Born and raised in Mexico City, UNO moved to Brooklyn, NY. After time in Chicago and Los Angeles, he found himself back in Mexico City. In 1991, he ran into some friends who offered him a place to stay in Fort Worth if he was interested. He took them up on their offer and the rest, as they say, is history.

Well, there’s history, of course, but there’s future, too. UNO loved making art as a kid. He had a talent for it, but living in Mexico City and in New York, art was not a priority. Making a living was. There are few places in the world for art like New York City, though, and UNO soaked it all in. From the famous museums to the infamous subway stations, UNO was fascinated. “The graffiti was a big inspiration for me. Riding the train from Brooklyn to the Bronx, the walls were all covered with it. I loved the lines and all the colors.”

In Fort Worth, UNO began making and then designing furniture. He took up sculpting. After a successful showing at the Main Street Arts Festival, UNO began sculpting full-time. “I thought, why all of this effort making furniture when I have the talent to make better things?”

As a sculptor, UNO built a solid reputation, but when he changed to painting, he lost his sculpture clients and his following. He said, “In a way, I was starting from zero again, but in painting I found my own language.”

Unfortunately, UNO’s painting career was slow to build, and he was struggling. At a talk at the Kimbell, a panelist said artists need to be as creative marketing their art as they are in creating it. At the time, UNO was working on a small mural on Hemphill Street. Then he was approached by the Fort Worth Graffiti Abatement Program (GAP).

GAP works to remove graffiti throughout the city and educates citizens to its negative effects. Additionally, GAP works with local artists to create murals to cover graffiti. GAP offered UNO the commission to paint the Lancaster Bridge murals. He jumped at the chance to market himself while giving back to his adoptive city. “I am very grateful to Fort Worth. It is my home. My kids were born here. Fort Worth has given me the opportunity to pursue my career as an artist… This is a gift I could give to the city.”

While painting the Lancaster bridge murals, UNO was approached by a man who wanted to work with and learn from UNO as he worked. UNO spent over 400 hours creating the murals. His patron bought materials and lent an occasional hand. Around the same time, UNO was a vendor in a craft show at Will Rogers Coliseum. “I felt like an extra-terrestrial at that show. It was weird, and I didn’t feel like I belonged there.” He only sold two small paintings; barely enough to cover his expenses, but…

One of the people who bought a work at the show was a Californian with deep pockets and a real appreciation for UNO’s work; a few months later, UNO sold 15 more pieces to the collector.

In June of 2023, a commission for a mural on South Main Street was announced. While UNO was ultimately not chosen, Megan Henderson, Director of Events and Communications for Near Southside, remembered him from the talk at the Kimbell. Megan had been keeping an eye on UNO and offered him the opportunity he’d been waiting for.

On Gallery Night 2023, UNO’s first solo show, Together, will open at The Pool, a Near Southside Art Space located at 1801 8^th Avenue, and will run until September 30^th.

“It’s kind of weird. I am very happy about the show but also nervous,” UNO said. He is also quick to point out that the labor isn’t his alone. “I am only able to paint full-time because of the support of my wife. She also works very hard and works two jobs. I could not do this without her.”

UNO painted murals under a bridge as a gift to Fort Worth. However, the real gift to our city is the artist himself, and we cannot wait to see what he has in store for us in the future.

The post Together, At Last first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Rowan is well on her way to becoming one of the most respected tattoo artists in North Texas. She’s won awards. She’s been asked to be a judge at tattoo conventions. A trained 3D computer artist, she’s working to shift tattooing from the merely physical into the virtual realm.

And she’s only 25.

Rowan Magennis is from Benoni, now a suburb of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. (Charlize Theron and Charlene, Princess of Monaco are also from Benoni.) She attended Open Window, a prestigious art and film school, learning 3D art design for films and computer games. While she was in school, at only 17, Rowan started apprenticing at a local tattoo studio. It was here that she first started combining the skills she was learning in art school with the techniques she was learning at the tattoo studio.

Rowan’s father is, according to his daughter, something of a “university tourist.” When he came to Dallas for business, he found out about the University of Texas at Dallas’s School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communications. Rowan remembers, “I got a text from my dad asking if I wanted to move to the US to finish school. When I said of course I did, we put our minds to it, and six months later, I was at UTD.”

After graduation, Rowan was “scouted” by Dark Age Tattoo for their Fort Worth location. Opened in 2014 in Denton, Dark Age Tattoo wanted to open a second location in Fort Worth. They opened their doors in 2021 in the heart of the West 7^th area. The studio, located over Rodeo Goat, is open and spacious, with a high-tech-yet-welcoming vibe.

While she will work with a customer to give them precisely the tattoo they want, Rowan favors large pieces with a decided fantasy flavor. Her pieces are a testament to her training as a 3D artist; through a combination of perspective, negative space, gorgeous colors, and an insane amount of detail (“I’m detailed oriented kind of to a fault!”), a tattoo by Rowan is a work of art anyone would be proud to own.

Just being an incredible artist who creates gorgeous tattoos isn’t enough for Rowan, however. She wants to push the boundaries of tattoos. “What if you had a tattoo of a cathedral on your arm that you could walk through in the virtual realm?” she asked. “Or what if your tattoo was part of a video game that you could actually play?”

©Rowan Magennis

“There’s so much potential there,” Rowan said. “Moving tattooing beyond the limitations of the skin is something I really want to explore. As a culture, we aren’t quite ready to microchip or to embed a QR code in a tattoo, but the idea of moving forward into a whole new realm of tattooing is too exciting.”

One of the things Rowan loves about tattooing in the US in general and at Dark Age in particular is the support artists give each other. “We all grow together,” she said. “It’s all about exploring your true potential as an artist.” She values the other artists at Dark Age; the older, more experienced artists are always available to answer questions and mentor the younger artists. “When I moved to the US, I was stagnating,” Rowan admitted. “I had a lot of beautiful ideas, but I didn’t have the skills I needed.”

Now Rowan is building her portfolio and her reputation as an artist. When I went to visit Rowan at Dark Age, she was working on beautiful leg sleeve. (The client, Shelby, was nice enough to let me talk with Rowan and take pictures.) It’s a gorgeous piece of fantasy work that literally took my breath away. She may only be 25 (“Hey! That’s a quarter of a century!”), but Rowan Magennis is making a name for herself.

For  images of Rowan’s work, click through the slider below!

Follow Rowan on Instagram: @rowan.magennis

Follow Dark Age Tattoo Fort Worth: @darkagetattoostudioftw

The post Moving Forward into a Whole New Realm first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Caya works from her bedroom in her parents’ home that is busting at the seams with artistic talent. Her mother Betsy, a talented artist, and father Carl, a photographer, instilled a love of all things creative in her from the start. They have a business called Sort of Cool Art which features works which highlight all things Texas. Think Whataburger, Willie, Will Rogers, Dr Pepper, and rattlesnakes.

Photo courtesy of Caya Crum

Caya credits her parents as being her biggest inspiration and rightfully so. Her earliest art memory is running around various art shows across the state with her parents. Betsy and Carl instilled a love of art into Caya from very young age, so it is only natural that she is already running her own business and creating beautiful pieces with a unique modern Texan touch unlike any other.

Photo courtesy of Caya Crum

A junior at Paschal High School, Caya runs cross country, collects vinyl, and has developed a deep love of music, especially that of David Bowie and Kate Bush. She also loves old movie soundtracks, and this affinity for music is reflected in her art. A stunning piece of hers recently sold at the Fort Worth Stock Show featuring Townes Van Zandt.

Caya and her family spend a lot of time traveling and she credits her time in New Mexico as another artistic influence. When she’s not running cross country, she spends a couple afternoons a week after school at her booth in the Montgomery Street Antique Mall where you will find her work for sale. From custom works to portraits of famous people, Caya’s work will make you smile.

Fort Worth’s beloved Swiss Pastry Shop recently hired Caya to paint a mural on the side of their building. You can’t drive down West Vickery Boulevard without noticing the girl on the wall eating the bakery’s legendary Black Forest cake. And more murals are coming soon. Caya is currently working on a 55-foot mural on the side of the Welman Project’s building, also on West Vickery, which brings to life the mission of the non-profit which helps provide surplus materials from businesses to classrooms and teachers in need to encourage creativity in their classrooms. Full of color and warmth, the mural is an exciting addition to this area of town which is undergoing quite the renaissance.

Photo courtesy of Caya Crum

In 2021, Caya was awarded the commission to repurpose the iconic Massey’s Restaurant and Chicken Fried Steaks sign. When the Fort Worth landmark on 8^Th Avenue was demolished in 2014, the sign remained until Everly Place, a senior apartment community was built. A contest was held to repurpose the beloved sign, which will hang in the art gallery of the complex, and Caya won, beating out over 50 artists with far more experience.

When she is not busy with painting murals, winning contests, running cross country, and being a high school student, Caya is preparing art to show at 2022’s Christmas in Cowtown and at the Armadillo Art Bazaar in Austin where she will be the featured artist for 2022. As the featured artist, Caya will design the branding for the show which features national and local artists and is held two weeks before Christmas.

Caya is as driven and brilliant as any artist, and yet she is undeniably a teenager; her artistic energy and whimsical fashion sense are combined with a professional poise far beyond her years. She dreams of studying abroad and working for the National Gallery in Washington D.C. There are big things to come for this rising star, and we are most definitely here for it.

Photo courtesy of Caya Crum

Angela Weaver is a native Texan, raised in Keller, but she got to Fort Worth as soon as she could. At 17, she joined the Marine Corps and served four years active duty. After her military service ended, she went to work for a hedge fund and then a whiskey distillery, both in Fort Worth. Her most important role started in 2009 when she became a mom. She lives with her two boys in Fort Worth and spends as much time as possible on fun adventures with them. She loves to spend her time with her boys outdoors getting the full Boy Mom experience, even if that means being covered in dirt, catching fish, or shooting BB guns. She loves the sense of community she has found in Fort Worth and can’t wait share that with our readers.

The post Making Colorful Waves first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

These are just a few of the hats Katie Murray wears as she contributes her many talents to the art and culture of Fort Worth.

Currently, Katie is the Chief Creative Officer at M2G Ventures, a commercial real estate group. Katie is the artist responsible for making Cowtown more beautiful one mural at a time. As a guest on The FoundHers Club Podcast, Katie opened up and shared how “career fear” nearly held her back from making the career move of her dreams.

At her kindergarten graduation, a shy Katie leaned into the microphone and announced she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. During her first art class in high school, she became enthralled with the act of creating, and her teachers supported this newfound passion. Outside of school, she frequented art museums with her parents and engaged in cultural activities offered in the area.

“As a kid, I was extremely shy… a total introvert. I tell my friends that I used to let my parents talk for me. They liked to talk, so it kind of worked out. I would literally hide behind them, and people would ask me questions, and they’d answer for me. As I got older, I remember my dad telling my mom that she had to let me answer questions for myself. Now that I’m older, I draw energy from friends, family, and parties. It’s not that I necessarily want to talk during these things, but I like to be around a lot of people to observe and explore.”

Photo courtesy of Katie Murray; photo by Reverie Photo Co.

Katie started out in college majoring in fashion design but finished with a degree in graphic design. She found herself gainfully employed and sitting in front of a computer all day, where she spent time daydreaming about her true love – painting. She went Texas Women’s University and earned a Master’s of Arts with a focus on painting. “After graduating with a degree in painting, I had my first child and took some time off. I wanted to get back into art, but I didn’t know how.”

In one of those serendipitous turns that life sometimes takes, Tarrant County College was looking for an adjunct professor of design. Katie got the job and after teaching her first design class, she was hooked.

It was while she was teaching that Katie was offered an incredible opportunity which jumpstarted her career as an artist. Sisters Susan Gruppi and Jessica Miller had formed M2G Ventures and offered Katie a new role in which she could combine her knowledge of graphic design, architecture, and art by creating a series of inspirational murals on commercial buildings.

“[Susan and Jessica] hired me to paint murals… to inject life into old buildings. This added a new medium into my repertoire, and I am forever grateful to them for giving me a public platform to express myself through art… When this opportunity approached itself to me, I was really nervous about it because I had never painted at that skill before.”

We women are our own harshest critics. As soon as an opportunity presents itself, our first response is that we aren’t good enough to take it, or we don’t want to let anyone down. Imposter syndrome is real, and sadly, it is far more prevalent among women.

“My greatest challenge was overcoming an insecure mind,” said Katie. “It took a lot of self-encouraging… I realized I had to stop the self-doubt and recognize the amazing opportunity I’ve been given. At one point, I actually typed an email to Susan telling her I can’t do this and thank you for the opportunity, and even recommended a couple of artists who I thought would do a great job. I typed it out and it was ready to be sent. I deleted it and decided I was going to make it happen. I’d figure it out.”

Katie took a leap of faith, and now her murals are helping to turn Fort Worth into one of the most colorful cities in Texas.

So, what’s next for Katie? Be on the lookout for ‘unicorn cycles’ which integrate Katie’s design and art in a new partnership between M2G and Fort Worth Bike Sharing, which has bike share stations across the city.

These days, Katie finds inspiration all around her. Katie loves traveling, visiting other museums and galleries, and especially curating. She can find inspiration absolutely anywhere.

“You’ll find inspiration everywhere, as long as you’re open to it.”

Cortney Gumbleton is the creative genius behind the new podcast, The FoundHers Club, which focuses on the incredible stories of the unapologetically ambitious women founders who are redefining the wild world of entrepreneurship.

The post Finding Inspiration All Around You first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

One Fort Worth artist, Jan Riggins, is a woman who can create beautiful images no matter the medium or style. Whether it’s watercolors or chalk; in two dimensions or three; on the ground, on canvas, on a wall, or on the body, Jan creates beautiful and wondrous things.

photo credit: Jan Riggins

When I met Jan, she was kind enough to give me a tour of her home gallery. The first thing I noticed were the watercolors. The walls were lined with portraits of animals, drawn with a level of realism and detail that I did not know was possible from watercolors. Among the animals were lions, zebras, birds, and more, all strikingly beautiful. Jan explained to me just how intensive the process was to create these works of art. Each one took weeks of meticulous work and an almost pathological attention to detail. Water coloring was Jan’s preferred medium for the longest time, but that began to change a few years ago.

Jan did not set out to become an artist. Growing up in Norman, Oklahoma, Jan was a talented clarinetist, competing throughout high school and college. Her mother and grandmother were visual artists, and those art genes and the love of creating are strong. While working in a “real job,” she realized that she had to do something, anything, to let her creative side free. Her interest in chalk art began during the Covid shutdown in March of 2020, when Jan and her daughter began to use their driveway as their canvas. Intrigued with the possibilities of this new medium, Jan dove headfirst into the world of three-dimensional chalk art.

photo credit: Jan Riggins

Chalk is a very different medium from watercolors, and making the works seem three dimensional just adds more challenges, but Jan adapted wonderfully. Luckily for her, there is a thriving, although comparatively small, chalk art community that was willing to help her out. Chalk art typically is showcased in chalk art festivals, and Jan has been to many of those, travelling to places like Atlanta, Minnesota, and Michigan to “perform.” I say “perform” because there is a definite element of performance to it. Part of the fun of chalk festivals is to watch the artists create their art. Artists are expected to interact with the crowd, answering questions and showing the crowd how the art is made. This can be helpful especially in the case of three-dimensional chalk art, which is a long and difficult process from planning to completion.

Most artists at chalk art festivals content themselves with creating two-dimensional art. They don’t want the headaches associated with three-dimensional chalk art. Three-dimensional chalk art requires a huge amount of preparatory work before the festival even begins with no guarantee the final image will work, making it a risky choice when you only have a weekend to create a piece of work that is, in the end, completely transitory. There is no starting over when it comes to three-dimensional chalk art.

photo credit: Jan Riggins

A three-dimensional art piece is only as good as its preparation. Typically, the artist meticulously plans the piece on a grid. Each square of the grid represents a square foot of pavement, with the grid acting as a map for the artist. Creating the grid is one of the hardest parts of the whole project. The artist must stretch and contort their image in just the right way to achieve the three-dimensional effect, making the image look very strange in two-dimensions. After the grid is completed, the artist follows the map, recreating the image on the ground. It is intensive, backbreaking work, often taking a full weekend to complete an image.

Once the piece is finished, it can be fully enjoyed by the crowd, but to get full effect, it must be viewed in the right manner. Three-dimensional art depends on perspective. There is one perfect place to stand to experience the three-dimensional effect, and it really helps to view the art through the lens of a camera, which will capture the work forever. Chalk is temporary. That, however, is one of the things that make chalk art festivals so fun. You get to be one of the few people who can see the art in person as it was meant to be seen. You get to watch the artists as they create their art before it gets washed away. The journey is more important than the destination.

photo credit: Jan Riggins

Chalk art is not the only temporary art Jan makes. She has recently started experimenting with body art. Using peoples’ hands as a canvas, Jan uses the skin’s texture and the shadows created by the bones and sinews to create paintings of nature and animals, which has always been her preferred subject matter. The works are temporary like the chalk, but photography allows them to stick around forever.

Jan Riggins is truly gifted artist. Whether her canvas is the ground, the body, or actual canvas does not matter. She utilizes all of them to full effect, and the results are beautiful no matter what. Those art genes. They’re strong.

Eric Zukoski is a senior at the University of Texas. He is interning with Madeworthy.

The post Finding Beauty in the Temporary first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The phrase “you have to start somewhere” comes to mind when looking for a creative outlet in Cowtown. Fortunately, channeling your inner artist is easy to do here in Fort Worth. I’ve spent the last few weeks exploring different studios around town and have found so many gems where you can let your inner artiste loose. With options ranging from splatter painting to glass blowing, there is no excuse not to explore your artistic side. 

Suz Reyes and Frank Garcia’s shop Ephemera, located on Magnolia, is a great place to start. The captivating shop invites you into their whimsical world to create your own terrarium. You start by picking your glass planter and plants from their massive succulent and plant wall, after which they guide you through planting and decorating your terrarium with adornments ranging from gemstones and shells to ceramic dinosaurs and plastic kittens. Ephemera started in 2014 and has grown to accommodate everything ranging from children’s birthday parties to full–blown events. Suz and Frank told me to think of them as “your plant’s grandparents.” They are there to provide long term plant support and help you keep your plants happy and healthy.  

Just down Magnolia, SiNaCa Studios is a non-profit glass studio which offers glass blowing classes for both budding and experienced artists. The art and science of glass blowing is not only mesmerizing to watch but is a unique way to release your artistic side. SiNaCa offers classes geared towards first timers and offers classes in the hot shop, kiln–forming studio, and flame–working studio. SiNaCa’s focus is on education and on providing access to the art of glass blowing and hands–on experience to students. Also, check out their annual fundraiser in support of the studio called Vitro Moda, which they are hoping to hold on May 7th. They are passionate about sharing the art with others, and Vitro Moda is a great way to support them. 

On the West Side, you’ll find the brilliant Studio 101 Gallery. Co-Owners Joy Harvison, Jimmy Joe Jenkins, and Bradley Kent have collaborated to open their gallery that will host art exhibitions, hold art therapy classes for all ages, and has an event space complete with a full wine bar and the most gorgeous rooftop patio. With new works on the walls every three months and a completely transformable space (think mobile rolling bar, cabinets, and walls), there is always something new to see. Studio 101 hosts trivia nights, open mic nights, and has an open–door policy which creates a wonderful community for aspiring artists to explore their talents. Classes offered include photography, pottery, painting, acrylic pours, and go on and on.  

Tucked away in a quaint spot off River Oaks Boulevard, you’ll find Front Porch Pottery Studio. Owner Teresa Sanchez started her pottery studio nine years ago after learning the craft on a trip to Japan. Front Porch offers classes for beginners to learn the pottery wheel making a coffee mug, pitcher, bowl, or vase. It’s perfect for a girls’ night out or a unique date night, plus the classes are BYOB. Plan to spend 1-2 hours crafting your pottery and learning a unique art from a pro! 

Pinspiration, owned by Fort Worth local Tiffany Richey, is a studio where the whole family can release their inner Pinterest–inspired artist. Upon walking in, you’ll find a huge wall full of ideas from wooden signs and guided paintings, as well as the “splatter paint” room. All materials are provided, you work at your own pace, and leave feeling like a DIY hero! Pinspiration can accommodate groups for birthday parties and the splatter room is every child’s dream! They cover you in ponchos and shower caps, shut the door, and let you splatter paint all over the walls. You can even add glow-in–the–dark paint. Make the mess there and leave with all your Pinterest dreams come true.  

Laert Aleksi Xhaferi’s Studio Sabka offers guided art lessons based on your interests and abilities. At Studio Sabka, you can learn oil painting, pastels, watercolors, colored pencils, charcoals, and more. Students range in ages from 8 to 87, and all that is required is to have the desire and passion to create. It would be easy to feel intimidated or overwhelmed at the thought of creating art; however, the teachers here provide everything you need to get started. All supplies including paint, brushes, and canvas are ready for you. The focus is on realism and classically trained teachers will guide you through the entire process, resulting in a painting you and your family will treasure. The studio is open for exhibition on Gallery Nights where students display their work and gain some publicity. Laert says, “I will never forget the most important advice my dad ever gave me. He said, ‘You have to love art and be patient, with all of the process, that’s what will allow you to understand the depth and wonders of art.’” After 14 years of creating, educating, and representing some of the most talented students and artists in Fort Worth, this has become one of the best art schools in town. 

The French Knot is a full-service needlepoint shop that offers classes, finishing, and stitching services. Originally opened in 1990 and purchased in 2006 by Karen Williams and Paula Fehleison, this shop offers a large selection of canvases and threads for experienced needle pointers, but also offers needlepoint classes for beginners, ranging from basic stitches such as basket weave and continental stitch to more advanced stitches. They are open by appointment only and encourage anyone to call and come in and browse, shop, or sign up for classes, which they hope to start back up in the spring or summer. As the classes are one-on-one, they are nearly impossible to do while staying socially distanced, so they may have to wait a bit longer.  

Henri Matisse said, “Creativity takes courage,” but it’s easy to get out and explore your artistic side in Fort Worth. There are so many outlets available to let your creativity flow, and you may be surprised at how much you will enjoy getting outside your comfort zone and showcasing your artistic talent.  

Angela Weaver is a native Texan, raised in Keller, but she got to Fort Worth as soon as she could. At 17, she joined the Marine Corps and served four years active duty. After her military service ended, she went to work for a hedge fund and then a whiskey distillery, both in Fort Worth. Her most important role started in 2009 when she became a mom. She lives with her two boys in Fort Worth and spends as much time as possible on fun adventures with them. She loves to spend her time with her boys outdoors getting the full Boy Mom experience, even if that means being covered in dirt, catching fish, or shooting BB guns. She loves the sense of community she has found in Fort Worth and can’t wait share that with our readers.

The post Creative Cowtown: Unleashing Your Inner Artist first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Photo courtesy of Art Tooth

At TCC, Gray met local artist and Chair of Fine Arts Joshua Goode whose instruction he credits with exposing him to a broader understanding of the contemporary art world and the power of art to construct narratives and messages. His studies with Goode also led to a pivotal tour of European art centers across Germany and Belgium. Since attending UTA, Gray also developed a close relationship to prominent local painter Sedrick Huckaby who recently invited Gray to collaborate on the Vote = Voice campaign.

The organization gathered local artists in the creation of six murals across Fort Worth, encouraging people from marginalized communities to vote in the 2020 election. Gray’s contribution features an illustration of a smiling young Black girl in high pigtails. She wears large red and blue earrings inscribed with the words VOTE and VOICE. The lively and approachable design was later adapted to T-shirts, yard signs, and a large light projection that graced the side of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center for several nights leading up to the election.

Artist: Charles Gray

Animated characters play a significant role in much of Gray’s work. The artist considers illustration to be a powerful vehicle for conveying relatable and challenging themes to a broad public. As an adolescent, he immersed himself in Japanese anime: shows like Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, and films by Hayao Miyazaki. Toonami, the late-night 3.5-hour cartoon block launched on Adult Swim in 2012, was also an influence.

Across genres, Gray was continually drawn to characters and narratives that complicated the traditional hero/villain dynamic. He appreciates when writers reveal a variety of viewpoints and events that shape the motivations of characters. In recent works, Gray paints himself alongside animated characters whose backstories parallel the complexities of his own narrative. Puzzling out these images at times requires knowledge of both trading card games and biblical scripture and discovering their subtleties is intensely rewarding.

More recently, Gray has focused his attention on creating portraits of his friends and family. Some feature Pokémon elements that likewise play upon the lives and personalities of his subjects. More often the figures appear solo, dynamically posed against a golden or vibrant orange backdrop. Gray’s bold designs hold viewers’ attention, encouraging us to spend time contemplating the vitality and stories behind each portrait. Carefully described features often reveal warm and playful expressions that easily build connections with viewers and suggest Gray’s close relationship to each subject.

Artist: Charles Gray

In his recent work, Gray admits that he unintentionally built a collection of portraits of people from minority communities. He was just documenting people from his daily life, people whose company he enjoyed and whose lives and stories made a significant impression on him. Gray enjoys documenting the vitality of his friends and family, but it doesn’t escape his attention that the diversity of his subjects is less commonly seen across the history of art. Through his work, he hopes to continue documenting these lesser-known stories and figures.

Gray’s recent exhibition titled Not for Sale at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center featured portraits of himself and members of his family paired with paintings of chickens. In this case, the chickens were rendered from life. Gray raised two at his home in Fort Worth, tending to their coop for almost two years while completing the series.

Artist: Charles Gray

The paintings reference a painful episode in Gray’s family history passed down through generations. According to family lore, one of his ancestors was once sold for the price of two chickens. As with many stories tied to our nation’s troubling legacy of slavery, the transaction lacks official documentation. Gray’s story is part of a dark history most would sooner forget. This spurs the artist to bring the conversation to the fore. His images ask viewers to reckon with the harsh realities of his heritage and the terrible prices our country once placed on humanity.

Gray’s practice is wide ranging and reveals unique insights into the life of a young black artist during a tumultuous time in our country when issues of race, representation, and social justice are top of mind. Keep your eyes on this rising star, as he responds thoughtfully to the pressing issues of today. I expect we will only hear more of his achievements in the years to come.

The work of Charles Gray was recently featured in a solo exhibition at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. He is a grant recipient in connection with “THE NEW NORMAL: An Artist’s Response to COVID-19” presented by Fine Line Group and Gallery of Dreams. His work was also previously selected for the 2019 College Expo at 500X Gallery in Dallas.

You can see Gray’s latest body of work in a solo exhibition at Tulips in Fort Worth, the city’s premiere mid-sized venue for live music. On view daily through Monday, December 21, the exhibition is the first in a series of collaborations curated by Art Tooth and presented in partnership with Tulips.

To learn more about Charles Gray, visit:

Website: charlesgrayart.com
Instagram: @artbycharlesgray
YouTube: youtube.com/bigteezzy

This article is part of a series of artist profiles made possible through a partnership between Tanglewood Moms and the artist-led nonprofit, Art Tooth.

Auriel Garza is an art historian and museum educator currently based in Fort Worth, Texas, where she works for the Kimbell Art Museum. She has a BFA with an emphasis in art history, theory, and criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a MA in art history from Texas Christian University. She has previously worked for museums, galleries, and cultural nonprofits in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami Beach, and San Antonio. She also serves on the board of directors for Art Tooth, an artist-run non-profit that provides exhibition opportunities and resources to emerging and mid-career artists in DFW.

The post The Stories Behind the Pictures: The Art of Charles Gray first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Zinn was in town for a few days to explore the city, demonstrate his unique set of skills, and on a windy evening he shared the story of his artistic journey that acts as the basis for his art book, “Temporary Preserves”. Affable and charmingly natural, David Zinn has more to teach us than best practices to save your knees or protect your hands. His artwork lives in the vortex of improvisation, aesthetics and culture with sprinklings of metaphysical creativity mojo that at no point takes itself seriously. A sublime appreciation of the moment; engineered in true invention, mystery and discovery and a much-appreciated reminder that all too often we are not engaged with our surroundings.

Credit the grey skies back home in Ann Arbor for Zinn discovering the unique characters living beneath the neighboring sidewalks; too much time spent indoors can make it a moral imperative to go outside as soon as the weather permits. A gift set of chalk had sat dormant since they were given until one day they became a part of destiny. As he notes in his book, “Often it’s something I’ve never drawn before; sometimes I’m not even sure what it is when I’m finished drawing it.” And, then, there’s Sluggo, his little green alien character, who now has his own Facebook page. Fortunately, Zinn’s home state includes chalk by name as one of the explicit modes of Free Speech, so his delightful creations pose no legal recourse – but aspiring artists should know that laws regarding chalk vary by municipality.

When asked if he’s an artist, Zinn might respond, “What’s an Artist? I draw stuff on stuff.” He admits that drawing can be a friend when you are lonesome, something familiar when you feel strange, “Drawing is one of my favorite drinking buddies.” Along with his Chalk Box, Zinn carries a backpack with various tools of the trade, like knee pads, gardening gloves, charcoal and a walking stick modified for chalk. Art can be wrought with mystification, exclusion and other currents of taste; fearless creativity, more than art, is what seems to rest at the core of what Zinn discusses when he encourages, “Make marks on the world.”

His love of doodles emerged after his father realized his two contentious sons were less of a problem when they had paper to draw on. The difference between their approaches would define the implicit challenge Zinn’s work presents to him and anyone so inclined; the blank page is much scarier than building on the elements you’ve been given. As he tells it, he found himself drawing imaginary critters because he felt he couldn’t mess them up. The challenge of infinite choices can be overwhelming, so Zinn prefers the well-lived upon concrete of our nation’s sidewalks. Eventually, the ingenuity of those Doodle Battles would flower into the improvisational problem-solving capabilities that fuel his anamorphic musings – the refrain of their old battle cry ringing in his ears, “Betcha can’t make something out of that.”

A slab of concrete can take ordinary procrastination into the stratosphere. “I realized the whole world’s a doodle battle and its always my turn.” Inherently improvisational, rather than constructing elaborate plans that require teams; Zinn says it feels as though he has a secret cheat code. Finding spaces and spots works the imagination aesthetically and allows the artist to create beyond their singular conceptions or abilities, as his rewarding little discoveries pop up off the concrete when viewed from the right spot. Of course, his chosen canvas comes with its drawbacks, “I always work with a constant risk of getting kicked in the head.” Not to mention the battle between mass transit and inspiration as he recalls a recent part of his tour, “Missed a bus the other day ‘because I just had to finish a Hippo.”

Zinn’s work on the streets invites questions about how we experience art more formally, in museums and galleries, and what implications the context has on our expectations. Typically working in windows of two hours or less, he prefers to live in the realm of the unexpected – the more personal process of finding surprises or leaving treasures behind. Once you start looking for them, your perspective on your surroundings will change and, as with the mechanisms of the creative process, your mind will be changed. “Pareidolia” is the psychological phenomenon responsible for the mind’s experiencing the illusion of familiarity – think Drunk Octopus on the back of a door – in the case of David Zinn’s chalk art, it is what allows for the appearance of depth by manipulating the vanishing point. Though he admits, “It can be sad to return and see how quickly the drawings get destroyed.” The work’s concentration is reminiscent of the ornate sand mandalas of the Tibetan Buddhist, which are ritualistically destroyed upon completion to represent the transitory nature of the material world.

An Austin native, Lyle Brooks relocated to Fort Worth in order to immerse himself in the burgeoning music scene and the city’s rich cultural history, which has allowed him to cover everything from Free Jazz to folk singers. He’s collaborated as a ghostwriter on projects focusing on Health Optimization, Roman Lawyers, and an assortment of intriguing subjects requiring his research.

The post Make Marks on the World: David Zinn’s Chalk Box first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.