(The current exhibit at local art and culture hot spot Cultivate 712 is called “Writing on the Wall.”  It features the street art of world-renowned, anonymous street artist “Banksy,” specifically his/her installation “Haight Street Rat: This is where I draw the line” in addition to artwork by Waco and Central Texas artists.  Bringing the work of this famous/infamous street artist to town made us wonder about the state of street art in Waco.  Steve Veracruz of the Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC) agreed to dig into it a little for us.  Thanks for writing, Steve! The “Writing on the Wall” exhibit is free and open to the public during Cultivate 7Twelve’s open hours until Saturday Nov. 17.) – ALW)

By Steve Veracruz

Street art is not new to Waco.  Sometimes it seems like street art and graffiti styles fill up any place resembling wall space. There is a fine line between calling graffiti “street art” and actual works of art. It all depends where you draw the line I suppose.

There really are no boundaries when it comes to street art because the actual environment becomes the canvas. Street art can be about the statement…a street artist has something to say and it will be revealed on a grand scale, with a touch of controversy perhaps.  But, that is not always the case. It may also be about reflecting a particular area with some visual form of identity.

One particularly talented individual in Waco with experience in street art goes by the name Skcoobaveli. He has created outstanding works of art everywhere, from bridges to buildings. He is also one of Waco’s famed tattooists, as well as the winner to one of CTAC’s special art exhibitions!

Skcoobaveli acknowledges the many street and graffiti artists before him.  Building on that, he hopes to create a brand known for its tasteful qualities. Businesses have reached out to him to help encourage traffic through the attraction of his art.

Skcoobaveli explains that areas with the less attractive graffiti and even vulgarity are mere places for practice. They are places where adolescent behavior grows into work to be shared, for the people.  He also noted that sometimes a wall becomes a space for something amazing to be created…a legacy gets left behind.

“It feeds the soul to be remembered,” says Skcoobaveli. “Keeps the Ghost alive. And without ghost to chase, Scooby Doo wouldn’t have a job.  Feed the memory. Be a ghost chaser. Spread the stories. RIP Benjamin Franklin, may I always have you in my pockets, close by.”

Sal Valesco is another former street artist in Waco. He has seen and worked with some Waco’s street art pioneers. His take on the movement is to recognize its value. It truly exercises the right of free speech, given it is done properly.

“To me the street art in a city always gives me a reading,” explains Sal, “like a pulse of what’s happening in that city.” Sal understands the necessary information that street art can reveal. It can promote style, politics, and more importantly, culture.

Since his street art days, Sal has taken his skills to the next level and created his own company, Epitome.  Through Epitome he provides advertising and marketing for many of the sprouting local businesses waking up in Waco. His once hidden designs developed while decorating the street under the cover of night, now help businesses explain and promote their identity.

Sal likes a quote from soccer star, Pele, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” “Those words couldn’t be more true,” says Sal. I’m looking forward to embarking on this new venture and to putting our best foot forward. Follow @epitome_tx to keep up with our new projects and to get more info.” (#epitome)

Any form of art continues to generate, encourage, influence, and plant the seeds for so much more we have not yet seen. I feel absolutely honored to be able to work with so much of Waco’s talent so far. The best quote to take us out with is, “We have not seen anything yet!”

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Steve Veracruz is Co-founder and communicator for Central Texas Artist Collective. He is a multimedia artist and strong advocate for collaborative success. He likes to say, “No big accomplishments are created alone, and our city is on the way.”  For more information about the Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC) email centexartistcollective@gmail.com .

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.

 

As the hot summer of 2018 comes to an end, we reflect on our adventures in the growing arts community and look at what’s coming for the fall months.

In June, Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC) kicked off the summer by creating the BLACK BOLD exhibition. It was featured at the Juneteenth Family Fun Day event. We asked the artists to create artwork that reflected on African American’s forgotten history through today’s Black Culture. The artistic visions from everyone’s point of view with historical accuracy through research and modern-day reflections were encouraged. The turn out was small, but the artwork was stunning.  Several pieces honored musicians like Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and local favorite, Byron Swan. There was pop style piece of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr that was created in bold hues of blue. One unique mixed media piece was created out of rice, beans, and lentils that depicted the portrait of the first female Buffalo Soldier, Cathey Williams. Another woman’s first piece was a tribute to the first female African American to receive a pilot’s license and was affectionately called Queen Bess. My favorite piece was a thoughtfully crafted Underground Railroad Code Quilt. Each square would safely guide the traveler to their destination and on to freedom. This exhibit created an educational experience that enhanced the Juneteenth celebration weekend and continued to be shown downtown at Klassy Glass, on Austin Ave. Our hope is that it would inspire or encourage viewers to continue discovering and to create their own artwork.

The comic and pop culture community continue to thrive and gain momentum in Texas. CTAC members travelled south to Austin, TX for the Greater Austin Comic-Con. If you have never been to this type of convention, you can expect to see attendees in the thousands fully embracing the vibe of the comic and pop culture environment. You will find a variety of original artwork by the creators themselves, fan art, crafts, costume designers, actors, cosplayers, and so much more. The best part for CTAC was holding space for a talented team of artists, known as Fan Addicts Waco. They have banded together to put their style of comic and pop art in front of viewers at GeekFest in Killeen, TX and at the Bell County Comic-Con in Belton, TX. Locally, the Fan Addicts Waco bunch holds art exhibits at Bare Arms Brewing, on LaSalle Ave. The current exhibit, which started September 15, features Anime fan art.

It was nice to give back to our community in July. Several CTAC members helped Doreen Ravenscroft of Waco Cultural Arts Festival, by providing face painting at McLane Stadium for the 4^th of July festivities. It was a lot of work and fun!

Then, First Friday in July, the Pop and Comic Art Exhibit opened at Cultivate7Twelve. This was the first time CTAC collaborated with Cultivate7Twelve to co-curate an art exhibit that took over the two downstairs gallery spaces. We had been talking about it since December; even though the curators changed several times. In the end, together we produced an exhibit to remember. While CTAC focused on new and emerging artists who have spent most of their lives creating comic art; Cultivate was able to reach more established artists to fill in the traditional pop style of art. Both coming together to create a vibrant experience for the senses.

Also, during the exhibiting month, CTAC featured Rachael Bryant, a multi-talented artist. She led a visual discussion on how to create POP and Comic Art Make-up for Cosplayers and everyday use. Rachel is a rare talent. Anything she can think of, she will find a way to create it. Over the past 3 years, we have seen Rachel use her Special FX artistry to create Superheroes and Villains, the Suicide Squad, and an estranged family trio of Gamora, Nebula, and Thanos.

We wrapped up this one-of-a-kind summer with another trip to Austin for the inaugural MexAmeriCon at the beautiful Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. As the name entails, this event was specifically created to build up the LatinX comic and art community. Mexican Americans from all over Texas gathered at this convention to share, sell and promote their artwork or their upcoming adventures. Angie Veracruz spoke about what CTAC does for the new and emerging Artist and how the arts community in Waco has seen a renaissance of creativity throughout the City of Waco. She introduced the attending Artists for a panel discussion about their art, their passion to create, and where do they go from here. Concluded by a Q&A session lead by Steve Veracruz. Our day wrapped up with a live performance by Isis Lee.

Upcoming Events and Art Happenings you don’t want to miss!

• Sept & Oct – Independent art exhibits at Klassy Glass, curated by Deborah Reed-Propst
• Sept 15 through Sept 29 – 2^nd Annual Climate Change Art Exhibit Reception at the Waco Winery
• Sept 15 – Anime Exhibit at Bare Arms Brewery
• Oct 5, 6 , 7 – Waco Cultural Arts Fest at Indian Springs Park
• Oct 27 – Witchy Woman’s Whistle Fair 2018 at Whistle Stop in Crawford, TX

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Angie Veracruz is an intuitive artist who is influenced by the world around us and reflective insights. She is the mother of three beautiful girls and their biggest education advocate. She is also the Executive Director of Central Texas Artist Collective. She is a member of Texans for the Arts and an arts advocate in the making.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

By Luann Jennings

This fall Creative Waco, our local arts agency, will debut an eight-week course in business skills for visual, performing, and literary artists and arts students, along with three special professional development workshops.

The course is based on Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists, developed by Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota. I had the privilege of visiting St. Paul in July (where the high temperature was 83…) to be trained in the curriculum, and I’m excited to share it with Waco’s artists and creatives. I’ve been teaching arts business development and entrepreneurship for a number of years, and the Work of Art program is a terrific framework for starting your creative career or moving it forward. Springboard’s instructors have taught the Work of Art content “at arts organizations, libraries and colleges in over 80 communities in the Upper Midwest, and [it has been] replicated across the country by artists, arts organizations, and colleges and universities.”

The eight sessions will cover career and business planning, goal-setting and productivity, communicating about your work, pricing, record-keeping, legal issues, and more.

We’ll also hold three additional workshops using the Work of Art material. The first will be a free introductory session on Why Artists Need Business Skills, to help potential participants decide whether Work of Art is for them (date and location TBA).

Then, in November, we’ll hold two special workshops. On Saturday, November 3, we’ll cover Marketing, Branding, and Promotion; and on Friday evening, November 16, we’ll talk about Fundraising and Grantwriting, with a special emphasis on the Creative Waco AMP Grant and Texas Commission on the Arts grants. Those registered for the eight-week course may attend the Marketing and Fundraising workshops for free, but registration will also be open to those not enrolled in the course.

Work of Art will meet weekly beginning the week of September 23 and will conclude the week before Thanksgiving. Participants may attend either a morning or weeknight session. The days and location are still being decided, but if you want to learn more when we have the info, sign up for Creative Waco’s enewsletter, follow us on social media, or write to me at luann@creativewaco.org and I’ll send you the info as soon as I have it.

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Luann Jennings is the Project Manager for Artist Professional Development at Creative Waco. She is a theatre director and has been working in arts leadership, entrepreneurship, and education for a long time. Luann and her husband Chuck, a jazz guitarist you can find playing locally, moved to Waco from New York City two years ago to invest in the arts community and cultural life here.

By Magen Davis

By the end of this summer, downtown Waco will be home to a new mural.  But unlike existing pieces in the area, this work of art will be crafted by an unlikely group of creatives: 10 Waco ISD high school students working alongside a team of professional artist mentors.

Here’s what you need to know:

• ArtPrenticeship is an internship program organized by Creative Waco, Prosper Waco and Waco ISD that will teach a group of 10 Waco ISD high school students, or apprentices, the ins and outs of managing a creative project.
• Four artist mentors will guide the apprentices from concept to completion, designing and painting a mural on the side of a newly completed building in downtown Waco.
• We’re in search of wage sponsors to serve as an accountability partner for performance throughout the summer and help provide compensation for each apprentice at the end of the program.

ArtPrenticeship has roots in the Cincinnati ArtWorks program that Waco leaders learned about on a Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce intercity visit in September 2017. ArtWorks employs professional artists and apprentices ranging from ages 14 to 21 to complete public art projects across Cincinnati, including hundreds of murals on the sides of buildings that are several stories tall.

Creative Waco has borrowed this model and shaped it to fit our own community. ArtPrenticeship is a unique opportunity for creative students to hone their artistic abilities while also learning professional skills necessary to thrive as an independent artist. Emphasis will be placed on safety while working on a mural jobsite, calculating costs, ordering materials, and the importance of collaboration and communication between artist, client and community.

The students will work between several sites across downtown Waco, with most time spent at the mural site at 315 University Parks Drive, the shopping strip next to Bicycle World.

For our program’s pilot year, the students were selected from a diverse pool of applicants through Prosper Waco and Waco ISD’s summer internship program. Two teaching artists and two assistant artists will guide the apprentices through the mural process. Between them are several years of teaching experience, as well as expertise in a wide range of artistic media, including mural installation and painting.

One goal of ArtPrenticeship is to pay all participating students a meaningful wage. Creative Waco has successfully secured wage sponsors for each apprentice at $600 per student. Sponsorships not only provide a financial reward for program completion, but also ensure accountability for their productivity throughout the program.

Creative Waco would like to extend a special thanks to our sponsors: Baylor Philanthropy, Cooper Foundation, Magnolia Foundation, Waco Public Improvement District (beautification grant), Mitchell Construction, Turner Behringer Development, Terry and Elaine Stevens, 1519LLC, and Langerman Foster Engineering. ArtPrenticeship would not be possible without the enthusiastic support and resources we’ve received from these businesses and community leaders.

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Magen Davis is a Texas-born, graphic designer and “multimedia person.” Magen graduated from Baylor Journalism in Fall of 2015 from the New Media concentration and with a minor in History. Magen is in her first year as a student of Baylor University’s journalism graduate program. Her research interests include new media implementation for organizations, apologies in image repair, and user-generated content. Currently, she also works with Midway Independent School District as a Multimedia Specialist creating videos, taking pictures, and designing district communications.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.

 

 

by Steve Veracruz

Let’s go back to the year 1997 for a moment. I had just graduated University High School and, without even taking a summer off to gaze into a field of dreams, I immediately enrolled at TSTC in commercial art.  I felt like this would give me a snapshot of this particular artist community. I was intrigued to finally grow beyond my familiar borders and meet other like-minded creatives.

Unfortunately, the artist environment I expected of meetups or regular special exhibitions for our young demographic did not exist at the time.

Just as early settlers did what was necessary for their survival, the artists in the early days of my creative lifetime in this city did what was necessary to demonstrate and share their talent. There were different attempts to add pockets of opportunity, to share artwork in diverse locations across the city on an organic level. Outspoken and talented artists helped pave the way to the point of excellence we find ourselves in now.  I couldn’t be more grateful for those displays of bravery and showing what true creative freedom looked like.  This is what was needed to carry on the message of freedom, those early artists and appreciators testing their own strength to sustain imaginative work in a time when the city and its society were content with a stale status quo.

However, these patches of creative energy were still few and far between. We needed to pull them together. How do we make space for this idea or what do we want to do about this idea? More importantly, who do we talk to about this idea? These were questions that provided the incentive to move. This is why we founded the Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC).

Back to the future…The city of Waco has grown in more ways than I could have imagined.  There are so many reasons to be happy about being a creative in this city, with so many places that have opened their doors to this expanding community.  There are now big shows in multiple annual events, big ideas in special exhibitions with a message, big dreams beginning in discussions during artist meetups, and big aspirations coming from each other from our own experiences. This is what a creative environment can produce! This is why it was necessary to build pillars for a strong artist community!

As a co-founder of CTAC, I had to identify the importance of what this role would mean, not just for myself, but for others as well. The three questions previously mentioned were at the base of a movement that was to develop. Another noteworthy point to make…one cannot go at it alone. I am a “co-founder.” The ideas to come required more effort than one person could provide and needed alternative perspectives. The other co-founders had to believe with the same amount of passion about what the goal was for artists in general. It is this positive reinforcement that created that right amount of energy to build something special.

One project often leads to another. Then that can also lead into something else. These multiplicities of creativity suddenly become a foundation with which to continue to build. Other artists’ groups began to appear. One group alone cannot bear the responsibility of being the sole provider. Sometimes the language from one group to another is different, or maybe a particular taste does not quite hit with one group, but catches on with another. Maybe it’s just about the journey until each group finds its niche. These are decisions to be respected and recognized with that appreciation of having yet more options that were built in light of a creative community’s skills.

The point is to build the creative community. If you build it, you can share the imagination and artistic energy that some perceive as fundamental and some simply admire. If you build it, you hold a place for assisting in someone’s growth. If you build it, you provide another stake for significant influence on a prosperous community. My question to you now is, if you build, will they come? And, how do we keep building and strengthening our creative environment? What next?

One of my next projects is to begin a small video series for Central Texas Artist Collective going into this subject further. I will begin by interviewing those movers and shakers around town that have stood and delivered. Definitely check out our Facebook page, as well as our YouTube channel for this material and more coming soon! We are creating.  Let’s keep creating. What do you want to create?

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The Central Texas Artist Collective exists to foster creative expression throughout the Heart of Texas by:

• Unifying and growing arts and cultural programming;
• Enhancing arts education and access for all;
• Cultivating an organic, sustainable identity; and
• Celebrating the rich community of artists living, creating and investing in Waco and beyond.

 CTAC is comprised of: writers, musicians, visual artists, textile artists, theater artists, dancers sculptors, muralists, photographers, potters, singer/songwriters, poets/spoken-word, carpentry/woodworking, tattoo artists, graphic designers, jewelers, culinary artists, and more!

Centexartistcollective.org | facebook.com/CenTexArtist

Twitter: @ CenTexArtist | email:centexartistcollective@gmail.com

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Steve Veracruz is CTAC Co-founder, executive co-director and communications created in 2015 with wife Angie Veracruz. He is a USMC vet and father of three. He sat on the Board of Directors in Waco Cultural Arts, serving now as an advisor. He is also curator to Ekphrasis Art and Words, a special exhibition which combines the visual artists with the writing community to express a message with meaning. He is passionate about collaboration in community.

By Gracie Arias

“This isn’t for the faint of heart” have you ever heard that before?

That’s what I feel like sometimes in this journey of supporting an artist. I have seen Carlos, my husband, also known professionally as “The Masterpiece,” grow in his artistic abilities in the 10 years I have known him. I feel blessed by that and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

When I first met him, I saw a pair of shoes he was wearing that he had painted…the first pair, and now he’s done over 100! So then, The Masterpiece was created! That hasn’t always come easy. Sometimes it means staying up until the early morning hours completing an order, and waking up early for a full- time job. But, as they also say, “hard work pays off”! Since April 2017, The Masterpiece hasn’t had a break once, and that’s something we are more than ok with! That means people are seeing his talents and wanting a part of it. And not just shoes either, so many different things. Such as, murals and windows at Enve beauty bar on Austin Avenue, or a more recent one at The Chatterbox in downtown. Also, weddings and parties, baby showers, and signs. So much going on! It’s a very exciting time to be an artist in Waco, so much brewing and changing, art is in the air here.

One thing that Carlos has definitely shown me, is that when you have a dream, do your best and make it reality. Because of his encouragement, I participated in the first ever Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC) exhibit “Ekphrasis: Art & Words,” and it reminded me why I love writing. So, that’s when Gracefulmess blog was born.

I wanted a safe place to put my thoughts, goals, and hurts down on. It’s opened a new door to healing for me, and others! I’ve received so many messages and comments explaining how it has helped them. Now I have so many goals to the direction that it’s heading and I’m so excited.

I say all this in hope that it will encourage someone. We are parents, we are young, and we are introverts. The opportunities that we have now did not come easy. We had to leave our little bubble of familiarity and comfort, and reach for it. Really jump into it, ok more like dive. There are so many opportunities here in Waco that will give you a chance for growth.  If you have a talent, no matter what it is, don’t let it go to waste. Plug in somewhere and flourish! Don’t wait for someone to give you that push but instead push yourself! Go and create!

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Gracie Arias, wife and mom. Blogger. Future massage therapist. The feeling of accomplishment is one of the best feelings to feel. I’m working hard to reach my goals and to support those I love to reach theirs too. Life should be watched on the sidelines, but lived with all your heart and strength. Www.Gracefulmess.wordpress.com 

 

By LuAnn Jennings

I’m a theatre director, and recently I was talking with an actor who was suffering from stage fright. This actor is a person of faith, as am I, and I said something like this: Sometimes people will suggest combating stage fright by imagining the audience in some non-threatening way. But I suggest the opposite. If we think about the audience as people God has given to us to love and serve, then we can be eager to share what we’ve created even at the risk of failure and embarrassment.

People of Judeo-Christian faith are told in our scriptures that our job is to love others as God loves us. It makes sense that God would uniquely craft each of us with abilities to do the thing that God tells us to do. Artists are created with skills to make works of art.

So, in this month of February when we celebrate love, I want to use a well-known system of thinking about the expression and receipt of love, Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages, to unpack how artists love through creating.

Words of Affirmation: When an artist expresses something in a painting, dance, story, or song that you relate to, and then shapes your experience into something beautiful, the artist validates and affirms you. “Beautiful” isn’t the same as “pretty” – sometimes the artist’s job is to find and communicate meaning in things that are anything but pretty. Remember that sad song you couldn’t stop listening to in high school? Didn’t it make things seem better and more bearable somehow?

Quality time: Art takes a great deal of time to create. When I direct plays, I try to plan an hour of rehearsal for every minute that you see onstage. That doesn’t include the time that goes into costumes, lights, scenery, and more. Great musicians and dancers practice daily. You might think a painting looks like the artist created it quickly, but there were many sketches and plans that happened first. In return, you give the artist quality time as you engage with the work she created for you.

Giving Gifts and Acts of Service: Artists don’t do it for the money. In most cases your purchase of an artwork doesn’t begin to pay for the time it took the artist to learn to do it, prepare it, and present it to you. Art isn’t free to create – artists have materials costs and they’re taking time from other paying work to create art. They may need you to share in the cost. Think of it this way: if you brought me a sack of groceries and I used it to make you a truly amazing meal, the meal is a gift and act of service to you which is far more valuable than the materials I started with.

Physical touch: If you’ve ever been to a great museum and seen a painting in-person that you’d seen photos of before, you know that experiencing the real, physical work of art in a special place made for it is entirely different than seeing it in a book or online. It’s the “physical touch” of the artist. Live, local arts experiences require presence. Receive your neighbor’s creative gift of love to you in the way he made it for you. Go to galleries, plays, and concerts as well as experiencing art that was recorded so you could engage with it on your own terms (TV, iTunes, etc.).

If you want to share an expression of love with someone special, check out all of our live, local opportunities here in Waco! Visit Creative Waco’s Creative Directory for suggestions on venues and check out our many local arts calendars.

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Luann Jennings is a local theatre director, arts educator, and advocate. She juggles several part-time arts-related jobs including projects at Creative Waco, the Good Neighbor Settlement House, and Waco Civic Theatre, where you can also see her upcoming production of The Three Musketeers. You can reach Luann at luannpjennings@gmail.com.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.

(Last year the Central Texas Artist Collective (CTAC) organized an exhibit downtown called EKPHRASIS. It was an exhibit of art and words.  Local poets and artists were paired up to create art and poetry together that was then placed on exhibit in downtown Waco. 

This year the EKPHRASIS theme is An Exploration of Mind, Body, Soul.  It takes a deeper look at mental health and illness, grief and loss, trauma, recovery, and healing. The hope for this mental health exhibition is to encourage dialogue stimulated by the 19 Artists and Writer’s ekphrastic displays, to destigmatize misconceptions, and to cultivate an empathic understanding of one another. 

In today’s blog post, our blogger, Gracie Arias shares her thoughts as a writer participating in EKPHRASIS.  “Steve and Angie” she mentions are Steve and Angie Veracruz, two of the organizers of EKPHRASIS.  – ALW)

By Gracie Arias

I met Steve and Angie through my husband, about 3 years ago. When they first approached us with the idea for Ekphrasis in 2016, my husband asked me to pair up with him and be the writer for his piece.

I used to write poetry in high school and even competed a couple of times, I reluctantly said “yes.” This has been so wonderful for us as a husband and wife. We were able to team up in a way we never have before and now we are doing our second Ekphrasis.

I’m so excited to see the community gather once again, especially with a topic such as this one. Mental illness runs rampant. It has no specifics of gender, race, age or religion and belief.

Since I was a small child I’ve dealt with these issues first hand. It was somewhat nerve racking to submit this poem. I write about my hurts and experiences first hand. No denying, no third person. ME! Many people close to me don’t even know some of those things about me. But I felt I had to be raw and honest, vulnerable. This was my chance to use my hurts and my depression, my being suicidal and feeling alone, as my platform.

If my message can help at least one person know they aren’t alone and that there is hope, then it’s worth it. I do put my beliefs into the mix because it’s who I am. I know not all share those beliefs and I’m respectful towards that, but I have to share it because it’s a part of my story. It has been the only thing that’s helped me make it through.

I am grateful for this opportunity and I believe people should make the effort to come support all the artist and writers. It’s hard putting yourself out there, but when there is a community willing to open their hearts and minds to these issues, it makes it so much better. What better experience than using your talent, your ability to bring a light to such a dark topic.

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EKPHRASIS is a FREE walkable art exhibition.  The works are on display in 14 storefront windows of Downtown Waco’s newly established Cultural Arts District, between 6th and 8th streets on Austin and Washington Avenues.  The art and words will be on display starting First Friday, November 3. Saturday, November 4 from 5pm – 8:00pm, at the Austin’s on the Avenue Patio (719 Austin Ave.) there will be an Opening Event with poetry readings, performances, and mental health talks from organizations in our community.

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Gracie Arias is 27 years old. She is a stay at home mom and wife, who is still chasing dreams and supporting her husband through his dream chasing.  She has been married for 9 years to her wonderful, supportive husband, Carlos Arias. They have three beautiful children, Serena(8), Anabella (5), and Jose (1). She says of her writing, “After writing poetry to help with some of the painful things I experienced as a child, I realized how much it truly helped me in my healing process.”

he Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email ashleyt@actlocallywaco.org for more information.