The Art Association, 215 Fisk Ave. is open on Tues. 6-8 pm, on Wed. from 1:30-3 pm, on the First Thurs. 5-8 pm, and the Second Frid. 6:30-8:30 pm.
On February 22, 1927, Mrs. W.R. Roberts called area artists together to organize the Brownwood Art League, which later became the Brownwood Art Association. At the time, few small towns in Texas had developed any organized interest in art or artists. In Brownwood, artists of national reputation – Adele Brunet, Harry Anthony DeYoung, Xavier Gonzales and Dwight Holmes – came to conduct classes on a regular basis. Soon visitors were amazed at the quality of art produced by the local artists. Others responsible for this early art climate were Pearl Sephens Stallings and B.C. McClean.
During the Depression years McClean, a young photographer, added a complete line of art supplies to his business by providing framing services and later invited the BAA to host shows in the building. In 1938, he began publishing a small magazine called “The Brush and Palette News” that gave details of the group’s projects and featured a local artist in each issue. The teachers, Fannie Tabor Camp and her daughter Francis Camp Bell, were both outstanding artists of the period, as were Dorothy Mayes, Rosalie Beadel, and Rita Bettis in later years.
From the late 1940s through the 1980's, Charles and Maurine Stewart lead the Howard Payne University Art Department where Eloise Trigg also taught. The BAA met there for many years. Other fine area art teachers were Gene and Wynona Pierson, Lovena Forbess, and Gaitha Browning. Browning's interest in art took him to many states and countries, but he is probably best remembered as the designer of the western relief figures on the Brownwood Coliseum, built in the 1960s. The City Council turned the project over to Browning, and he and nine other artists completed it. In 1981, BAA president Ima Gem Queen started the publication known as “The Palette Rag” to highlight member and group projects. During this time, Richard Goetz and William Henry Earle were conducting workshops while visiting Brownwood.
Today, the BAA provides scholarship funds to area college students who are majoring in art. The association has donated art related books to the public library as memorials along with providing various demonstrations for the community. Many members donate their time to organize and put on the annual Stars of Texas
Juried Art Exhibit and student exhibitions, as well as the Association's member exhibits.
The BAA received their non-profit status in June 2002 and members hope to increase their contribution to the community by providing continuous exhibits for both members and non-member artists, workshops for adults and summer art camps for children.
The granddaughter of Pearl Stallings, Nancy Lee, donated the building located at 215 Fisk Ave. to the BAA to serve as the first Visual Arts Center in Brownwood. The BAA uses the facility for exhibits, classes and BAA meetings.
An alert, vital, working organization dedicated to establishing and cultivating a cultural atmosphere where in the members may be inspired, instructed and encouraged to create and exhibit their works of art and to sponsor such activities of high principle and common good that will promote a better understanding between the artist and public.
Awesome local art and artists
