In memory of Steve O. Black
November 20, 1949 - July 16, 2026
Denison, Texas -- Sometimes a person's greatest achievement isn't actually what they do themselves, but rather what they encourage others to achieve.
Perhaps that's the case of one Steve O. Black.
And you have to believe that Steve was looking down on the exuberant celebration in Denison on Saturday with a mischievous grin.
Downtown Denison was a cornucopia of swirling colors, sights and sounds November 7, 2026 as Denison Arts Council celebrated the spirit of all of the artists and volunteers who have worked 15 years to make Dia de los Muertos a success, and honored the creative genius of this celebration's founder, Steve O. Black.
Steve was a regional influence for the 21 years that he taught design, painting, drawing, 3-D design, art history, art appreciation, and figure drawing at Grayson College, and for 30 years he was our very own merry prankster.
Steve didn't just draw outside the lines; he paid no deference to the lines at all. Aldous Huxley famously said, “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.” Steve O. Black seemed to be born with his doors wide open.
Steve defied definition, although he thoroughly enjoyed the label Edward Sutherland hung on him in a Texoma Living article. Sutherland dubbed Black "the art dude." Steve would chuckle and look off in the distance whenever he repeated the title bestowed on him. He sensed it was high praise. He was right.
Steve made art, in all its forms, fun and accessible. In much the same way that digital photography suddenly made everyone a photographer, anyone who spent five minutes with "the art dude" walked away as an artist.
While many may remember Steve for his towering papier-mâché puppets that became one of the highlights of Denison's Dia de los Muertos Parade, my favorite memory will always be of Steve at the Sherman Arts Fest, with a dozen children gathered around, listening to his playful instructions and then creating their own masterpiece.
It was alchemy in its purest form to watch him transform inquisitive children into budding Picassos.
He could inspire a child, a student, a town or a community.
There is something beautiful inside all of us if we dare to set it free. And a lot of us learned that because of "the art dude."
additional photos in our Local News section
photos by Allen Rich
