Central Texas artist’s work featured in college gallery

 “Forces of Nature,” a gallery show by Lynn Rushton will open at Simon Michael Art Gallery in Beeville on Jan. 19, 10:30 a.m. to noon with a reception, followed by a gallery talk at 1:30 p.m. The Simon Michael Art Gallery is located in the Coastal Bend College Frank Jostes Visual Arts Building.

 Rushton, a Texas native, is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans and Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She studied sculpting under Luis Sanchez Valderama; watercolor under Rob Erdle of the University of North Texas; and portraiture under Joy Thomas.

 “I am typical of many native Texans. My father, from Fort Worth, very Western in temperament, told us the tall tales of Texas by names like Rip Ford, “Big Foot” Wallace, and J. Frank Dobie,” Rushton said. “My East Dallas mother was born into an Italian-American family of small businessmen. My blending of cultures continues today. My husband’s mother is Japanese, making my children even more a mix than I. Perhaps my images, whether painted or sculpted, can protect and guide them and others by telling stories of community.”

 Rushton’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Texas, Louisiana and Mexico. She is represented at galleries across Central Texas. This is her first gallery show at Coastal Bend College.

 The show closes on Feb. 17. For information, contact Jayne Duryea at duryeaj@coastalbend.edu or (361) 354-2322.

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