Located in south College Station off Hwy. 6, the center is a destination for those who want to see what the Brazos Valley art community has to offer. Built in a former fire station, the center has two floors available for exhibits, studios for visiting artists and multiple classrooms dedicated to art of all types. (Rhett Brady/Community Impact)
For more than 55 years, The Arts Center of the Brazos Valley in College Station has served the area with art exhibits, classes, events and has been used as a way for artists to express themselves. The center plans on continuing that mission this summer with its current exhibit focusing on the beauty of wood art and plenty of classes and events lined up for artists of all ages and skill levels.
The big picture
Located in south College Station off Hwy. 6, the center is a destination for those who want to see what the Brazos Valley art community has to offer. Built in a former fire station, the center has two floors available for exhibits, studios for visiting artists and multiple classrooms dedicated to art of all types.
CEO Leslie Bowlin has worked in various nonprofit organizations throughout the years, including serving as the executive director of the Houston Maritime Center and Museum. Her passion for the community and the art it produces shines through her work on the exhibitions, of which the current exhibition is on display until July 3.
Digging deeper
“Our current exhibit is called ‘Into the Woods’ and it features everything about wood,” Bowlin said
For more than 55 years, The Arts Center of the Brazos Valley in College Station has served the area with art exhibits, classes, events and has been used as a way for artists to express themselves. (Rhett Brady/Community Impact)
The exhibit features photography of wood, wood art courtesy of private collectors and wood art from local artists in Bryan-College Station and throughout Texas. Bowlin said combining two art forms- wood and the artisan touch of the human hand- makes the exhibit unique.
“Everything is handmade and sculpted,” she said. “Nature is providing part of the art, along with the artisan.”
Along with Texas and the greater United States, art from countries featured in this exhibit include Laos, France, Germany, Hungary and Japan. All of the wood for the works comes from wood native to the artist’s states or countries.
Pieces by Artist Jerry Bennett are featured in BVAC's "Into the Woods" exhibit, which is on display until July 3. (Rhett Brady/Community Impact)
Zooming out
One of Bowlin’s main goals with the museum is to challenge the perception of art with its visitors.
“I want people to know that it isn’t just watercolors hanging on the wall,” she said. “Art is everywhere. It’s music, dance, visual art, culinary art. People express themselves in lots of different ways.”
Bowlin also studies visitors’ reactions to the art, taking note of how their views have changed and loving to see how much they can change in a short amount of time.
“They’ll come look and find a favorite or they’ll look and fixate on a certain piece,” Bowlin said.
Two pieces feature photography that are similar to an inkblot, but are on trees.
“This is nature’s inkblot,” she said. “What’s great about this exhibit is looking at wood in its natural state and then these pieces that feature a lot of views on something that is a part of our nature.”
Giving back
Along with displaying the art of the community, the center educates novice and experienced artists alike. With artists on staff and visiting artists on location, any person in the Brazos Valley is welcomed to learn, including children.
“We have summer camps and we have a huge variety of options for summer classes,” Bowlin said. “They range from [ages] 6-12. With our current class, we want them to understand mixed media and collage work.”
The adult classes can focus on many different types of art, which can create a diverse experience for different people’s skillsets.
“We have a six to eight week beginner water color class, which can go to an advanced level,” she said. “We also host quilters who come on Tuesdays. We also have ‘Canvas Club’ on Wednesdays, where artists can bring their work and mingle together. We have a notecard making class. We have a variety of things.”
A private collector lended various pieces of wood art to be featured in BVAC's "Into the Woods" exhibit, on display until July 3. (Rhett Brady/Community Impact)
The local impact
While the center is located in College Station, Bowlin said she wants the center to serve the entire Brazos Valley and its diverse output of art while being a free asset.
“We have people that come all over, but the big thing people don’t [know] is that we’re free,” she said. “If you wanted to see a Frida Kahlo exhibition nowadays, you would have to pay $40 for a ticket easily.”
Being free has attracted many different types of people to the center, including students.
“It’s kind of a date night thing,” Bowlin said. “They’ll go to an art exhibit and then go to dinner. It’s really huge to have this quality of art available without having to pay.”
Bowlin also spoke of the importance that the center has with funding art through grants and bringing the community together, “We write grants and we fund grants to the outside, but we also host events. We do a lot of literary things, including book signings, receptions. Not everything is for free because we have to stay afloat, but we always want people to come.”
The takeaway
The Arts Center caters to many art interests and their offerings can be found on their website, along with the schedule of events planned throughout the year. Entry to the museum is always free and they welcome everyone from in and outside of the community to visit and enjoy the exhibits and classes.
