Promoting the Arts for Decades
Lillian Fowler Pencil Drawing of Red Top Jail 1976
Early History of the Llano Fine Arts Guild and Gallery
In the early 1950's in Llano and the Highland Lake area there was not an art guild and no organized art classes being taught. However, there were several persons who did enjoy painting on their own like Polly Love and Leila Robertson, who had studied oils, watercolor and sculpture in Europe, Mexico and several major cities of the United States. Among those who realized that the area needed an emphasis placed on art were two friends, Anne Harrison and Stella Hoerster, who were officers in the Woman's Culture Club of Llano. These people saw an opportunity for a club project, as well as to improve the cultural climate of the community by inviting an art teacher to Llano.
The Chair of the English Department at the University of Texas was Dr. Mody C. Boatright, a well-known folklorist, who was married to Elizabeth Keefer, a multi-media art instructor. Anne Harrison asked Elizabeth Keefer to recommend a teacher who would be willing to come to Llano and teach. Mrs. Boatright replied, “I’ll come myself because I feel I owe it to others to share the training and knowledge that I have.” Because of this unselfish sharing of herself, Anne called her “Llano's Art Missionary.” For two years Mrs. Boatright held watercolor classes.
The class members were Anne Harrison, Stella Hoerster, Leila Robertson, Polly Love and Lillian Fowler, who taught private piano lessons. Other members of the class were Marie Renick, mother-in-law of long-time member of Llano Fine Arts Guild member Pat Renick, Doris Swenson Porch, Lawrence Bruhl and several others. This loosely organized group was known as the Llano Watercolor Society. The semi-monthly classes were held in the rooms and a large, screened porch upstairs in the newly acquired clubhouse of the Woman's Culture Club located on the corner of Sandstone and Wright Streets.
However, due to lagging interest, the group disbanded after two years. In 1963, a struggling group of painters from Buchanan Dam invited all interested painters to participate with them in a show held at Observation Point, Lake Buchanan. The Llano artists were impressed with the work of Dollie Nabinger of Fredericksburg and later invited her to come teach oils in Llano.
Prior to this, in the spring of 1963, Hallie Stribling returned to her childhood home after being away many years with her husband, ranching on the Mexican border near Marfa and Persidio and in Rotan in Fisher county where she had studied oil and china painting. On November 6, 1963, six women met in her home and organized themselves as the Adult Art Club, later to be called Llano County Art Association and finally, Llano Fine Arts Guild, Inc. after incorporation August 8, 1969
The six charter members, in addition to Mrs. Stribling, were Lillian Fowler, Vergie Cornelius, Irene Davis, Mary Underwood, and Stella Hoerster.
The Llano Fine Arts Guild is a vibrant community of artists. Join the fun and become a member, supporter, donor or patron. Help us keep the arts alive in Llano, Texas!
In the early 1950's in Llano and the Highland Lake area there was not an art guild and no organized art classes being taught. However, there were several persons who did enjoy painting on their own like Polly Love and Leila Robertson, who had studied oils, watercolor and sculpture in Europe, Mexico and several major cities of the United States. Among those who realized that the area needed an emphasis placed on art were two friends, Anne Harrison and Stella Hoerster, who were officers in the Woman's Culture Club of Llano. These people saw an opportunity for a club project, as well as to improve the cultural climate of the community by inviting an art teacher to Llano.
The Chair of the English Department at the University of Texas was Dr. Mody C. Boatright, a well-known folklorist, who was married to Elizabeth Keefer, a multi-media art instructor. Anne Harrison asked Elizabeth Keefer to recommend a teacher who would be willing to come to Llano and teach. Mrs. Boatright replied, “I’ll come myself because I feel I owe it to others to share the training and knowledge that I have.” Because of this unselfish sharing of herself, Anne called her “Llano's Art Missionary.” For two years Mrs. Boatright held watercolor classes.
The class members were Anne Harrison, Stella Hoerster, Leila Robertson, Polly Love and Lillian Fowler, who taught private piano lessons. Other members of the class were Marie Renick, mother-in-law of long-time member of Llano Fine Arts Guild member Pat Renick, Doris Swenson Porch, Lawrence Bruhl and several others. This loosely organized group was known as the Llano Watercolor Society. The semi-monthly classes were held in the rooms and a large, screened porch upstairs in the newly acquired clubhouse of the Woman's Culture Club located on the corner of Sandstone and Wright Streets.
However, due to lagging interest, the group disbanded after two years. In 1963, a struggling group of painters from Buchanan Dam invited all interested painters to participate with them in a show held at Observation Point, Lake Buchanan. The Llano artists were impressed with the work of Dollie Nabinger of Fredericksburg and later invited her to come teach oils in Llano.
Prior to this, in the spring of 1963, Hallie Stribling returned to her childhood home after being away many years with her husband, ranching on the Mexican border near Marfa and Persidio and in Rotan in Fisher county where she had studied oil and china painting. On November 6, 1963, six women met in her home and organized themselves as the Adult Art Club, later to be called Llano County Art Association and finally, Llano Fine Arts Guild, Inc. after incorporation August 8, 1969
The six charter members, in addition to Mrs. Stribling, were Lillian Fowler, Vergie Cornelius, Irene Davis, Mary Underwood, and Stella Hoerster.
The Llano Fine Arts Guild is a vibrant community of artists. Join the fun and become a member, supporter, donor or patron. Help us keep the arts alive in Llano, Texas!