It's been a while since Texas Wesleyan University had a dedicated space to display art exhibitions. In fact, it’s been since 1941. In an article in Fort Worth Star-Telegram discovered by Fort Worth’s cultural historian, art sleuth, and friend of Texas Wesleyan, Scott Barker, the story of Texas Wesleyan College’s first art gallery was told. The article begins with how a name for the new art gallery was determined. “In keeping with the Art Department policy of sponsoring Southwestern art, the (art) club wrote J. Frank Dobie noted author and folklore authority for advice about the new name. Members asked him about the name Cross Timbers, the name given to the new art gallery opened this year in the Fine Arts Building. He replied Cross Timbers seems to me the very name for your club. The term has always had savor for me and it belongs to the land” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram Pallet Patter: A Weekly Forum for the Fort Worth Artist, January 12, 1941). Robert Willson, Art Department Director hired in 1940 and sponsor of the art club, named the gallery. Early Texas Artist, Dickson Reeder, was the first to exhibit. 

This fall Texas Wesleyan welcomes the return of the visual arts with scheduled exhibitions taking place in the historical Bernice Coulter Templeton Art Studio (formerly Polytechnic Firehouse and City Hall). The building was restored and on the walls you can see traces of the past. This picture shows where the original stairs were and the modern day conduits represent the pole the firemen slid down to drive out the horse-drawn fire carriages.

The mission of the gallery is “to educate, serve, enrich, and to encourage appreciation and understanding of visual art through direct engagement with original works of art. The gallery provides faculty, students, staff, and also the broader community the opportunity to teach, reflect, research, and interpret the creative accomplishments of visual artists through exhibitions of a variety of artists and examples from Texas Wesleyan’s permanent art collection.”

How can I use the gallery?

In keeping with the University Mission and Vision Statements, the new gallery will benefit the educational and cultural experience of all Texas Wesleyan students, faculty and staff. Professors from all disciplines will have a new alternative teaching space. It will be a unique alternative ‘visiting classroom’. This dedicated art space will be used in any number of ways. Some examples of how the art gallery can be used as a teaching tool, increase collegiality, and comradery across the campus can include:

• Students enrolled in Education classes can learn how to discuss, interpret and create art by being engaged with original art in order to teach the value of the visual arts to their students.
• Students enrolled in Human Experience and Human Prospect courses can hold class in the gallery to discuss values as they are communicated through the visual arts.
• Students in all the FAR courses could find a way to utilize the gallery: Photography and drawing students can exhibit, hone their critical thinking skills through critiques, and interpret the expressive content of visual art; Introduction to Theatre could discuss scene design based a current exhibition; Introduction to Music could discuss the strong connections between music and the visual arts.
• Students from the School of Business could visit the gallery to discuss art as a commodity.
• The University could use the gallery for small meetings.
• Art films could be shown during Free Period for those who just want to get away and enjoy something different.

Gallery Webpage

Keep an eye out for the gallery website that will go live this fall. You'll learn how to reserve the space for a class or a meeting, about receptions for the artists, and a wide variety of art news. Stay tuned to stay informed about all exciting events this new addition to Texas Wesleyan will bring.   

Upcoming Art Exhibitions

Dual: Winter Rusiloski/Angel Fernandez, August 21 - October 5, 2017

• Ms. Winter Rusiloski and Mr. Angel Fernandez '01

Animus, Date: October 16 - December 6, 2017

• Mr. Juan Cruz and Ms. Genevieve Armstrong

Fluid Dialogue, Date: January 16 - March 2, 2018

• Mr. Thomas Motley and Ms. Liz Trosper

Art Bash: Hang Til We Drop, featuring the art of any and all students, faculty and staff, March 19 - May 9, 2018

Have a question? Contact Kit Hall, professor of art at khall@txwes.edu or 817-531-4984.