place in the threedimensional category with a fiber and found materials sculpture titled “Tornado.” She is best known for her innovative fountains and birdbaths, which can be found in private collections all over central Texas. Her work is evolving into works of nature prints and 3-D wall hangings like “Tornado.” She weaves found objects and fiber into evocative sculptures that reflect nature with a dreamlike quality. Shroyer has taught and worked with Arts for Rural Texas for two decades and is currently teaching classes at Twisted Steele in Weimar.

The success of this event was made possible by the gen-erous support of the community and local philanthropists. ARTS would like to thank Jeffrey Thompson and the Garden Company for the beautiful live plants decorating our gallery, Alisa and Richard Rowe for their time and financial support, all the ARTS board members and the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce for all they have done.

Arts for Rural Texas, a cherished 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been positively impacting lives through art and art education for over two decades. Their unwavering commitment to fostering creative opportunities for children and adults has enriched the vibrant culture of our community.

With two campuses boasting classrooms and gallery spaces, ARTS serves nine communities in South Central Texas. The organization proudly offers an array of programs, such as the Art After School and Fine Art Assembly programs, which provide invaluable, no-cost artistic experiences to children.

Additionally, ARTS hosts enriching Art Summer Camp classes for young artists to further explore their creativity. We warmly invite you to immerse yourself in the diverse range of ARTS programs, which include hands-on adult workshops, thought-provoking lectures and captivating performances. Come join us and witness firsthand the transformative power of art.

View the schedule of events and preview exhibits at www.artsforruraltexas.org or call (979) 378-2113 for more information.