MOSES ADAMS, Artist
Moses Adams, Jr. was born May 11, 1947 Los Angeles, CA. At an early age his family moved to Hallettsville with his grandparents.He attended Hallettsville High School and graduated from Steven Mayo School District in 1966. He received his BA in Art Education from the Texas Southern University in 1970.Moses was enlisted in the US Army and after 26 years and is now retired as an art educator from the Houston Independent School District. Presently, Moses is working on his personal retrospect of rural life during segregation.
LINDA CEJKA, Contemporary Artist
A keen eye for color and mosaic designs – Artist Instructor Linda Cejka has made use of talent by teaching craft classes and sharing her skills. Cejka has a Bachelors in Arts in Literature from the University of Texas and a Masters of Business Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University working in educational travel and plan trips for school groups going to visit Washington, D.C. and New York City. “ I like to travel and visit new places and am always taking photos of everything around me. And whenever possible I find time to paint old furniture, sew pillows, create cards and work on paintings. Linda is now teaching “follow along” painting classes at Hallet Oak Gallery. I enjoy reading books on crafting and have made scented soaps using essential oils, potpourris with dried flowers and decorative wreaths for every holiday. I am looking forward to sharing my interest in art and the joy that working on crafts can give. Working in Houston most of her career, she recently is residing in and Schulenburg, Texas and working from her home office.
LARRY CHARLES, Contemporary Watercolor Artist
A classic watercolor artist, Larry Charles paintings reflect his love for flowers, trees, gardens, fruits, rural Texas, the Colorado Rockies, and the Gulf coast. Larry’s bold color and strong strokes is eye-catching. Throughout his twenty-five years he has been painting, his works are treasured by art lovers. Larry is a native Coloradan who married a fifth generation Texan and now lives in Lavaca County.
GENE GRANT, Oil Portrait Painter
Gene Grant, a self-taught sketch artist, using minimum materials, always carries a notebook to create pencil sketches of beautiful portraits. Grant’s work is inspired by Boris Vallejo, a Peruvian painter whose work has graced the covers of science fiction paperbacks. Gene Grant most recently studied oil under the supervision of Michael Windberg and and he now enjoys creating realistic large paintings. He challenges himself in capturing facial features, especially the eyes. Gene is currently mastering realism oil painting. is available for commissioned works. Grant is a fourth generation South Central Texan who lives in Lavaca County. His great-grandfather helped construct the Lavaca County Courthouse.
MARY GULLETTE, 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.
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.
YAN LEE, Pen & Ink Artist – Hallet Oak Foundation Permanent Collection – Hallet Oak Tree Pen & Ink
Yan Lee holds a PhD. in Geophysics from Texas A&M University, but has devoted his entire professional life to his abiding love – trees. As aself-taught artist, he has searched out and immortalized over 50 famous and historic trees in Texas with his exquisite pen and ink portraits. Included in this select group are two of Hallettsville’s trees – the Hallet Oak and the Hanging Tree. Both are located in City Park. Mr. Lee brought the Hallet Oak to the attention of the art world after a chance meeting at the City Park with another art lover, Doris Zumwalt, who cared for the gardens beneath the tree for many years. After learning of the tree’s historic link with the original Hallet log cabin, Mr. Lee decided that the beautiful 250+ year’old tree also belonged in his portfolio.Mr. Lee was born in Kalima, a village in northeast China, and lives with his wife, Lu, in Spring, Texas. He is now expanding his portfolio to include historic trees in other states.
MIEKO MAHI, Industrial Photographer
Art in the Oil Patch, the photography of Mieko Mahi. Most people don’t associate art with the oil and gas industry. But once you’ve seen the dramatic work of Mieko Mahi, one of the world’s leading petroleum photographers, you might think otherwise. Commissioned by energy magazines and leading oil and gas firms, Mieko travels the world to photograph onshore and offshore drilling rigs, barges, pipelines, and oil refineries. Over the years, Mieko’s work has become increasingly artistic. She enjoys drawing on her art education, to capture the hidden beauty of the oil and gas industry. She juxtaposes the marvels of engineering against the natural world, often finding angles, lighting, and color to achieve an alluring image. “I don’t take pictures,” she likes to say. “I create them. The energy business is so global, I think bringing a touch of art to it is long overdue.” Her latest project involves black-and-white portraiture of the petroleum industry’s top 100 leaders and icons. Based near Houston, living on a ranch in Hallettsville. Mieko’s award-winning photographs have been published hundreds of times on the covers and inside of industry trade publications. Her work also appears in annual reports and corporate brochures. Some of her most striking images hang in maritime museum exhibits and the offices of energy companies in the U.S., Middle East, and Europe. “Mieko’s petroleum images portray the beauty of industrial imaging and appeals to all of our visitors,” says Phil Barnes, Curator, Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport, Texas.
Julie Marsh, Glass Sculptor
Native Texas artist Julie Marie Marsh lives and works in Moravia, Texas at Arrow Rock Studios. She spent years blowing and fusing glass and learning the art of metalsmithing.
She graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with a Master in Fine Arts and worked as faculty member of the Art and Art History Department. Her focus was curriculum for two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. She spent numerous years living and working in northern Arizona making artwork using metal, glass and mixed media for sale and teaching students as owner of Arrow Rock Studios.
The vast desert landscape has inspired her current body of work. She published Fluid Occurrence in 2011 and has sold and shown her work all over the country.
Marsh explains, “My artwork is an investigation of material possibility, inspired by nature and quiet places of reverence.” She loves to incorporate metal and glass and has a lot of verve for supporting rural arts in her community.
CHU OKOLI, Contemporary & Classic Oil Painter – Painted the Hallet Oak Gallery Logo!
Chu Okoli, accomplished master classical and contemporary painter, represnted the united States in 2015 at the international art fair in Florence, Italy. He has a studio in New York and Houston. In a relentless pursuit to give visual meaning to unusual ideas in fine art, artist Chu constantly experiments with a vast array of materials. The result is a rare collection and a ground-breaking approach to a body of work created out of love; and with an eye to posterity.
Chu teaches painting ongoing in Houston and is available to teach painting in Hallettsville for a special workshop.
Dennis Pesek, Glass Sculptor
Dennis Pesek is a published poet and prolific award-winning artist who painted years ago and then under the study of Michael Windberg, Dennis then regained his passion for oil painting from dramatic impressionism to master realism. Dennis is a philanthropist who is constantly giving. He has supported Hallet Oak Gallery from its early creation and continues to support artist and community. Dennis is always willing to give. Most known for giving of his art with a big heart, Dennis’ artwork is as large as the moon itself.
GEORGIA POHL, Artist
Georgia Pohl is a master art instructor for promising young artists. She teaches in the After School Art Program and at Hallet Oak Gallery. She is retired from Hallettsville Elementary School and has been employed at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and Schulenburg ISD.She graduated from Texas State College with a BS degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Art. She completed a course of writing from the Institute of Children’s Literature, has a secretarial degree, and served in AmeriCorps for three terms.
Georgia is enthusiastic to share her knowledge of art to all ages and to grow appreciation for the arts in a rural community. Her experience working with mixed media and interaction with children, by means of art, adds quality and value to life. Georgia is enthusiastic to share her knowledge of art to all ages and to grow appreciation for the arts in a rural community. Her experience working with mixed media and interaction with children, by means of art, adds quality and value to life.
JAMES PHILLIPS, Wood Carver Artist
Long-time Galveston Bay area resident and sculptor James “Jim” Phillips is a self-taught chainsaw-wielding artist who gives credit to his mother’s inspiration and his innate talent for carving. When his practice sculptures were stolen, he figured it was time to pursue carving full time. In 2008, Hurricane Ike wiped out many of the trees in Galveston; he reclaimed them as art and became famous across Texas for his tree sculptures. The Hallettsville community raised $10,000 for Jim to carve two bison from the deceased 250 year old Hallet Oak tree. As Jim worked day after day on the sculpture, townspeople visited, and now he is part of the community. He can always call Lavaca County home, because people here grew to love him.
STEVEN PITUSH, Photographer/Painter/Sculptor
Steve has been serious about his photography for over 50 years. Proficient with digital photography and image manipulation in software such as Photoshop, his preferred media is black and white film, using cameras and lenses that are often more than 30 years old. His favorite film format is 4” by 5” sheet film, which requires a traditional view camera complete with bellows, focusing cloth, and viewing ground glass. He personally makes all his prints using the best archival materials that are listed on the back of each picture frame. He is an engineer who has recently moved to Hallettsville, and plans on retiring soon so he can do more photography. His favorite subject matter is portraiture, including both people and animals.
PHYLLIS RIVERA, Artist
Phyllis Rivera has been living in the Yoakum area for about three years now after she and her husband retired from Houston, Texas. Phyllis who has always had an interest in painting and drawing began painting in watercolor and acrylics about ten years ago. Phyllis looked to continue formal instruction after her move to this area and began instruction with Michael Windberg. She transitioned from Acrylics to Oils. Her favorite subjects are scenes associated with water and wildlife. She enjoys fishing, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
LOIS WEISS, MASTER OIL PAINTER
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 graduated from tempera and 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.
MICHAEL WINDBERG, Classical Oil Painter
A classical realism painter, Michael Windberg is a master of light, color, and shadow. Taught by his father Dalhart Windberg, Michael has 25 years of experience as a working artist. Michael also has run galleries in Georgetown and elsewhere. A living book on art, Michael currently shares his talent and extensive knowledge with an oil painting class every Tuesday evening here at the Hallet Oak Gallery. The Hallet Oak Gallery is proud to have Michael living in Lavaca County and teaching, and Texas is a better place for having him here!
PAIGE WOODRING, MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST
Paige Woodring studied Dentistry and Biomedical Science at Texas A & M and currently working in Dentistry and Art. When an opportunity arose at Hallet Oak Gallery for her to work on her graphics for her upcoming book to be published soon, Paige quickly dove into the drawings with her artwork which are very detailed drawings that hint why it’s so important to follow her into a world of art. Paige resides in Hallettsville with her husband, who is a musician.
Click here to read about Past Artists