New Gallery Open for Holidays

The Grand Opening of the Seguin Oakwood Art League Gallery began with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Seguin Chamber of Commerce. Almost 200 guests attended the reception that followed, roaming the halls and showrooms to see work by many of the area’s finest artists and enjoying the music of renowned classical guitarist George Gaytan. Refreshments included chile chocolate cake, cookies, sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, punch, and champagne, and the door prizes awarded lucky guests were original art donated by participating artists. Click to see a short slide show.

Since Thanksgiving the Gallery was open as part of the City's Holiday Stroll during the Christmas parade. We also brought Santa and Mrs. Claus in out of the rain during the Downtown Business Association's Sip 'n Stroll so kids could visit and have their pictures made with the big man while members of the Seguin High School Matador Band played Christmas carols out front. And then we filled the Coliseum with 78 vendors for YuleFest, our all-day arts and crafts sale where we awarded between 50 and 60 door prizes.

The Gallery at 109 N. River St., Seguin, Texas, is open regularly now Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM. The phone number is (830) 379-SOAL. If you have work in the current exhibit, be sure you sign up for your day as docent. Remember, you only need to work 8 hours a month.

Painting on Fabric Made to Look Easy

The visiting artist for our October meeting drove up from Victoria to teach us about painting on any kind of fabric. Velma Mathis showered us with ideas and examples, plus she brought us each a treasure trove
of information about Victoria, its history and its community of artists.

Merry YuleFest Sunday, Dec. 4!

YuleFest, our annual sale of handmade arts and crafts, is Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Seguin/Guadalupe County Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St. From 10 AM to 5 PM a total of 78 indoor booths will be open to Christmas shoppers. Admission is free, and door prizes are awarded every 15 minutes.

Art league volunteers will start marking off spaces for booths and decorating before dawn. Vendors’ setup is from 8 to 10 AM.

All goods for sale will be handmade or enhanced by hand by the vendor. Each vendor donates a door prize, and the Booth Rental Fee includes a membership in the Seguin Oakwood Art League if the vendor is interested. Vendors must have a Sales Tax Certificate in the booth throughout the day and are responsible collecting and paying applicable sales taxes.

Elementary/Middle School Art Show Opens

The 3rd Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show opened Oct. 2, and 16 awards were presented for outstanding achievement: 10 in the kindergarten through fifth grade division and 6 in sixth through eighth grades. The winning artists present at the opening reception received cash prizes, and ribbons were hung next to all winning paintings and drawings.


From Weinert Elementary School, winners include Rushton Skinner, fifth grade; Alexander Ablin, first grade; and Daniela Ablin, third grade, with two wins. Other elementary winners are Morgan Hamilton, first grade, St. James Catholic School; Kaylee Nickels, third grade, Vogel Elementary School; Maya Rodriguez, third grade, Navarro Elementary School; and Kari Sanchez, Patlan Elementary third grader with two wins.

A. J. Briesemeister Middle School had four winners: eighth grader Alicia Romero who won first place for her pen and ink painting on cloth; seventh grader Kiersten Gustafson in second place; eighth grader Lee Brandenberger in third place; and Honorable Mention went to eighth grader Yareli Hernandez. Also winning Honorable Mention were Samuel Johnson-Vrooman from Saegert Sixth Grade Center and Savanna Russell, eighth grader from Navarro Middle School.

Click to see photos of the reception and the program of artists.

The 2011 student show remains in the Ezell Gallery at the Seguin Silver Center, 510 E. Court St., through November. The artists must pick up their work after school on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Art Slam Oct. 29 for Kids and Adults

The Seguin Oakwood Art League is hosting an art slam for area artists ages 5 to 105.

What is an art slam? Timed creative madness followed by silent auctions of the art that results.

Who participates? Adults 18 and older will have up to three hours to create a work to sell, and kids 17 and younger will have one hour to paint. Kids may work as individuals or in teams with an adult and/or other kids.

When and Where? Saturday, Oct.29, 2011
Downtown Seguin, TX

Adults (18 and older):
Click here to complete the entry form; fee $10.
Check in at 9 AM at the Seguin Oakwood Art League booth on River Street at Central Park. Bring your own materials and easel, if possible, or workspace will be available on tables in the park. Set up and begin work, sharing space with Trade Days, Pecan Fest, and other local groups. You can also bring additional pieces of your work to sell during the day. 10% commission due to S.O.A.L. on sales of previous work.

The art slam ends precisely at 12:00 Noon. Bring your work to the bandstand in the park. From 12:30–2 PM we’ll sell as many pieces in the silent auction as possible. For this special fund-raiser, artists pay 25% of the sale price to S.O.A.L.

Kids (17 and younger):
Click here to complete the entry form; fee $5. Enter early; space limited.
Check in at 9:30 AM in McKeogh Hall at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, across from Central Park at 201 E. Nolte. Kids may work alone or in small teams with friends or relatives. An adult 18 years or older or an older sibling must accompany pre-teens and may be part of the team.

Kids will paint from 10 to 11 AM. Acrylic paint, brushes, canvas board and aprons provided.

Kids parade their work to the silent auction in Central Park from 11:30 AM–12 Noon. Auction results will be posted at Noon in the S.O.A.L. Trade Days booth.

Click above to print the entry form, fill in the information, and mail with the appropriate entry fee to
Seguin Oakwood Art League
P. O. Box 445
Seguin TX 78155

August Demonstration Spell-binding

Ron Watkins of San Antonio demonstrated "sculpting" an oil portrait of a young child during the August meeting. We watched in silence as his painting steadily morphed into a study of his beautiful and very patient live model.

Fantasy Opening Huge Success

The opening reception for the 5th Annual Fantasy Show "Vessels" included live music, elegant food and drink, and was attended by about 100 artists and fans. The exhibit of 56 pieces of art in an exotic variety of media remains on display through Sept. 30 in the Ezell Gallery at the Silver Center, 510 E. Court St., Seguin. Karen Roberson was last year's winner and chair of this show. Reception Committee Chair Ann Leithead was responsible for the refreshments and black, red, and white decor.

As First Place winner, Sandra Baggett takes possession of the Salvador Dali Traveling Trophy for her mixed media piece called "Shadowed Flowers." Sandra will keep the trophy through next year's show and has the duty of thinking up next year's fantasy theme.

Pictured from left are winning artists Elisabeth Montgomery of Gonzales who took Second Place with her watercolor "Home, Sweet Home," Sandra with the trophy, Sandra Elbel Taylor of San Antonio whose "Odyssey of Fiber" won an Honorable Mention, and Carolyn Croft of New Braunfels whose clay "Tornado Drill" also won an Honorable Mention. Not pictured are Third Place Winner Gillian Siemens for "Have Boat, Will Travel" and Honorable Mention winner Patricia Hanley for "Vesselville," both of Seguin.

At left are pictures of the six winning pieces and a few other views of the show.

Mosaics, ceramics, and a variety of sculpture shown in our new locked and lighted cases.







John and Ann Leithead and Dane Perry try to protect the cookies from Rick Moore.









To see all the photographs by Monta Zengerle showing the art and the crowd at the reception, please click here.

Another Member Shows at GRMC

A sampling of Roger Betschler’s creative figures are on display at the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, 1215 E. Court St., through September. The Arts Showcase is inside the central entrance on the right of the major hallway just past the Imaging Department and is open anytime between 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM.

Seguin Artists Win at San Antonio Art Slam

Member Roger Betschler won the People's Choice Award for his work at an Art Slam held July 5 at the Friendly Spot in San Antonio. Fellow Seguin artist Aesop Cardenas took Second Place. Congratulations!

Stein's Solo Show Closes

"May Flowers and More," a one-woman exhibit of watercolor and oil paintings by Helen Stein, was on display through June in the Art Showcase at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center. Helen is a long-time member and often officer of the art league.

June Meeting Features SA Muralist

After the June 18 business meeting, Phoebe Johnson Macdonald of San Antonio asked the group to choose a magazine photo. Then, using a mix of acrylic and house paint on wallboard, she turned the small photo into a mural that she donated to the art league.

Our Best to You Show and Reception a Success

It takes many folks to make an event successful.
72 artworks were on display by 27 artists.
55 - 60 people attended the reception.
218 raffle tickets were sold.
4 artworks were sold, and more have sold afterwards.
Our Best to You Show contains only new work from members created in 2009 to 2011. This show remains up until July 30.

High School Exhibit Reception

Recently, Seguin Oakwood Art League hosted the Second Annual High School Art Contest. The winners are as follows:

1st Place: Jake Pawelek, Seguin High School;

2nd Place: Michelle Rodriquez, Seguin High School;

3rd Place: (3-way tie) Jasmine Flowers, Lifegate Christian School; Frankie Esquivel and Jessira Brown, Seguin High School;

Honorable Mentions: Navarro High School, Taylor Quiros; Marion High School, Shelby Vega, Delaine Smith, Zac Crawford, Rhody Baker; Seguin High School, Kayla Moore, Sea Jay Davis, Kasey Martin; Lifegate Christian School, Rebekah Cramblitt, Katelin Psensik, Chrystal Ramirez.

This wonderful art was on display until May 25th, and some of the pieces were sold! See the photos below, and follow this link to see other pictures from the reception: