VAL Art Talk
Join the Visual Art League of Lewisville for its monthly general meeting at Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N. Charles Street.
Guest speaker Randall Garrett will be presenting, “In Search of a Character and a Story.”
He will convey his creative journey, from a childhood roaming the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, to his most recent experience of living seven years in Mexico, and something about all the strange and wonderful spaces, people, and experiences he has encountered along the way.
In that journey, he found his reason for being here, to find and share of himself through creative expression, as a way of navigating the strangeness of life and connecting with others.
Garrett will talk about how he has learned to frame all of this experience of living through the concepts of storytelling and cinematography, with the hope that those who attend will be inspired to see their own lives as a story they too will cherish.
How, as he says, “Life itself is like some type of grand narrative or film, sometimes epic and others mundane, a story one is telling to oneself, even as you live it.”
VAL members are encouraged to bring art for the Artist of the Month. All attendees will have a chance to vote for their favorite artwork. Two awards will be given. (Artists who have already won First Place for Artist of the Month this year are automatically entered into the Artist of the Year opportunity. We welcome you to vote but no art submission will be accepted.)
This event is free and ope to the public. Non-members and guests are welcome to attend and learn more about the Visual Art League of Lewisville! Artists of all skill levels and visual art mediums are welcome.
Speaker Bio:
Randall Garrett was born and raised in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. He moved to Texas as an adolescent and earned his BFA at West Texas A&M, followed by an MFA at The University of North Texas. Garrett joined the seminal artist-run space, 500X Gallery, in 1992, and established his own DIY space, Plush Gallery in 2000. In 1998, he joined Dallas College and worked there as Gallery Director and Faculty in art and humanities courses for 20 years. In 2017, he moved to Mexico City, living there for 5 years, then moved to Oaxaca City, where he lived for 2 years. In 2023, Garrett returned to Dallas, Texas, where he is now the Gallery and Art Collection Manager for Dallas College. He has had 25 solo shows and performance events, most recently at Combo Co in Oaxaca City (“Tianguistopia” 2023) and Pencil on Paper Gallery in Dallas (“All My Relations” 2024). The artist makes collage and assemblage based art, spoken word performance, and is a vlogger on YouTube.
The Grand is Lewisville’s home for the arts. It presents a variety of regional and national touring performers, art exhibits, and classes, while also giving the many arts groups in the greater Lewisville area a facility to perform and display their works. Its multiple performance spaces play host to a variety of events, including live music, theater, dance performances, comedy shows, and more. The center features the 294-seat Huffines Performance Hall, black box theater, recital hall, art gallery, and courtyard.
To reach The Grand from Interstate 35E, take exit 452 and proceed east on Main Street to Charles Street. The Grand will be on the left. Free public parking is available along Main and Church streets, or at Lewisville City Hall across Church Street from the center. Please be aware that there is heavy road construction at the Main Street interchange with 35E that will cause delays.
For details about upcoming events, or rental information for the facility, please visit lewisvillegrand.com or call 972.219.8446.
