Leading Change Through the Arts!

March 2025 Issue

Celebrate Outstanding Women in the Arts; In Memoriam, Sylvester Turner; Witness Series Part 3; Jubilee Quilt Circle Second Thursday Workshop; April exhibition "Out of the Blue"; March activities

Top: From left, Dr. Sarah Trotty and Michelle Barnes

Bottom: From left, Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, Robbie Lee, Vicki Meek

In Honor of Women's History Month

you are invited to a celebration of five dynamic women who have made history in the arts:

Dr. Alvia Wardlaw

Dr. Sarah Trotty

Michelle Barnes

Robbie Lee

Vicki Meek

When: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Community Artists' Collective

4111 Fannin St., Suite 100A

Houston, Texas 77004

Hosted by Merian Sherrod

Light bites and refreshments @lateaugusthtx

Free 2-hour parking in Ion Garage

R.S.V.P. Linktr.ee/communityartistscollective

In Memoriam

We mourn, along with the City of Houston and the State of Texas, the passing of our beloved mayor and state representative Sylvester Turner. Turner was a loyal and valuable supporter of the arts as well as an outstanding civic leader. He served as honorary chair of several of The Collective's events, most recently for FestEve! 2024.

The Collective extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends.

The Collective will be closed Saturday, March 15, in his honor. Services will be held on March 15 at the Church Without Walls, 5275 Queenston, at 1 p.m. Those interested in attending have been encouraged to RSVP on the church's website. The church plans to live stream the service on its site.

Part 3 of the Witness Series, "Bear Witness," will take place Saturday, March 22, at E.R. & Ann Taylor Park, 1850 Reed Rd., Houston 77051.

“Bear Witness” is held each year during the week of Ann Taylor’s birthday. Ann Taylor was born March 20, 1845. This year marks the 180th anniversary of her birth. This participatory public art experience is designed to introduce the public to Ann Taylor’s life and journey. An artist-led Ancestor Altar will be created by visitors to Ann Taylor’s gravesite. Visitors will leave messages of love and goodwill in remembrance to their ancestors. Bird walks and walking meditations will be offered, as visitors explore the forested 26-acre park. A pop-up floral installation will invite attendees to enjoy the beauty of nature and boost their well-being. The Houston Public Library’s (HLP) Gregory School will be onsite to collect the oral histories documenting the lives of African American women and their impact on their descendants that will go into the City of Houston’s official archives.

The Houston Audubon will provide binoculars and nature interpretation along the trail if that is an opportunity.

Please register at Eventbrite.

Join us for the Jubilee Quilt Circle's 2nd Thursday Workshop Thursday, March 13. Facilitator Leslie Abrams will guide us through the basics of machine and hand sewing and quilting.

This 2nd Thursday workshop will focus mainly on hands-on instruction about how to use your sewing machine. Please bring your machine if you have one.

Free and supplies provided. Limited seating.

Coming in April!

Out of the Blue

Artists Joseph Dixon and Janice Warren

March Scenes

Above: "Women of the Earth" artists described how their friendship and love of nature led to the creation of their exhibit currently on display at The Collective. Pictured at the March 1 artist talk in the top photo are from left, Moderator Kristi Rangel and artists Andrea Venson, Audrianna Woods and Kanika Blair. In the second photo, guests listened intently to Venson'sdescription of her own art journey. The exhibition continues through March 22.

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Below: Top photo--CAC Assistant Executive Director and Rice alumna April M. Frazier, MBA, addresses guests from Rice University during a special reception sponsored by the Multicultural Community Relations Department of Rice University to celebrate CAC’s move into the Ion District, Rice’s new Innovation hub. Second photo--standing, from left, CAC Executive Director Michelle Barnes, Rice's Maya Reine and CAC Board Member Joyce Deyon-Sallier. Seated is Rice alum and CAC advisory board member Jan F. West. The next three photos feature some of the guests at the reception.

Above and immediately below: The Collective has been teaching art to children at the Julia C. Hester House. Local artist Alton Cooper, pictured at left above, has been assisting and introducing new painting techniques.