The Lakes Area Arts League presents the David Masterson Art Exhibit with an opening reception on Sat., Dec. 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the LAAL Art Center, 305 Nacogdoches Street, located one block from the historic downtown Center Square. The exhibition is open to the public and will remain on display through Sat., Dec. 19.

“Imagination took the reins, and Reason, slow-paced, though sure-footed, was unequal to a race with so eccentric” is attributed to English novelist and playwright, Fanny Burney, and identifies local artist David Masterson. Masterson travels around the world gaining material for his paintings, drawings and sculptures, which are all reflective of his adventures from fishing and filming over the last 20 years. He has logged over 137 days in the remote regions of the Amazonia Rain Forest, wherein the Amazon and other rivers of Northern Brazil have been a great influence in his works over the last ten years.

Galleries in Houston and Dallas have been hosts for Masterson’s art shows and his artwork has been featured in places such as Starbucks, Café 450, the Kolish Gallery and the Y gallery in Dallas. In January 2006, Masterson was the feature artist at Silos in San Antonio.

Masterson has worked with all art media and has completed advanced art and design studies at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In addition to creating artwork, Masterson’s other passions are filming and photography. His filming credits include producer and host of Outdoor Chronicles, which have been broadcasted on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX networks and nationally on the Outdoor Channel. Currently, Masterson is involved in freelance production for different companies, including ESPN.

Masterson’s unmistakable theme for his December exhibition will be based on Van Gogh’s statement “Am not an adventurer by Choice, but by Fate.” All artwork will be priced for sale during the exhibition with Masterson donating 50% of the proceeds to the Lakes Area Arts League. Artwork DVDs will also be available and free upon request for anyone interested in viewing more of Masterson’s creations.

Masterson resides in Center, Texas with his wife, Mary and they have two children, Michael and Michelle, and three labs.

Gallery hours for the Masterson Art Exhibition include:

Sat., Dec. 5, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 6, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 13, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 18, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 19, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Exhibition details can be obtained by contacting Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Carolyn Lamb 936.590.2421.
The Lakes Area Art League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

Attoyac Writers’ Guild presents Creative Resources for Writers with Joan Huff - November 12, 2009
Submitted by Andi Foster

Joan Huff, Executive Director with Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library, will present Creative Resource for Writers at the Attoyac Writers’ Guild meeting on Tues., Nov. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Attoyac River Gallery, located on Shelbyville Street, downtown Center square. Huff will discuss resources on the Internet for writers, electronic books, blogs and journal writing.

The overall mission of the Attoyac Writers' Guild is to provide a forum of support and information to both aspiring and experienced writers and poets, to create a circle of assistance to those interested with marketing their literary works for publication, and to establish a peer network for writing improvements, discussions and critiques.

The Lakes Area Arts League Attoyac Writers’ Guild meets every third Tuesday evening September through May. Details for joining or participating in the writers’ guild can be obtained by contacting Program Coordinators, Suzanne Walker, 936.591.1655 or Andi Foster, 936.590.0298, or by visiting the guild’s blog at http://attoyacwritersguild.blogspot.com/.
The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

Super Saturday Series features Being Thankful for Arts & Crafts workshop for children ages 4 to 8 - October 28, 2009
Submitted by Andi Foster
Click here for enrollment form.

The November Super Saturday Series children’s art program features Being Thankful for Arts & Crafts workshop offering a variety of crafts with turkeys, leaves and more with instructor, Carrie Weeks, on Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Lakes Area Arts League Art Center located at 305 Nacogdoches Street.

Space is limited to 15 participants and advance registration deadline is Fri., Nov. 6, 2009. Workshop fees are $20 per student and include all art supplies.

One Super Saturday Series workshop remains for 2009 – Celebrating Christmas on Sat., Dec. 19 and the registration deadline is Fri., Dec. 11, 2009.

For workshop details, please contact Carrie Weeks at 936.572.0413 or 936.591.8943 or via email at carrie.weeks@yahoo.com.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

LAAL announces Extra Gallery Hours for Cogswell Art Exhibition - October 27, 2009

The Lakes Area Arts League announces additional gallery hours for the Ellen Cogswell Art Exhibition. The Cogswell Exhibition opens Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 at the Art Center, located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, with an artist reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the artist, Ellen Cogswell. The exhibit will remain on display through Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.

Gallery hours include:

Sat., Nov., 7 -- 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 8 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 12 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Nov 13 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 14 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 15 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 19 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 20 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 21 -- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ellen Cogswell, professional artist, Lakes Area Arts League founding member, Nacogdoches Art League charter member and member with the Attoyac Writers’ Guild, will showcase original artwork at the November exhibit as well as other pieces depicting her unique techniques and creative style through expressions of landscapes, floral and abstracts themes. Selected artwork items will be available for purchase.

Details for the Cogswell exhibition can be obtained by contacting LAAL Exhibits Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Carolyn Lamb 936.590.2421.

The Lakes Area Art League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

The Lakes Area Arts League announces the Ellen Cogswell Art Exhibition at the LAAL Art Center, located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 with an opening reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the artist, Ellen Cogswell. The exhibit will remain on display through Saturday, Nov. 21, 2008.

Ellen Cogswell, artist and LAAL founding member (right) accepts the Artist of the Year 2008-09 Award from Karen Thompson, LAAL President, at the annual membership meeting held March 2009.

Ellen Cogswell, professional artist, Lakes Area Arts League founding member, Nacogdoches Art League charter member and member with the Attoyac Writers’ Guild, will showcase original oil paintings and watercolors at the November exhibit as well as other pieces depicting her unique techniques and creative artwork expressions in landscapes, floral and abstracts themes. Selected artwork items will be available for purchase.

“I am excited about having the opportunity of sharing my past year’s work with art league and the public. I have enjoyed working in art for the past 40 years, both as a hobby and at a professional level,” says Cogswell. “For the past year, I have been recalling techniques I learned from many qualified artists in workshops, classes and things I tried on my own. Without the chance to show this to others is like talking to yourself.”

Cogswell adds, “I wish to dedicate this show in memory of one who urged me on when I had very little time to pursue it, Fleta Thomason. If I can encourage one person to carry on the struggle, they will be well rewarded in many ways.”

Ellen’s repertoire includes attending numerous workshops and receiving instruction through the years from various artists, such as Reese Kennedy, Doug Walton, Edgar Whitney, illustrator for MGM, Mark Weber with the Kansas City Museum and Louis G. Sicard, famed Shreveport and nationally recognized artist and fellow of the Royal Society of Art, Great Britain, and Elected Artist of the Year by the Shreveport Journal Cultural Awards (www.askart.com).

Over the years, Ellen’s art work has earned various awards from entries in juried art exhibitions, such as the Nacogdoches Art League, Lakes Area Arts League Membership Art Exhibitions and the annual Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Poultry Festival Art Show competitions. Ellen has given numerous art demonstrations and has volunteered in the past with the Center Independent School District’s ACE program where she instructed students in various art techniques. In addition, Ellen has completed several commissions for paintings of East Texas homesteads preserving the history of the old homes for her clients through her interpretive artwork.

Formerly a South Dakota native, Ellen resides in Joaquin with her husband, Nolen. Ellen continues to create original masterpieces at her art studio located at 10696 US Hwy 84 East, in Joaquin.

Gallery hours for the Cogswell exhibition include Sat., Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 15, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sat., Nov. 21, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Details for the Cogswell ARTspace can be obtained by contacting LAAL Exhibits Karen Thompson 936.590.0070 or Carolyn Lamb 936.590.2421.

The Lakes Area Art League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.