BACKGROUND & BIO Abilene is so much a part of Trish Dressen that it seems strange, even to her, that Abilene isn’t part of her address. She, her husband, Jeff, and their three children live in Buffalo Gap. Trish makes the short commute every morning to Abilene where she is the executive director of the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, a position she … [Read more...]
Art through the eyes of Loren Long
Connoisseurs of children’s art and literature know the work of Loren Long, who will be exhibited at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature this summer. He has “putt puff puttedy chuffed” his way all over bestseller lists. He wrote and illustrated a series of Otis books about a lovable tractor that makes the “putt puff” sounds as he helps his animal friends … [Read more...]
The Phantasmagoric World of Ordinary Things
Summer 2020 at The Grace Museum will take you back to the 1970s with art exhibitions that feature “The Phantasmagoric World of Ordinary Things.” The Cult of the Commonplace Artist David McManaway (1927-2010) has an underground cult following. In fact, that was the case during his lifetime as well. Research for this exhibition and numerous conversations with McManaway’s … [Read more...]
Philharmonic to share stage with world’s most famous brass group
Canadian Brass has performed in virtually every major concert hall in the world, and on April 18 at 7:30 p.m., the brass quintet will take the stage of the Abilene Convention Center along with the Abilene Philharmonic. The two groups will join together in a performance of “New York Cityscape” by composer and conductor Jeff Tyzik. The Canadian Brass members will be dressed in … [Read more...]
Bats, Bees and Fleas: Transforming Downtown
Donna Albus admits she “certainly was not domestic at home.” However, in the late 1980s, you could find her making curtains and stripping and finishing floors in the Cypress Building on North First and Cypress because she says “I loved those building passionately.” The renovation and repurposing of downtown buildings was the result of profound determination by individuals like … [Read more...]