Tuesday Night Arts at the park

Tuesday Night Arts is a new program from Wimberley’s Parks and Recreation Department in collaboration with the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance (WVACA) created to support artists during COVID and provide a venue for our community to become familiar with the fabulous artists who live here. Jointly produced with WVACA each two-hour interview and demonstration program will highlight an artist from each of 4 areas: Visual, Literary, Culinary, and Performing Arts.

“Everyone in the audi ence will enjoy seeing these artists in action in their own settings, and we at Wimberley Parks are delighted to be doing a program that brings attention to artists during this challenging time,” said Richard Shaver, Director of Wimberley Parks and Recreation. The programs will be co-hosted by Shaver and WVACA Board President, Deirdre Taylor and will be broadcast to registered viewers via ZOOM on the second Tuesdays of January, February and March. “At WVACA we are delighted to be collaborating on this series of artistic events and are especially hopeful of attracting a large audience that includes many young people,” said Taylor.

The programs will take participants “behind the scenes” into the studios of accomplished professionals, who will talk about their own artists journeys, share their talents and offer some advice to the aspiring painters, actors, musicians, writers, chefs and creatives of all kinds who turn in – and provide enjoyment for everyone. A new artist goes live every 30 minutes so come for your favorites or stay to see them all.

This event is FREE. Registration is required. Visit www.cityofwimberley.com/ parksandrec for more information.

Here’s the lineup for the first event, Tuesday, January 12th:

7:00 – 7:30 pm Kimberley Springer-Smith, Artist

Native Texan, Kim Springer-Smith is an award-winning artist with a Master’s in Fine Arts, who works with oils and acrylics, as well as fused glass from her Wimberley studio. She has been practicing and teaching for many years and is a former Artist-in-Residence for the State of Oklahoma. Locally, Kim’s glass work can be seen at Silo Glass and her drawings and paintings at Pitzers Fine Arts Gallery.

7:30 – 8:00 pm John Sanderson, Executive Chef

John Sanderson is the Executive Chef at Wimberley Valley Winery. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has had a passion for food and the creative process it provides since the age of fourteen. John’s philosophy involves integrity in ingredients and presentation, nurturing and sharing ideas and creating lasting experiences. He is also an avid photographer, woodworker and magician.

8:00 – 8:30 pm Dr. Eileen S. (Chick) Morgan, Author

Chick Morgan, Ph.D. has been writing ever since she can remember. Her published works include two international business books on Russian and cross-cultural business ethics published by The Free Press and Reed-Elsevier publishers. In addition, Chick is a songwriter, blogger, podcaster and essayist. She’s currently working on two creative non-fiction memoir projects. Chick is a co-founder of Wimberley Area Writers and an active member of the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance.

8:30 – 9:00 pm Julie Ragins and Curtis Brengle, The Pear Duo, Musicians

Julie and Curtis spent decades performing with American Idol, The Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Sheena Easton, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sergio Mendes, Chaka Kahn, the Pointer Sisters and more before relocating to Wimberley and launching their own project, PEAR DUO. Rooted in a fusion of popular music and jazz, with elements of soul, rock, blues and Americana, Curtis (piano) and Julie (vocals and guitar) pull from all their musical experiences. Their new album NO BOUNDARIES has just been released.