I think Grandma Blundell would have loved this…
BFA ready for annual Winter Exhibit
Berneta Peeples
Belton Journal
Bell Fine Arts Association will open its annual Winter Exhibit at a reception at Bell Fine Arts Center, E. 5th Ave. at N. Wall St. Nov. 13 with an Egg-xhibit and auction. An Egg-xhibit is definitely a first of its kind event in the Central Texas area and maybe worldwide. BFAA will auction some 50 to 60 painted ostrich eggs at the 2-4 p.m. affair.
These are part of the 84 ostrich eggs Jay Taggart gave BFAA to be painted, carved or otherwise decorated for sale by the association to help finance the restoration fund and other needs of Bell Fine Arts Center.
The eggs came from Taggart’s ostrich farm.
Some BFA members were given four eggs to transform into “objets d’arte.†Each painter could keep one egg, but the other three must be decorated, carved, painted or something, and retuned to The Art Center for the auction.
Along the way, some eggs rolled off the worktable and broke. That is really about the only way to break the thick shell of an ostrich egg, people say. But it astonishes what can be created from a broken ostrich eggshell, as the egg-xhibit will show as part of the annual Christmas Market.
Fred Fuller will be auctioneer.
The reception will include special exhibits by featured artists Sandy Dusek and Polly Strawn.
Polly Strawn will show her combination paintings and dimensional work in the recently designated Ruth Dawson Gallery. Polly Strawn, a long-time member of BFAA is also an art teacher and work in several areas of painting and crafts.
The small gallery honors Ruth Dawson, a charter member of Bell Fine Arts who served as president of BFAA for several terms, served on the board of directors, as chair of numerous committees, association secretary and treasurer.
She taught classes in several media, worked with special education students and conducted summer camps for children for many years.
She is a retired elementary school art teacher.
Sandy Dusek will be the featured artist in Old Church Gallery, the sanctuary of the 1874 Episcopal Church building.
The public is invited to the reception.
The Christmas Market will be open on special open-door days through the holiday season. The market will feature works by BFAA members.
berneta@beltonjournal.com
