Wonders of The Woodlands

Art Show, New Fountains Highlight April Events in South County

Mark Williams
The Bulletin Staff Writer

The Woodlands has become one of the largest and most popular planned communities in recent years: it offers a unique combination of country and urban lifestyles and is situated in a striking wooded area that presents a comfortable community lifestyle.

As more and more newcomers have made their way to Montgomery County, affordable housing and homes in all price ranges have become available in what is most undoubtedly a rapidly growing market. The median household income and home value are significantly above state average and the employment rate is relatively low, making The Woodlands an first-rate destination for families wanting to settle in and live the good life.

Although Houston is only 30 minutes away, fine restaurants, culture and the arts are all available right here at home. The Woodlands has restaurants for every appetite, numerous coffee bars, and delis that cater to many ethnic tastes; and numerous shopping areas offer numerous retail stores -- and the requisite eateries to rest and refresh yourself for another few hours of shopping.

Lots of fun family-friendly events are happening in South County nowadays: The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, a juried fine art show featuring more than 200 national and regional artists of various mediums, is slated for April 12 and 13, taking place along the meandering Waterway from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and finally ending at Town Green Park; this beautifully landscaped site features ample parking, water taxi and trolley service along the entire length of the festival, concessions within the festival site, and an array of eateries and shops within walking distance of the festival. 

Hundreds of national, regional and local artists showcasing their original creations in various creative mediums -- clay, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media 2D and 3D, painting, photography, pastel sculpture, textile, watercolor and wood -- while selling them along The Woodlands Waterway.

A group of community leaders formed The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council in 2005, teaming up with the Art Colony, a non profit organization that has been producing art festivals benefiting local charities for over three decades. "Going into its third year, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival has tremendous momentum and national recognition from many publications and touring fine artists throughout the United States," says executive director Lynette Wallace. "The artists are excited about this event and look forward to the beautiful locale and the art patrons it attracts."

The featured artist for the third annual Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is Sally Maxwell, a master scratchboard artist from LaGrange. Maxwell has more than 30 years experience as an artist and began working in this medium several years ago; her love of Texas wildlife can be seen in her work, as well as in the featured artwork for the festival. 

Although she enjoys a long professional career already, Maxwell seems to be just really getting started: her earliest works were published over 25 years ago under the name Sally Miller, placing her at the head of the colored scratchboard art movement.

So just what exactly is scratchboard? It is a medium requiring patience and skill consisting of a tempered hardboard or other rigid surface, coated with white kaolin clay; this is then sanded smooth and coated in turn with black India ink. Many different types of etching and engraving tools may be used to remove the black ink surface -- but Sally Maxwell developed the technique of adding colored India inks to the final drawing and then re-cutting highlights into the work.

Maxwell's area of specialty is wildlife -- but she is not limited to just that: domestic animals, birds and floral subjects as well as fantasy or abstract pieces show up periodically; the fine detail that can be achieved in scratchboard lends itself to the fur and feathers that are so lifelike in her work. Over forty years of experience and experimentation have put her work at the forefront of this medium, as her art has appeared as limited edition prints, collector plates, figurines, as well as open edition prints and posters.

At the festival, The Woodlands Children's Museum and The Woodlands Art League present interactive art activities for children at "Artopoly" in Town Green Park, which is also the site of an exhibition of student art from public and private schools in Montgomery County. Live entertainment on two stages and fine dining selections at the "Palette Café," featuring food from signature eateries, provides guests with a relaxing atmosphere. The John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science is on hand with "Healing Arts," interactive performances and exhibits where festival-goers learn about the art of healing. 

If international art is your passion, you can enjoy exhibits by several featured artists from Mexico whose art, in various mediums, is featured at this year's event. At "Showcase Mexico," the festival celebrates the cultural arts of Mexico with musical performances, food and fine arts and crafts from these celebrated Mexican artists and craftsmen. 

A unique addition to launch the 2008 festival is a Floating Art Parade reflecting this year's chosen theme of "Water Creatures." For the parade, area businesses, organizations and individuals are invited to design and build floats that will glide down the Waterway beginning at 10:30AM on April 12 in conjunction with the opening of the festival. Festival jurors get to vote for the best entry to decide the winner of The Waterway Cup, a unique piece of art designed by one of the festival artists. After judging and awarding The Waterway Cup, the floats are anchored and displayed throughout the festival weekend.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival highlights the cultural arts of Mexico with Showcase Mexico April 12 and 13 in Town Green Park. At Showcase Mexico, five Mexican artists present an array of spectacular art including watercolors, oils, acrylics and fine silverwork. The festival also celebrates Mexican heritage with musical performances and authentic cuisine.

Berta Diaz Mercado participates in numerous art exhibitions throughout Mexico; her work incorporates various aspects of the human form, as well as architectural landscapes in wonderful watercolor works. Conversely, Maria Barbara Attolini is a jeweler, painter and metal worker who specializes in working with gold, silver and other precious metals; her contemporary designs translate into bold, abstract paintings with vivid colors that reflect the Mexican sensibility. 

Individuals all over the world collect contemporary work from artist Vicente Vertiz Pani. His work -- seen in museums throughout Mexico, Rumania and Egypt -- encompasses large-scale murals as well as smaller pieces, utilizing abstract and neutral-colored elements reminiscent of the earth and ancestral times. In 1993, he founded “El Pez Soluble,” a printing press in Mexico that offers workshops for artists from all over the world. Pani has numerous exhibitions and represented Mexico in the third Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence, Italy, where he received the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” bronze award. 

Performance artist Martha Maria Baldit is known in Mexico as the “Queen of the Shawl.” The shawls she uses in each song represent that region’s heritage. As the styles of her shawls vary from state to state, so does the style of music. Norteño, banda, corridos and ballads are some of the genres reflected in her music.

Other musical guests at the festival include Ballet Folklorico Azteca of Houston known for its lavish performances and costumes as well as Mariachis Imperial, voted Houston’s Best Mariachis for the third consecutive year. Festival guests also can enjoy a taste of Mexican cuisine with food from La Mesa Mexican Bistro in The Woodlands.

Featured performers at the arts festival include Grupo Batacha -- a Cuban-roots band and a longtime favorite on Houston's robust salsa scene; the name of our band is Afro-Cuban, meaning ‘fun’ or ‘good Time.’ Grupo Batacha features the flavor of the Caribbean -- and can play a mean Salsa or a sweet Bolero, a fast Meringue or a traditional Cumbia.

Meantime, Needfire, a Texas-based band of Irish and Scottish American musicians who play traditional Celtic instruments -- and perfects the art of the rock & roll bagpipe. Needfire's music is a unique mix of all original high energy modern rock and traditional Scottish and Irish music, combining bagpipes, Celtic-infused rock fiddle and tribal didgeridoo with electric guitars, bass and drums. 

Needfire's high energy shows and original sound have been captivating audiences of all ages at festivals, theatres, colleges, and clubs throughout the U.S. Get set for Needfire: modern rock with deep Celtic roots, fire-driven instrumentals and hard-rocking songs.

Festival hours are 10AM to 8PM on Saturday and 10AM to 6PM on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, while children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the festival benefit local arts-related organizations that are charity partners with the festival. Charity partners for 2008-09 are The Pavilion Partners, Town Center Theatre and The Woodlands Art League. 

Guests attending the festival can park in any of the five free parking lots on the southwest side of the festival site. The free, color-coded lots are connected to the festival by corresponding pathways with signs leading across the Waterway. Guests also can choose to pay $5 for closer parking in The Pavilion's Town Center Garage located on Six Pines Drive.

ALSO COMING UP: On Thursday, April 10, the Hats Off to Reading Celebration is held in conjunction with the Houston Symphony’s Tickle Me Symphony concert at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Hats Off to Reading is a free family literacy event sponsored by the Reading Odyssey Committee, a community coalition that encourages students to develop a lifelong love of reading. Children can take home a free book and participate in literacy-based activities such as visiting with storybook characters, a book walk, hat making, bookmark crafts and face painting. The event takes place at 5:30 in the Pavilion’s Event.

FIRE & WATER: The Woodlands Township has announced a community celebration to showcase the new Fountains at Waterway Square on Saturday, April 12 at 6PM. The state of the art fountains feature a water wall spanning 120 feet that will release a choreographed, night-lit display of dancing columns of water, cascading waterfalls and “boomer” jets shooting water more than five stories high. The premiere celebration will include face painting, balloon artists, strolling magicians, jugglers, caricatures and mimes -- and a fireworks display will cap off the festivities at 8:30PM.

“The Fountains at Waterway Square will be an exciting place for residents of The Woodlands to bring neighbors and visiting guests,” says Frank W. Robinson, president of The Woodlands Township, who describes Waterway Square as “a unique urban setting in this region and a place to meet friends, enjoy the environment and create wonderful memories. The Fountains at Waterway Square are an outstanding addition to The Woodlands and its destination appeal for residents, visitors and those who work in the area.”

In addition to its daily choreographed show, The Fountains will also include a children’s interactive fountain with fanciful mosaic artwork created by renowned artist Dixie Friend Gay.
Restaurants, retail and entertainment venues will frame The Fountains at Waterway Square to create an active setting throughout the day. Americas, Chocolata Cocoa Bar, Las Alamedas and The Goose’s Acre Bistro & Irish Pub are among the restaurants who will be participating in the celebration…

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