November 3-11, 2014 
McAllen, Texas
McAllen Creative Incubator
McAllen Creative Incubator
601 N. Main
presented by: McAllen Chamber of Commerce
and Art Studio by Design
Nov. 3-10: 10am-5pm; Nov. 11: 10am-9pm
30 Exhibitors
30 Exhibitors
Deadline: October 26
Purpose:
"Honor a Veteran" is a unique artistic celebration never celebrated before in Rio Grande Valley in honor of all Veterans of all branches of the military who have served to protect Freedom in the name of Humanity.
The show provides a forum for the artists and Veterans to share recognition of their military action and activities through art. The show will be juried by Robert Bradley professor at UTPA. Best of show award will be given on Nov. 11 during the closing ceremony, between 6-9pm. The evening will have a presentation of colors, Military presentation Honoring the Veterans and a light lunch will be served.
You may submit paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture and printmaking in the show. Entry fee of $30 for 1-3 works of art. All art work must be submitted no later than Nov. 2-3. Registration form must be submitted no later than Oct. 26. Artists must bring easels or tables to show work. Booth fee is $30 for 10x10 space. All items should pertain to military. Booth set up Nov. 4th. Provide all your own covered tables.
Marketing:
Poster, flyers, postcards, public service announcements in TV, Radio and newspaper features. We are expecting 5500 to view the show from the 5th to the 11th of Nov.
Art Studio by Design and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce are looking forward to making this an annual event. We are focused on a large Veterans population and their contributions. We are looking for artists who are Veterans, their families and the general public who have a memory of a present and past service. This event will share the experiences of our Veterans and their families with the general population.
Application and contact information:
Art Studio by Design
722 N. Main, McAllen, Texas 78501
E-mail: Artstudiobydesign@gmail.com
or call: Karen (956)249-3534
Comments
But they are wanting artists to be there, or so it seems. We have plenty of work since we completed a war portraits series in 2011. It's a really long way to McAllen.
We exhibited in World Fantasy Convention when it was in Corpus Christi (Charles Vess was Artist Guest of Honor, he did Stardust with Neil Gaiman). After the show, we drove straight west across Texas to the border town of Laredo and then up to Del Rio and on up to Fort Stockton toward home. It was pretty neat. But I've never been to South Padre or McAllen.
I'll have to go back and read the rules for this show. I think artists have to be there with their work.
Those are some stories, Barrie and Robert! I had no idea people were called away from their lives for this. Just shows what happens when there is no draft, the rest of us get so isolated from the military.
I had a great talk with Karen Norberg who runs this gallery in McAllen. It is a border town with a huge military presence and Mexican presence too. She said there were eleven galleries on her street, so something is happening in McAllen and it sounded like a nice opportunity for people who had work in that theme to honor the veterans. I'm thinking your photo above would be a good entry.
Anyone else?
THanks for the note, Robert. It was life changing for me, certainly. I was also in college, and I had to withdraw from the semester. My orders came FEDEX Priority Overnight with plane tickets departing in three days to California.
Hi Barrie – same here – I was out for about six months and got the “Mailagram” to report back (US Army Field Artillery). I was a couple weeks into my second semester of college at the time. Wow-that was a long time ago……..
By the way, I had been released from active duty in April 1988, so I was well into my professional artist career when I received orders for active duty in February 1991 to report for Desert Storm.
Wow. Now there's an out of the way show. Get out your vacation gear and head on down to nearby South Padre Island for surf and sand and killer Mexican food.
Here's an image I made in 1991 just after being released from USMC active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm. Despite color guards being first in a parade, I titled it The End.