McKinney -- Any visit to historic downtown McKinney is filled with colorful sights and sounds that have made this recently renovated downtown area a favorite destination for fine dining, shopping and entertainment.
And bubbling just below the surface of one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing cities in the U.S. is a thriving art scene with a reputation throughout the region for visionary talent.
That art scene came to the top on Saturday at McKinney's annual Art Walk. Dozens of artists from McKinney as well as from around the region were invited to display their craft around the McKinney Square, exposing a dynamic diversity of artwork and also allowing a glimpse at the creative minds that were the talk of the town May 30.
Take Brian J. Magnuson, for example. Brian is a fine art photographer and artist that has exhibited extensively across the U.S. and also passes along his knowledge as a middle school art teacher in Plano. As exemplary as his resume is, what was stopping the crowd Saturday in front of Laura Moore Fine Art Studios was a series of photographs, "Cowboys of the Grand Canyon," that Brian took while observing the men and women who ferry tourists into the Grand Canyon on the backs of sure-footed mules.
The family ranches that operated many of these tourist favorites are slowly giving way to corporations and holding companies, resulting in changes that may mark the demise of a way of life that existed relatively unchanged for decades.
For example, the head wrangler is now referred to as the manager---an idea that could only make sense if your tie was too tight. Whatever the outcome, the silver gelatin black and white photographs Brian J. Magnuson processed in his darkroom will forever document iconic images of the American West. www.bmagphoto.com
Meanwhile, another Brian was painting at The Art Loft, located in Market Square and one of McKinney's newest galleries. In addition to being mayor of McKinney and a family lawyer and mediator, Brian Loughmiller is a self-taught artist and musician. In a matter of moments, Mayor Loughmiller completed a small painting that will probably be displayed at the Art Loft.
The mayor has a high regard for the added perspective an appreciation of the arts can bring to a complete education, a view shared by Sandi Dinehart, proprietor of The Art Loft in Market Square. The Art Loft (http://www.artandseek.org/organization.php?id=2221) has dedicated one section of the gallery for local high school students and the concept was an immediate success; when the gallery opened, the first two paintings sold were created by high school students.
The artwork of two amazing McKinney North students, Kaitlin Marshall and Sarah Birdsong, is currently featured at The Art Loft. As a matter of fact, one of Kaitlin's drawings, The Cannibalist, seems to already have a menacing eye glaring at you before you even realize the painting is there.
The gifted student is quick to credit McKinney North art instructor David Andrews for the unusual angles in her work.
"He is always telling us to focus on perspective," Kaitlin explains.
It only takes a glance to tell the students are translating their teacher's advice into commercially viable art that Kaitlin hopes will lead to a career as a professional artist.
Blank Canvas Art and Design is another must-see gallery that has only recently located near the McKinney Square. Featured artists Chris Cobb and Carol Benson are usually busy with rather large-scale commercial projects and commissioned work, but this gallery is always an interesting visit.
A variety of artists display work at Blank Canvas Art and Design, but your eyes are often drawn to the contrasting styles of Chris and Carol. Soft, earthen tones reminiscent of the Southwest are featured in much of Carol's work, while an interesting abstract done in black and white by Chris greets visitors near the front door.
Jazz aficionados in the crowd headed straight to the colorful booth Tomas had set up on the southwest corner of McKinney Performing Arts Center. This young artist has a devotion to jazz greats that match his dedication to a difficult style of painting, reverse glass painting. While jazz evolved in the early 1900s, reverse glass painting dates back at least as far as the Byzantine Empire.
If jazz and art are central themes in your life, call Tomas at 469-471-1337 to see if he can design a one-of-a-kind creation with the colors you need.
On the north side of the McKinney Square, a sculpture was quickly taking shape in the hands of Robert Jacob Dobscha. Robert was working with an oil-based clay figure that seemed to be emerging from a hollow limb.
Robert Jacob Dobscha has a studio above Garret Art Studio and visit www.dobschastudios.com to learn more about the impressive accomplishments of this local artist.
The crowd was stopping along the southwest corner of the McKinney Square to study the larger-than-life work of Patrick Neumann.
Patrick's and eye-catching depictions of biographical portraits dominated his section of downtown McKinney.
To learn more about Patrick's work, go to www.neumannhausarts.com.
One of the most memorable images of the day belonged to Jessica Hogan. Jessica is another young McKinney artist with a bright future in fine arts.
This likeness of Ray Charles is almost six-feet tall and, if you look closely, you can see how the artist painted on LPs to end up with art that was an ode to music on many levels. Jessica and her very talented mother, Blynda Christian had an impressive display in front of Mom and Popcorn Company.
Of course, an art festival needs people who appreciate visual arts and downtown McKinney's Art Walk was a magnet for fans of the arts on Saturday.
In addition, there was a lot of teaching by professional art instructors going on and it was fascinating to see how quickly inventive young minds picked up on the techniques being touted by teachers.
If you missed all the fun and excitement, go ahead and circle June 13 on the calendar. Downtown McKinney's Second Saturday event will mean many restaurants and shops will stay open late to accomodate visitors.
Several art galleries will also schedule receptions for featured artists that begin at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
