Artistic license not required: Just have fun
Published 5:46 pm Wednesday, March 7, 2018
By Lorenzo Salinas
Come experience the sights and sounds of family fun while also witnessing the splendid work of local artists — all at one’s local museum.
Museum of the Gulf Coast is wrapping up its annual community art contest with an awards ceremony and a Family Fun Day on Saturday. Andy McCall, education, tour and volunteer coordinator for the museum, said this year’s contest would be different from past ones. It would be the first year adults could have entered their pieces for consideration.
The theme was “Texas Strong.”
“We thought it would bring some much needed positivity after Harvey caused so much destruction,” McCall said.
McCall described much of the submitted artwork as amazing and surprisingly poignant. Some children had depicted their own Coast Guard rescue stories during the Harvey floods in various forms like drawings and colorings.
Contestant artwork will be judged by both attendees and by two professional guest artists, Ted Ellis and Carolyn Crump.
“People can come and vote publicly for their favorites,” McCall said, “even if they have nothing to do with the drawings.”
Ellis is an American artist best known for his African-American themed art and has won several awards, prizes and distinctions for his work. One of his more famous pieces is a portrait of Barack Obama presented at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.
Crump is a Houston-based artist who works in several different forms of media including acrylics, etchings, clay and handmade paper. She has most recently specialized in fabrics and illustration and has had her quilts featured as part of a national tour.
The Family Fun Day will have several activities planned for children.
Sunny the Clown will do face painting and balloon animals. McCall said there would be different coloring activities for kids including arts and crafts as well as live characters from the Paw Patrol TV show come and make an appearance.
“We’re also going to be showing ‘Gnomeo & Juliet,’ which is directed by Museum (of the Gulf Coast) Hall of Famer Kelly Asbury, a Beaumont native,” McCall said.
Asbury has worked on notable feature films like “Frozen,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Shrek.”
The Family Fun Day and artist event is free and open to all ages. The public event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 700 Procter St., downtown Port Arthur.
