“The ticket sales help keep the doors open with art programs. We appreciate the artists for donating their works for our need to raise funds that will go to help cover our monthly utility bill during the pandemic.”
– Hallet Oak Foundation Board
Hallet Oak Gallery as a place to exhibit art, see art, and learn about art. The Gallery promotes the 2021 artists through online sales and by being open for touring the art for viewing or purchasing. Throughout the pandemic, Hallet Oak Gallery has created Come and Go themes, Art Lectures, and Art Activities for all ages. Numerous Art Contests are planned to continue as a way to offer artistic skill recognition for ages 8 years old to 17 years on up! For more information visit www.halletoakgallery.com or call 361-217-7030 for more information. Free admission. Hallet Oak Gallery, 115 N. Main St., Hallettsville, TX 77964.
About the Artist’s:
In 2008, Hurricane Ike wiped out many of the trees in Galveston. Chainsaw artist Jim Phillips reclaimed them as art and became famous across Texas for his tree sculptures. The Hallettsville community embraced James Philips as they watched him carve two bison from the 250-year-old Hallet Oak tree. As Jim worked day after day on the sculpture, townspeople visited and grew to love him. Jim lives in the Galveston Bay area, but he is still part of the Hallettsville community. Jim said, “Because we all benefit from the beauty that is created and because we all benefit when the artists among us are encouraged and because we all benefit when opportunities are made so readily available in downtown Hallettsville, I donated this sculpture to help.”
Roy CAVARRETTA, Gourd Artist
Roy Cavarretta is Lavaca County’s most cherished artist for his gourd art and pen and ink landmark drawings. His work has been featured in Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, Southwest Art, Texas Farm & Home, and Western Art & Architecture. Roy lives in Lavaca County and shares a studio with his wife, Blanche, also an award-winning gourd artist. Blanche has been recognized with many awards for her original designs. The Cavarrettas tour yearly to showcase their original works and show in numerous locations, as well as at the Hallet Oak Gallery!
Larry Charles, Watercolor Artist
Larry Charles is a classic watercolor artist. His paintings reflect his love of flowers, trees, gardens, fruits, rural Texas, the Colorado Rockies, and the Gulf Coast. Larry’s use of bold color and strong strokes is eye-catching. In the twenty-five years he has been painting, he has continued to learn by taking classes from watercolor artists and drawing instructors. Larry is a native Coloradan who married a fifth generation Texan and now lives in Lavaca County on the Texas prairie. He is enjoying the native plants, wildlife and birds that inhabit the land near his home and sometimes make their way into his paintings. His public art can be seen in heavy traffic and hidden places throughout Hallettsville.
Lois Weiss, Oil Artist
As a child in Coleman, Texas, Lois occasionally played with her older sister Bettye’s oil paints—much to Bettye’s dismay. In high school she often painted campaign posters with caricatures of friends running for student council offices. After graduating from Texas Christian University, serving in the Peace Corps, she painted illustrations for classes on health and sanitation for Brazilian villagers. When she had the opportunity to take classes with Michael Windberg—at the age of 74—she purchased her first oil paints and brushes. Her paintings are usually gifts for family and friends, especially portraits based on photographs from Facebook and family albums. Besides painting and serving as president to the local art league, Lois enjoys growing vegetables and flowers and trying to capture the beauty from the garden on canvas.
Ken Kopacki, Art Photographer
“I look at the world and see moments waiting to be captured, preserved forever. The simplicity in searching for that perfect vista that untouched landscape, once in a lifetime moments where everything falls into place to create something stunning. What’s down some random back road or what’s over the horizon? That’s what I live for. I take it beyond all of that and bring out the hidden beauty that’s all around us. My subjects range from a lonely tree perched upon a hilltop, to forgotten cars and overlooked history. It’s the human experience, one frame at a time.”
MaryGullette, Mixed Media Artist
Born in Cali, Colombia, Mary Gullette came to the United States in 1991. Following her passion for fine arts and winning several drawing awards, she started painting in oil in 1994 under the guidance of Charles Darnell, and accomplished artist. Gullette’s work has been shown at the St. Francis Episcopal Church, St. John Vianney, Barnes and Noble, Art in the Park in Middle town Houston, Cinco Ranch Gulf Court, and the Fulshear Art Walk. All her Subjects, whether it be landscapes, still life, or animals — have an eloquent quality with vivid colors that leap out of the frame. Mary’s mother-in-law is Lois (Bucek) Gullette, Hallettsville.