TEXAS SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS PARTNERS WITH HALLET OAK GALLERY

FOR HISTORIC ART CONTEST AND CONFERENCE JUNE 10-11, 2016

Celebrating – through Art – the Life and Work of J. Riely Gordon

 

(HALLETTSVILLE, TX) – The Hallet Oak Gallery, a nonprofit organization supporting education for cultural arts, in partnership with the Texas Society of Architects, is sponsoring a statewide art contest celebrating the work of renowned architect J. Riely Gordon (1863-1937). The gallery is also hosting a conference honoring Gordon June 10-11, 2016. In addition to the beautiful Kahn & Stanzel Building (1890) that houses the gallery, Gordon designed 18 Texas courthouses, 12 of which are in use today. He also designed the 1901 Arizona State Capitol Building, now a state museum.

 

Presentations for the conference about J. Riely Gordon and historical Texas architecture will begin at 7:00 PM Friday, June 10, at 7 PM. Lavaca County historian Doug Kubicek will talk about mercantile activity during the time the Kahn & Stanzel Building was built. Following Kubicek will be photographer and architect Richard Payne, FAIA. Payne will talk about his book, Texas Towns and the Art of Architecture, A Photographer’s Journey and his Texas towns photography exhibit, which will be on view at the gallery.

 

The gallery will serve coffee and doughnuts on Saturday morning at 9 AM and host book signings featuring Brantley Hightower (The Courthouses of Central Texas), Chris Meister (James Riely Gordon: His Courthouses and Other Public Architecture), and Doug Kubicek (Grand, Complete, and Perfect: The Lavaca County Courthouse). Lavaca County Judge Tramer Woytek has approved special tours on Friday evening and Saturday morning for those who would like to see the recently renovated Lavaca County Courthouse.

 

Hightower will kick off the Saturday afternoon program, speaking during lunch. followed by Meister, and James P. Arnold, preservation specialist for the renovation of the historic Kahn & Stanzel Building. Paul A. Bielamowicz, President of the Texas Society of Architects, will wrap up the meeting with comments and awards for winners of the historic art contest.

 

The Texas Society of Architects will provide jurors and assist in awarding prizes for the historic art contest accompanying the conference. Entries in the contest may be in any medium (painting, sculpture, photography, or other) but must illustrate some aspect of Gordon’s life or work. They will be judged according to age group: adults (age 20 and up), teens (age 12-19), and children (age 6-11). Entry fee is $20 per artwork submitted ($10 for children). Winners will receive certificates and cash prizes and subscriptions to the Texas Architects magazine. There is a $200 prize for “Best of Show.”

 

Paul A. Bielamowicz, President of Texas Society of Architects, said: “Texas courthouses are a cherished part of our state’s history, and James Riely Gordon was instrumental in the creation of many of these beautiful buildings. His buildings continue to bring a sense of pride to their communities after more than 100 years, and are living examples of what we at the Texas Society of Architects advocate for every day.”

 

Registration fees for the conference are $75 per person ($60 each for two or more) and $40 for students, teachers, or senior citizens. Those who register by June 8 will receive lunch. Walk-ins are welcome but will not receive lunch. Application forms for the conference and the historical art contest are available at https://halletoakgallery.com or by calling 361-217-7030.

 

About J. Riely Gordon (1863-1937): Not only did Gordon design beautiful, enduring buildings, but he was a strong advocate for the value of architecture. He supported the Office of the Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and the City Beautiful Movement.

 

About Texas Society of Architects: An affiliate of the American Institute of Architects, TSA is one of the nation’s largest organizations for the architectural profession. Founded in 1939, it includes 17 regional chapters and more than 6,500 members. The mission of TSA is to be the voice for Texas architecture, supporting the creation of safe, beautiful, sustainable environments. As an advocate for architecture, TSA promotes good design and the benefits that good design brings to Texas communities.

 

Also supporting the event are Dr. Betty Edwards, owner of the Kahn & Stanzel Building; the City of Hallettsville; and Friends of Hallettsville Downtown Revitalization. Hallettsville planning committee members are Gayle Bludau, Mieko Mahi, Cindy Renken, Lois S. Weiss, Tammy Woytek, and Alice Vickers.

 

-Lois Weiss – Writer for the Arts-

 

“Celebrating –through art—the Life and Work of J. Riely Gordon”

First Annual Hallet Oak Gallery Art Contest & Conference

Partnering with Texas Society of Architects – June 10–11, 2016

Historic KAHN & STANZEL BUILDING – HALLETTSVILLE , TX
P R O G R A M

Wednesday, June 8         

 

4:00 – 7:00 PM                    Deadline for dropping off art works with application fee.

 

Friday, June 10

 

7:00 – 9:00 PM                    Evening Photo Exhibition & Lectures
Doug Kubicek – Author of Grand, Complete, and Perfect: The Lavaca County Courthouse, mercantile activity before and after the Kahn & Stanzel Building was built in 1890
Richard Payne, FAIA – Author of Texas Towns and the Art of Architecture, A Photographer’s Journey, the importance of preservation and Texas towns photography exhibit

 

Saturday, June 11

 

9:00 AM — Noon                  Coffee and Doughnuts

 

Book signings by Brantley Hightower, The Courthouses of Central Texas; Chris Meister, James Riely Gordon: His Courthouses and Other Public Architecture; and Doug Kubicek, Grand, Complete, and Perfect: The Lavaca County Courthouse

 

12:00 – 1:00 PM                   Lunch with talk by Brantley Hightower

 

1:00 – 1:30 PM                    Break

 

1:30 – 2:30 PM                    Chris Meister

 

2:30 – 3:00 PM                    Break

 

3:00 – 3:45 PM                    James P. Arnold, preservation specialist who oversaw the renovation of the Kahn & Stanzel Building

 

3:45 – 4:00 PM                    Break

 

4:00 – 4:30 PM                    Presentation of Historic Art Contest Awards and Closing remarks by Paul A. Bielamowicz, AIA, LEED AP, President of Texas Society of Architects

 

 

If you cannot attend all of the presentations, please plan to arrive during breaks in the program.

 
Conference participants must preregister by June 8 to receive a boxed lunch on Saturday.

Download Program Registration and Contest form from this link:

program_form20160315_official_riely_tsa_contest_june10_11_pr