Guitar Pin by Texas Original Laura Sturtz

The community of Johnson City hosts its monthly Art Walk this Saturday, July 31^st. Held on the last Saturday of each month, the Art Walk provides a great opportunity to experience local art at several art galleries. Texas Original artist Laura Sturtz will be at Taste Wine + Art from 3:00 -7:00 to display her one-of-a-kind jewelry. You can also enjoy a wine tasting with guest wine guru Sergio Ayotte. Between 4:00 and 8:00, A. Smith Gallery invites you to experience the opening reception of Seven Perspectives, and LMC Murals will be hosting an open house.

Jewelry by Texas Original Laura Sturtz

Johnson City is located 48 miles west of Austin and 60 miles north of San Antonio, and is home to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The Park tells the story of America’s 36th President beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch.

On August 14^th, you can visit the Ranch to enjoy Movies Under the Stars. A free showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark begins outdoors at sunset, and you are encouraged to bring your picnic supper and lawn chairs. Popcorn is free!

Shakespeare Uunder the Stars Logo

Shakespeare Under the Stars presents Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s tale of two star-crossed lovers. TCA grant recipient, The EmilyAnn Theatre, hosts the play from July 26^th through August 7th at 8:15 pm (no Sunday performance).

Located in Wimberley, The EmilyAnn Theatre was founded to provide a permanent home for Shakespeare Under the Stars (SUS), now in its 21st season. SUS is a unique program that offers middle and high school students the opportunity to study and perform Shakespeare’s plays. College interns and theatre professionals mentor students in acting and the technical theatre areas. The 6-week experience culminates with the production of 12 performances of full-length plays.

Emily Ann Theater & Gardens Logo

Wimberley is located in the Texas Hill Country and was designated one of America’s Ten Best Small Towns by Travel Holiday Magazine. Although it is a small town, there is certainly plenty to do there. On the first Saturday of each month from March through December you can enjoy Wimberley Market Days, the oldest outdoor market in the Texas Hill Country and the second-largest in the state.

Located just north of Wimberley, you can visit the Old Oaks Ranch Fiber Arts Center, a working alpaca ranch that also offers classes in weaving, knitting, quilting, spinning, dyeing, rug hooking, felting and more.

Wimberley Glass Works Gallery and Showroom

Another must-see Wimberley attraction is Wimberley Glass Works, home to Texas Original Tim de Jong. WGW features a gallery and showroom filled with beautiful hand-blown glass. Take a seat in the theatre of the WGW and watch the artists work as they conduct entertaining and fun glass blowing demonstrations.

Chair by Texas Original Gary Weeks

Another Wimberley area Texas Original, Gary Weeks, is well-known for his original rocking chairs, dining chairs, dining tables and other furniture. Stop by his place on West Spoke Hill to experience the comfort and beauty of Gary’s work firsthand.

Wimberley offers unique shopping opportunities, art galleries, restaurants, the  Cypress Falls Swimming Hole, lavender fields, golf and more. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer vacation by visiting this arts-filled community.

Cypress Falls Swimming Hole in Wimberley

Bluebonnets and Hummingbirds by TxO Melodie Greider

Texas Original artist Melodie Greider creates stoneware tiles hand cut from clay slabs, individually designed, carved, glazed, and fired at her Stick Horse Studio on a ranch in Dripping Springs. Her custom carved tiles can be found in kitchens, baths, foyers and pools, and her work is prominently featured at The Domain in Austin.

Hill Country Rock Garden by TxO Melodie Greider

Most recently, Melodie has been commissioned to create a tile mural sign for Lamar Plaza Drug Store. She has also been getting back into painting, something she has not done since college. “It seems like every time I mention that I’m painting signs someone pops up and needs one, or three, or 38.” Melodie is currently doing a sign makeover for the Austin Zoo while looking to bring in more clay work.

When she is not busy making her art, Melodie volunteers for the Harrison Ranch Park in Dripping Springs. The land was acquired from a ranching family in 2008 and includes a ranch house, barn and arena. Acquisition of Harrison Ranch Park will enable future generations to remain rooted to the Hill Country lands and rural ways of life.

Tile Mural on Work Island by TxO Melodie Greider

Melodie’s committee is putting on a Boot Scoot Ball at the Salt Lick on August 7 to benefit the park. The event features a full barbeque dinner, dancing and entertainment. “I’ve lined up a dance instructor and after 30 years my husband has finally agreed to learn how to dance with me!!! I’m sure we’ll put on quite a show, and that alone should be worth the price of admission,” says Melodie. Tickets are $30 each. For more information, go to www.dswildwestfest.com or call Dripping Springs City hall at 512-858-4725.

If you are traveling in the Hill Country of Texas, there a several places to view Melodie’s work. You can also check out her studio, located on a ranch outside Dripping Springs. You can use the Texas Original map to find Melodie and the other twenty TxO artisans with studios in the Hill Country area.

Audience at Summer Series in Addison, TX

The city of Addison is home to July Jazz, a series of free concerts held in Beckert Park. Pack a picnic or dine at one of the Addison Circle restaurants every Saturday in July. It’s a great opportunity to listen to some of the area’s top jazz musicians in a beautiful, outdoor setting. This year the series features Fingerprints, Dena Blue Band, Joseph Vincelli Group, and the John Adams Group.

Summer Sunday Lawn Concerts in Midland, TX

In Midland you can enjoy the fun, free and family-friendly Summer Sunday Lawn Concerts. Just bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on and pack your picnic dinner. The concerts are hosted by the Museum of the Southwest, a TCA grant recipient, and last from 7:45 to 8:45 in the evening. It’s a fun way to experience many different music styles including rock & roll, jazz, blues, country and pop.

Cibolo Nature Center Courtyard and Auditorium, Boerne, TX

About 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, you’ll find The Cibolo Nature Center, 100 acres of Hill Country trails and wilderness. CNC hosts a variety of events including the Songs & Stories Concerts. Coming up on July 24^th is Jalapeno Heaven, a local Conjunto group lead by Ruben Sotello. Once again, you are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and picnic and enjoy live music under the oak trees. Cost for the concert is $7.50 for CNC members and $10.00 for non-members. Seniors (65+) are $5.00, and kids 12 and under are free. Performances are from 7:30 to 10:00 on the CNC stage.

On a side note, the Texas Commission on the Arts visited the CNC last December when Commissioner Susan Howard-Chrane hosted the board in Boerne for the quarterly meeting. We had the pleasure of enjoying a holiday tap dance performance by area youngsters. CNC hosts a variety of arts events year-round in their beautiful, natural setting.

These are just of few of ways you can enjoy wonderful live music in a relaxing outdoor setting. To find more, visit TravelTexas and check out the calendar of events.

Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau Logo

TCA program administrator Brenda Tharp will be at the TTIA Regional Tourism Workshop in Lufkin on Wednesday, August 4^th to provide information TCA Cultural Districts, Arts Respond Grants and cultural tourism marketing opportunities. She represents TCA along with the other state agency tourism partners, Texas Historical Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism, and Texas Department of Agriculture.

Brenda was also at the TTIA workshop recently hosted in Waco. Here are what attendees had to say about that event:

“Excellent workshop! Very good information from knowledgeable presenters.”

“The Blueprint for Success session was outstanding and worth attending the workshop.”

“Great networking opportunities as well as valuable learning.”

“Great information on a variety of topics relevant to my job.”

Lufkin, Texas

The workshop in Lufkin presents another opportunity to learn and network. Here is a look at some of the speakers and topics:

Joyce Bise, Director, Giddings Economic Development Corp.

Session Title: “Blueprint for Success”

This session will outline methods, resources and partnerships that you can use to turn an idea for a tourism project into reality. Using the Rural Texas Tourism Center in Giddings as a case study, Joyce Bise will explain the steps involved in planning and research, getting buy-in from stakeholders, and making use of the grants and other tools and resources that are available to you from Texas state agencies.

Chay Runnels, Assistant Professor of Human Sciences and Program Coordinator for the Hospitality Administration Program, Stephen F. Austin State University

Session Title: “Measuring Results Using Online Tools”

In this economic climate, it’s vitally important that you be able to defend your budget by demonstrating results. Some promotional efforts may be harder to quantify than others, so we’ll show you how to go beyond the simple ROI calculations. You’ll learn about a variety of methods and tools that you can start using right away.

Session Title: “Developing Your Brand”

Branding and positioning is about much more than just a logo or a tagline. This session will show you how to craft a brand that communicates your identity, value, and purpose.

Speaker: TBA

Check out the TTIA website for the schedule of events. Early bird rate is $75 if you register before July 14^th. The price goes up to $85 after that deadline.

Hippodrome Theatre in Waco, TX

I had the opportunity to represent TCA last week at the Texas Travel Industry Association’s (TTIA) Regional Tourism Workshop in Waco.  About 50 chamber of commerce, convention and visitor bureau, and cultural organizations’ staff were there to learn about social media opportunities for tourism promotion, branding your organization or city, opportunities for local economic development, and measuring marketing results.  If you’ve never been to a TTIA event, the regional tourism workshop is a great way to get to know these vital partners in tourism and promotion.  The next workshop is Aug. 4, 2010 in Lufkin.

Cirque De La Symphonie

While in Waco, I had a brief opportunity to do a couple of site visits.  I met with the Waco Symphony and visited with their fairly new Development Director, Ann Owen, and Susan Taylor, Executive Director.  Believe it or not, they were working on their holiday presentation of the Nutcracker that day, and it is hard to believe the holidays can be so soon!  They typically bring in Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker every other year, and present it with their symphony, and as you can imagine it is tremendously popular.  They are currently in the midst of their subscription campaign for 2010 – 2011, and I really appreciated the time they took to visit with me in spite of all that they had going on!  One highlight of next season is their concert entitled CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE, or Circus and Symphony.  In addition to the wonderful cirque music, Cirque de la Symphonie actually brings the magic of cirque live to Waco Hall, with aerial flyers, acrobats, and jugglers.

"Windswept" by Ben Woitena, Public Art in Waco, TX

Another Waco arts organization that I had the pleasure of visiting was Waco Cultural Arts, a year round arts organization that programs arts residencies, public art, and an annual free outdoor festival.  Plans are well underway for their upcoming Waco Cultural Arts Festival on September 18 and 19, 2010 throughout Indian Springs Park.  In 2009, the Texas Festival Events Association (TFEA) presented the Waco Cultural Arts Festival with the Zenith Award. The Zenith Award, the most prestigious award for the state’s special events industry, recognizes the highest quality in promotional programs and materials produced by TFEA’s more than 300 member festivals and events in Texas. Waco Cultural Arts is tremendously excited that they received NEA funding to feature artist Patrick Dougherty [see Art on Art from 12-9-09], who will be building temporary outdoor sculpture from willow removed from the local wetlands.

"Trail Boss & Longhorn" by Robert Summers, Public Art in Waco, TX

Waco Cultural Arts are also stewards to the city’s growing public art collection in the area. With all of their arts and cultural happenings, Waco really does prove it has big city advantages, without big city hassles.

44th Annual Salado Art Fair Logo

Today, Salado bills itself as the ‘Best Art Town in Texas.” Every August, the community hosts the Salado Art Fair, one of the oldest open-air art exhibits in the state. The 44^th Annual Salado Art Fair is scheduled for August 7 – 8, 2010 along the banks of Salado Creek and is expected to attract over 5,000 arts enthusiasts and visitors to the community.

Public Art Bicycle Fence in Salado, TX

In the meantime, you can enjoy the numerous public arts pieces in the Village of Salado. The Public Arts League of Salado, formed in 2002 to promote public art and artists, lists 28 works of public art located in Salado. Thanks to a TCA Arts Respond grant, they’ve developed a CD and map for folks to use as a self-guided tour.

Billy Goat Gruff by Troy Kelley in Salado

At Salado’s historic Dodd’s Creek Pedestrian Bridge you’ll find a cast bronze sculpture by artist Troy Kelley. The work, titled Billy Goat Gruff, greets pedestrians wishing to cross this lenticular truss type structure, one of only twenty-four surviving bridges of this type.

You can also check out the Stagecoach Inn. Originally called the Shady Villa Hotel when it opened in 1860, the Inn served as a stagecoach and Pony Express stop along the Old Chisholm Trail. Today it is a small inn and restaurant located just off IH 35.

Public Art Reclining Figure in Salado, TX

Salado’s Main Street has more than sixty shops and galleries, and the town is well-known as a place to find quality antiques. As you plan your summer travels, be sure to consider a trip to the “Best Art Town n Texas.”

Dancer at the International Hispanic Cultural Institute in El Paso, TX

The El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau is launching a new advertising campaign called “Real Adventure Is Still Alive.” These new ads feature the city’s arts and culture and appeal to both business and leisure travelers.

Click HERE to see the ads and learn more.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Palo Duro Canyon, the nation’s second largest canyon, provides the setting for TEXAS, a family-friendly show depicting the Texas Panhandle in the 1800s. Song and dance combined with a great steak dinner make this outdoor musical a unique experience. This marks the 45th anniversary season of the Official Play of the State of Texas, so now is the time to check it out. (FYI – TCA’s 2011 – 2015 Strategic Plan features a photo of TEXAS on the cover.)

Scene from the Show TEXAS in Palo Duro Canyon

While you’re in the area, be sure to take in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum for the Art of the Western Saddle. This exhibition features 16 examples of the saddle maker’s art. The Amarillo Museum of Art is featuring Rock On! The Art of the Music Poster, an exhibition of posters from music icons of the 1960s and 70s. Other area arts organizations include Amarillo Little Theatre, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Opera, and Lone Star Ballet.

Rock On! The Art of the Music Poster Logo