TRAHC Announces a New Gala That Will Surprise and Delight on March 23

February 26, 2024

The Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s 2024 Adult Juried Exhibition featured more than 100 accepted pieces of art from both local and national artists. The pieces on display range in medium, including painting, embroidery, photography, drawing, sculpture and printmaking among others.

Dr. Trina Harlow, juror, specifically sought out technique, composition, skill, craftsmanship and story in the pieces she selected.

“As I juried this exhibition, I sat and studied the entries and tried to step into the story the artist was telling OR my visual processing imagined the story that I thought was told by each piece of art. There were hints of family members, memories of childhood, awakened and remembered history, flora and fauna, naturescapes, emotion, the supernatural, landscapes and cityscapes, seasons of life and time, scenes of patience and thought and pausing in moments of time, representative and non-representative art, and outstanding creative expression from new and experienced artists,” Dr. Harlow said in her Juror Statement.

“It gives artists a place to show, and for a lot of the local artists, it’s the first venue into professional exhibition. That’s a really important thing for them. For the people of Texarkana, it gives them a chance to see art from all around the country and sometimes from other countries,
right here,” said Kay Thomas, interim director of visual arts.

The Party to Remember Includes Award-Winning Artists, Grammy Nominated Music, and Surprises at Every Turn

The Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council unveils its inaugural TRAHC Honors Gala, which will celebrate the depth of Texarkana’s creative capital on March 23, 2024.

The Party will transform the Regional Arts Center with Grammy nominated musical performances by Q the Band, a Dallas group that has played with Ed Sheeran at the Country Music Awards and sold out the House of Blues. Guests are invited to join the creative fun and unexpected experiences throughout the evening.

For a select few, the VIP Cocktail and Dinner will take place in the unrecognizable RAC galleries surrounded by the work of the honorees and highlighted by a special performance by the Dallas String Quartet, who have played alongside Josh Groban, Chicago, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The first annual honorees are mixed-media artist Cindy Holmes, fashion designer Be Norman, and furniture makers, designers and photographers Steven, Ben, and Patrick Mayo. They have each been celebrated in their respective fields across the United States, and are reminders of the robust creative community in Texarkana. For those unable to attend the Gala, the artists’ works will be on view for the general public in a mini exhibition from March 26-29.

Both events benefit TRAHC’s award-winning exhibitions, education programs, and operations. Details on purchasing TRAHC Honors tables and Party tickets are available at https://trahc.networkforgood.com/events/66005-trahc-honors-gala-2024.

About the Honorees

Cindy Holmes is a highly collected painter and mixed-media artist based in Texarkana. Her paintings tell stories through the combination of figures, found objects, and words or cliches. She invites viewers to use their own personal experiences to explain, question, or finish the drama. Her work has been displayed at M2 Gallery in Little Rock, Now Contemporary in Fort Worth, The Other Art Fair in Dallas and Saatchi Art online, among other locations. Cindy and 3 other Texarkana artists, will be featured in Amazon Primes series The Story of Art in America released January 2024.

Native Texarkanian Be Norman is a fashion designer based in the greater NYC area. He attended the Academy of Arts in San Francisco, majoring in Fashion Design. His brand, Duhbuhlyoo, showcases custom gowns that have graced red carpets, weddings, and galas across the United States.

Steven, Ben, and Patrick Mayo design and manufacture furniture in Texarkana that is lauded across the country. The Mayo family takes great care with the design and creation of their furniture, and they showcase their work in inspired photographs. Not only are they leading the way on design, they are also a major employer in the Texarkana area and invest heavily in the region.

Musical Performances

Grammy nominated performers Dallas String Quartet and Q the Band are international musical sensations offering a fusion of classical and contemporary music on both traditional and electric strings. Their contemporary interpretations have been performed “at home” for Presidents Obama and Bush, the College Football Playoff, NBA, and NFL organizations. They often sell out concert venues and have played alongside Josh Groban, Chicago, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.