2005 Texas Medal of Arts
A celebration of the arts in Texas on April 5th, exceeded all expectations thanks to the tireless efforts of Co-Chairs Aaronetta Pierce and Hector Gutierrez, Jr. and Trust Chair, Debbie Montford. Young Masters, Charles Yang and Morgan Ashlee Morrow, performed to a sold-out dinner at the Driskill. Mariachi Estrella and Mariachi Relampago led a parade from the Driskill to the Paramount for a multi-media presentation using high-end technology with entertainment by Cultural Trust Board member, Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel), Sara Hickman, Yolanda Adams, Caitlin Tully (Young Master), Ballet Austin, Patty Griffin and Renee Goldsberry. Medal of Arts recipient, Lyle Lovett joined musicians on stage for a finale rendition of “That’s Right Your Not From Texas”. Maya Angelou and Bob Schieffer participated electronically via video message. Each of the 2005 Awardees received their medal from the Governor in the morning, were recognized on the floor of the Texas House and Senate, feasted at the Governor’s Mansion over lunch and spoke eloquently from the podium during the Paramount performance. Dancing and a champagne dessert reception concluded the evening at the Driskill. Monday night at the VIP Legislative Reception, the leadership of Texas was present. The Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker spoke to a crowd of 300 arts patrons and legislators. The Texas Medal of Arts biennially honors the best and the brightest of Texas.

The 2005 recipients are: Lifetime Achievement – Vikki Carr El Paso; Arts Education – Ginger Head-Gearheart Fort Worth; Dance – Ben Stevenson O.B.E., Houston & Fort Worth; Foundation Arts Patron – Nasher Foundation, Raymond D. Nasher Dallas; Individual Arts Patron – Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long, Austin; Literary Arts – Naomi Shihab Nye, San Antonio; Music – Lyle Lovett, Klein; Television/Theatre – Phylicia Rashad, Houston; Theatre – Robert Wilson, Waco; Visual Arts – Jose Cisneros, El Paso.

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors:

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Texas Goes to Japan
The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is partnering with the Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism office to provide artwork and musical performances from Texan artists at the Word Expo in Aichi, Japan. Visual artist Bob Wade will have his work displayed in the VIP suite of the American Pavilion at the Expo. TCA is also providing performing artists, the Gillette Brothers and Patricia Vonne, to perform on the VIP stage. Texas will be showcased on August 1, 2 and 3, 2005. A delegation will be traveling to Japan from Texas with Governor Rick Perry. TCA is securing original works by Texas artists to be presented by the Governor to Japanese dignitaries.

In addition, Robert Wilson, 2005 Medal of Arts honoree, will present “In the Evening at Koi Pond” each night at 8 p.m. at the 2005 Expo. Koi Pond, located next to the Global House, is a tranquil pond filled with multicolored carp. It will become a major attraction as the scene for an experimental theatre event featuring the interaction between nature and humans. Choreographed with impact and beauty by our own world-renowned artist Robert Wilson, it will captivate all and communicate a message of hope and happiness for the future.

Nokia, Big Thought, & Pearson Foundation Honor
Dallas-Area Students & Teachers
Nokia, Big Thought and the Pearson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of publisher Pearson plc, celebrated on May 24, the accomplishments of Irving ISD middle school teachers and students who participated in the “Make A Connection Thru Art” program. A second program was officially announced at the celebration, the Nokia Mobile Learning Institute. The Nokia Mobile Learning Institute is an educational program designed to integrate traditional curriculum with the latest mobile communications technologies.

Make a Connection Thru Art is the U.S. component of Nokia’s Make a Connection. It is an innovative educational program that targets middle school students to help them develop life skills at a crucial time in their lives by using art and technology as forms of self-expression. The program is designed to give adolescents an artistic outlet to express their impressions of the world, and offer them dynamic opportunities for interpersonal communication, creativity, and teamwork. Participating students come from a variety of backgrounds and communities. Each school site produces digital stories – short stories brought to life – around a chosen theme weaving together art, poetry, and photography created by the students. The stories created tell the powerful, personal stories of today’s youth.

Violinist, Charles Yang takes 1st Place in the Junior Bowed Instrument at
2005 Kingsville International Young Performers Competitions
Sixteen year-old Charles Yang, a student at Westlake High School in Austin, takes top prize in the junior bowed instrument division of the 2005 Kingsville International Young Performers’ Competitions. His other honors and awards include grand prize at the first Asian American Young Musicians Challenge Cup, first prize of Austin Symphony Orchestra's Youth Award, first prize of the 2004 Lennox International Young Artist Competition, 2nd place of the 45th Sorantin International Young Artist Competition and 36th National Young Artist Competition respectively, and most recently, designation as a Cultural Leader and Applied Materials Young Master.

Currently, Yang studies with Professor Brian Lewis of the University of Texas at Austin School of Music, and he also commutes to the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for violin lessons with Professor Sassmanshaus and performance with Starling Chamber Orchestra. He has recently been selected as one of the 15 young artists to perform in public master classes at 2005 Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies for master teachers Itzhak Perlman, Stephen Clap, Glenn Dicterow, Gregory Fulkerson, and Catherine Cho.

Applications for Young Masters scholarship are available at www.arts.state.tx.us/ym/.
The application deadline is December 15, 2005.

Texas Chooses Artists to Represent State
The Texas Commission on the Arts has announced its appointments to the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist and state three-dimensional artist. These positions, created by SB 1043 of the 77th Legislature, will be filled by one-year appointments. The eight appointees named for 2005 and 2006 were selected for years of excellence and dedicated commitment to the arts in Texas.

The 2005 appointees
Texas Poet Laureate Alan Brikelbach of Plano
Texas State Musician Johnny Gimble of Tyler
Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist Kathy Vargas of San Antonio
Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist Sharon Kopriva of Houston

The 2006 appointees
Texas Poet Laureate Red Steagall of Fort Worth
Texas State Musician Billy Joe Shaver of Waco
Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist George Boutwell of Bosque
Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist James Surls of Athens

Reflections on Americans for the Arts national conference in
Austin June 9 - 13
The Americans for the Arts 2005 Annual Convention was a great success! Throughout the meeting over 800 cultural leaders, from around the United States and Canada, explored ways to advance the arts as a powerful community development tool. Keynote speakers Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of Blink and The Tipping Point; Ed Bailey, Vice President of Brand Development for Austin City Limits and Alejandro Escovedo, musician; and Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of The Advertising Council shared key strategies for leading the charge. Participants chose from a wide array of learning experiences, including strategy-building workshops, interactive arts-based civic engagement activities, and facilitated dialogues. The TCA hosted the always interesting art car parade and these cultural leaders said their good-byes in true Texas form at the legendary Broken Spoke for a Grand Finale to the convention. 

Founders for the Arts It is time to change the perception of the arts in Texas.  Our goal is to raise art education to a level equal to math and science.  Studies undertaken in the past two decades show students who are exposed to the arts at an early age through the primary school years, field better scores on standardized tests, and there is a noticeable difference in dropout rates among teens who are involved in the arts during middle and high school years.  In addition, statistics show art is an economic generator for the State of Texas with an overall impact in 2000 of $190.2 billion in total expenditures (2000 Perryman Report). Art is Smart.  This is not going to be an easy or short term goal, but it can be achieved.  We need a core group of supporters who are willing to make a sustained financial commitment to get the message out.  Founders for the Arts is an annual giving program which asks members to contribute $1000 a year for three years, or a onetime gift of $3000.
Charter Members: Leslie Blanton                     Debbie Montford Blandina Cardenas               Jocelyn Straus Kenneth Carlile                    Donna Axum Whitworth Hector Gutierrez, Jr.            Kathleen Wu Carole Krist
For more information or to become a Founder click here.
Thank you for making the 2005 Texas Medal of Arts Awards a resounding success:
Governor Rick and Anita Perry Lt. Governor David Dewhurst Speaker Tom and Nadine Craddick Senator Florence Shapiro Representative Harvey Hilderbran Bob Schieffer Judy Maggio Ray Benson CE Group Janet Holliday Christa Scannell Shannon Boggus Meghan Beavin Bill Lee Stephen Maynard Susan O'Neill	Integrated Public Jim Eustace Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum Paramount Theatre Driskill Hotel Jeff Trigger Dana Tucker Design Darla Novak Britt Barnstone RK Group High End Systems Brainwash Creative David Kurio Designs Big House Sound Tinez-Lighting Whitley Printing