< Previous60 COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 61 CURRENTS | BOOK ‘MAJESTIC AND MYSTERIOUS’ Book author hopes to shed light on the secret lives of sea turtles story by BARBARA CANETTI photos by STUART VILLANUEVA W hether they be on land or in the ocean, sea turtles have a devoted following. “But because they live most of their lives at sea, they are shrouded in mystery,” according to the Oceanic Society. A retired college professor has written a book geared especially for children that tells the story of the reclusive and resilient sea turtle and its relationship to the Gulf Coast. Jane Thielemann-Downs, retired from the University of Hous- ton-Downtown, where she was a professor of education in the College of Public Service for 27 years, penned a fact-filled and colorful book titled “Sea Turtles of the Gulf Coast — Mystery & Facts.” Joe Richichi, a North Carolina veterinarian and artist, illustrated the book. All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the Gulf Coast Center for Sea Turtle Research, which is housed on the Texas A&M University at Galveston campus. Christopher Marshall, the A&M-Galveston professor in charge of the research center, welcomes the publicity generated by Downs’ book and focus on sea turtles. “One of things we are most proud of is the involvement of the community and interest in sea turtles,” Marshall said. “Our outreach programs and research are educating the public.” Thielemann-Downs got interested in turtles last year when she and her husband, Mike Downs, enrolled in the Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalist program. One lecture that stood out to her was about sea turtles and inspired her to do more research. “I really get motivated when I see something I like,” she said. “I was re- ally moved and fascinated with this subject, so I decided to write a book.” The sea turtle book is geared for middle-school students as well as their teachers as a read-aloud teaching aid. Thielemann-Downs also included lessons in the back of the book to assist teachers in the class- room. It also is good for family reading time. Thielemann-Downs has written 12 other books for teachers and students, including a biography of “Frederic Remington: Artist of the West,” “Rescue Ready: The United States Coast Guard of Cape Disap- pointment” and “The Cursing Cure,” a self-help book for youngsters with a bad habit. While waiting for the sea turtle book to be published, she also authored a fiction storybook called “The Beach Hero,” about a young Jane Thielemann-Downs has writ- ten a book about sea turtles. “Sea Turtles of the Gulf Coast: Mystery & Facts” is full of information about the iconic sea creatures.62 COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 CURRENTS | BOOK boy, Juan, who comes to live in Galveston with his grandmother and becomes an advocate for the beach and sea creatures. That book also was based on a lecture from the Master Naturalists on its beach hero program for local youth. Because of her background and training, Thielemann-Downs provid- ed a lengthy bibliography and list of references she used to write about sea turtles. She is hoping local schools will buy copies for classrooms and libraries. As soon as word got out the book was ready on Amazon, Thiele- mann-Downs got calls and messages from people wanting copies, she said. In fact, a local service group in nearby Alvin said she has ordered six copies to donate to schools they volunteer in. Libbie Johnson, the literacy chair of the West Pearland Republican Women, meets with school librarians in the Alvin and Pearland areas before reading books to elementary school classes. Johnson then donates the books to schools so the children can check them out and re-read them. “This is a great book for the chil- dren,” Johnson said. “They love any- thing about animals and sea creatures. In this book, the sea turtles are teach- ing the children.” Thielemann-Downs is hoping local schools will adopt the book and use it as a tool in the classroom because sea turtles are an important part of the local ecosystem. “Everyone loves sea turtles,” she said. “They are majestic, mysterious loners but important here. I just want this to be my contribution to our community.” A recovering Kemp’s ridley sea turtle swims in its tank at Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle research on the university campus. All profits from the sale of Jane Thielemann- Downs’ book will be donated to the center. FIL e PHOTO “Everyone loves sea turtles. They are majestic, mysterious loners but important here. I just want this to be my contribution to our community.” JANE THIELEMANN-DOWNS COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 63 OOOOO Five-Star “Superior” rating by BauerFinancial, Inc., awarded September, 2024 OOOOO We’re here for you now. The more things change, the more we stay the same. Original Main Bank Built in 1966 1801 45th Street Seawall Branch Opened in 2023 45th & Seawall Blvd. Our original Main Bank opened in 1966. 58 years later we have 7 branches serving 5 cities, but we’re still the bank known for personal service and community involvement. Simply put, we’re your HomeTown Bank. 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Downtown island artist channels retro vibe in her clothing creations story by BARBARA CANETTI | photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS I sland artist Cayenne Holmes is pushing a resurgence in tie-dye. She doesn’t bother with T-shirts or other typical tie-dyed clothes for her wearable art; instead she finds vintage lingerie — slips, nightgowns, robes and sheer dresses — and jackets and skirts to revitalize in a rainbow of colors and designs. In her downtown Galveston shop The Experience, racks and shelves are filled with one-of-a-kind fashions for men and women, each hand dyed by Holmes and her husband, Don “Concho” Hendrickson. Holmes transforms nightgowns into evening wear, layered with a camisole, a scarf, a handcrafted hat or an embellished jacket. She makes elegant evening gowns from lacy undergarments, and her jackets and coats take on new looks with embellishments that change their personalities. Holmes removes the size tags from each item be- cause some vintage clothes were cut differently than today’s fashions and sizes differ. “I say just try it on and see how it fits,” said Holmes, who has been a professional artist for most of her adult life. “I have them separated by Goddess sizes and Skinny Babes. That works better. I call my line of clothes Frilly Pepper Designs and they run from mild to extra spicy.” The Corpus Christi native’s artwork has been displayed in museums and galleries. But Holmes finds creating wearable art an interesting ex- perience, she said. She named her store, with tributes to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, for that feeling: an experience. “I see art possibilities everywhere,” she said, pointing to her collec- tion of hats, caps and bonnets. “I just apply my fine art aesthetic to wearables. These are so popular because they are little pieces of art — each one is different and fun.” Much of the clothes she turns into art are pre-owned or market samples. But finding negligee gowns or loungewear of good quality fabric is difficult, she said. And full or half-slips, which women rarely buy or wear anymore, are scarce and collectible. But Holmes finds the items she likes, adorns them with beads, rib- bons, feathers, bows and other unusual accoutrements that give them (Right) Besides creating wearable art, artist Cayenne Holmes creates small dioramas, beaded landscapes and box constructions, which she displays in the Art-Burn Studio/Gallery along with other local artists at the back of her downtown Galveston shop, The Experience. COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 6566 COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 CURRENTS | ART a new life. Many are designed to be worn as unexpected outerwear. She tie-dyes clothes usually one color and design, and prefers muted blues, greens, reds and browns. She re-makes gypsy skirts or simple loose shifts and pairs them with vests, blouses or jackets for a stylish and unique outfit. There are no duplicates in her shop. The couple first visited Galveston a decade ago as vendors at the Lone Star Rally, a festival that lures many thousands of motorcyclists to the island each year. Patrons flocked to her booth for the sleek and sassy tie-dyed garments and they sold out. In 2023, the couple stopped in Galveston on a trip to Houston, saw a for rent sign on the space just to the east of the Grand 1894 Opera House in downtown Galveston and signed a lease. Besides the handmade items created by Holmes, work from 14 Texas artists fill the walls and the back gallery at the store — the Art-Burn Studio/Gallery. Holmes’ specialty is bead art. She glues tiny colored beads over a painting she creates to make it three-dimensional and textured. Last year, she beaded a Western hat with various Texas symbols (a rattlesnake, but- terfly, blue bonnet and Lone Star) and won honorable mention at the State Fair of Texas. The hat weighs more than 7 pounds and has thousands of carefully placed glass seed beads making up the design. The bead art, which requires her to paint a picture and then overlay the image with colored beads, is a time-consuming process. She has set up a workstation in the store so she can plug away at her art when the shop isn’t busy. She places each bead on the canvas by hand using tweezers. COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 67 “It is a repetitive pattern of work, but I find it to be my Zen zone,” she said. Another interesting art form is her diora- mas for which she uses small boxes that once housed costume jewelry. She sizes an image — either original painting or a picture of an old master’s canvas — and places tiny objects in the box to complete the story of the painting. Her inventory of clothing and art is con- stantly changing and she’s redefining uses for garments. “It’s not for everyone, but for people who get us — they are super supportive. It is ex- hausting at times, but worth it,” she said. (From top) Cayenne Holmes took an honorable mention last year at the State Fair of Texas with her Texas- themed, beaded Western hat; one of Holmes’ small dioramas. (Opposite, from top) Holmes works on one of her beaded landscapes at her shop in downtown Galveston; a tie-dyed dress with matching hat and jew- elry, all created by Holmes, are displayed in her shop. TRAVELSMART, SAVEBIG. Join for Free Today!68 COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 Galveston’s Hotel Lucine hosted Florida-based artist Papou in September during its first artist residency program. (Opposite) vibrant colors on large canvases are a hallmark of Papou’s art. COASTMONTHLY.COM | NOveMber 2024 69 CURRENTS | ART CREATIVE SPACE Boutique hotel on the island launches artist-in-residence program story by LAURA PENNINO | photos by STUART VILLANUEVA T he Florida-based artist known as Papou is so passionate about her work, she often paints directly with her hands instead of using brushes. And sometimes her fingers bleed. Papou Koliopoulos has been creative since childhood, but has been painting full-time only for about two years. Throughout the month of Septem- ber, Papou painted as the first artist in residence at Hotel Lucine, 1002 Seawall Blvd., in Galveston. Two of the large- scale paintings she created during her stay there are on permanent display in the lobby for guests and staff to enjoy. “I came to Galveston because I am working on an exhibition with South- ern Kindness Gallery in Houston,” Papou said. Southern Kindness Gallery owner Magen Pastor worked with Dave and Keath Jacoby, who with Robert Marcus own Hotel Lucine, in establishing this first artist-in-residence experience, Papou said. “They created this residency for me, and we have had this trailblazing experience together,” she said. Papou will showcase 15 to 20 new pieces she created while living at Hotel Lucine for “Yassou Yassou,” her Next >