Opening and Awards Ceremony at the Texas City Art Festival

My family and I had a wonderful night at the Texas City Art Festival opening and awards ceremony. Knowing ahead of time that I had received first place in the “Under Glass” category took some of the pressure off, though I still felt a few uninvited butterflies in my stomach as we approached the Doyle Center.

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The facility is beautiful, with a fountain at the entrance and a family of bronze statues relaxing nearby. Once inside, we set out to find my artwork while also enjoying all the other talented artists on display. In addition to the contest entries, there were featured artists, special exhibits, and student works, creating a dazzling mix of art and entertainment. A jazz quartet filled the room with music, adding to the atmosphere.

After searching the room, we finally found my prize-winning piece, Dust to Dust, along with the other two works I had entered, displayed close together. I enjoyed talking with other artists about their work and their creative processes. After some much-needed refreshments, the ceremony began with remarks from Mayor Dedrick D. Johnson, Sr.

Before too long, it was time for the art awards to be announced, and they called my name. It was a wonderful feeling hearing my family and friends burst out in excitement as I took my place beside juror Jeremy Johnson for a photo. The rest of the evening included tracking down the featured artist display I had missed, where I found beautiful birds carved from a wood with a funny name that I can't remember, and chatting with the juror for a while.

To round out the night, we stopped at Texas Roadhouse, thanks to the free rolls that had lured us in at the event. Congratulations to all the other winners, and my thanks to everyone who helped make the 2026 Texas City Art Festival happen this year — from the mayor to the helpful folks who assisted me when I parked on the wrong side at drop-off. And finally, thank you God for giving me the talent and desire to make art. I’m still hoping and praying for sales. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I didn't need to go pick up my art on from Texas City April 2nd. Next I'd like to look into a show the juror mentioned called "the Big Show".