< Previous10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 T he first thing I usually see when I awake is the gaze of an enigmatic woman. She’s at once sophisticated, awkward, sad, shy, pure, sensual, innocent, knowing and guarded. She’s the subject of a painting by island artist Suzanne Peterson and graces the south wall of my bedroom. Titled “Hail Mary Full of Grace,” the painting portrays a provocative, complex woman and is the second painting I own by Peterson, who this magazine featured in 2020. In that article, writer Margaret Battistelli Gardner described Peterson’s work as taunting. “Each image is complete, yet compelling in a way that says, ‘there’s more to this sto- ry,’ and invites you to create scenarios that meld the artist’s vision with your own.” Every morning, I find myself drowsily creating scenari- os about the woman in the painting. I’m no artist. In one college class, I turned wet clay that should have been a vase into something quite vulgar. I’m no aficionado either, but as the trite-and-true old saw goes, I know what I like. And more and more these days, I like what I see from local artists. Peterson’s paintings are among a cherished collection my husband and I have amassed over the years, often at Art- Walk, by local artists from local galleries. The artists whose works reach me are inspired by coastal scenes, but not always in obvious ways. And those coastal scenes — the historic seaport architec- ture, the flora and fauna, even the grit, rust and scars — at- tracts what seems to me to be an increasingly skilled group of artists. More artists than ever are opening galleries or selling their works in shops and restaurants, contributing to a growing and thriving arts scene. That scene isn’t limited to painters but includes actors, dancers, singers, sculptors and musicians, to name a few. The island always has attracted artists, but everyone we talk to has noticed a significant shift. ArtWalk has become so popular that Galveston Arts Cen- ter, in partnership with downtown galleries, artist studios, nonprofits and local businesses, this year made it monthly rather than every six weeks. Arts and culture enrich cities just by existing. But city lead- ers increasingly are learning the sector can stimulate tourism and add economic value. Whether they’re visiting ArtWalk, The Grand 1894 Opera House, galleries, Galveston Symphony Orchestra or theaters, locals and tourists can strengthen downtowns by spending on accommodations, dining, shopping and more. To underscore the growing arts and culture scene, Gal- veston in January unveiled a weeklong festival focusing on a wide range of art and artists. The concept for Art Week Galveston originated with artists Karla Mock and Michael Basham, who proposed the idea to the city’s Historic Downtown Cultural Arts Dis- trict and Arts Downtown GTX. Mock and Basham envisioned a weeklong celebration bringing together literary arts, culinary arts, music, visual arts and performing arts. The purpose would be to enhance collaboration and raise the profile of local artists. This issue celebrates not just Galveston’s flourishing art scene, but also the dancers and actors that bring culture and performances all over the upper Texas coast. With this issue, we ask those dancers, visual artists, ac- tors, performers, writers and other creative contributors to take a bow. We thank you for enhancing our lives with creativity, for sharing beauty, stretching our imaginations, for making us think and for preserving our history. LAURA ELDER Coast Monthly Editor FROM THE EDITOR CREATIVE COMMUNITY SHOULD TAKE A BOW45 146 8 Friendswood League City Clear Lake THEY PERSONALIZE MY PRIMARY CARE Your Houston Methodist primary care physician takes the time to get to know you and your unique goals. That’s how we personalize your health care at one of more than 40 clinics throughout the Greater Houston area. And with same-day appointments, you can get the care you need, when you need it. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. For you. houstonmethodist.org/pcg 713.441.7265 Same-day appointments available12 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: If you could purchase any single work of art ever made, what would it be? If I could possess any single work of art ever made, it would be “The garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch. Not just because of its extraordinary detail and surreal imagination, but because it feels timeless — both a reflection of its era and a wildly prophetic glimpse into the human psyche. It’s a painting you could spend a lifetime with and still keep discovering new layers. I love this piece! Vivian Hernández It would be so hard to take such a great piece of artwork from the public, if it’s my favorite, then I would want everyone to be able to experience it. I think that’s why artists hope for their privately acquired works to hang in a public museum someday after. … One of my favorites ever, “The Yellow Scale” by František Kupka, hanging at the MFAH. Rachel Wiley-Janota Renoir’s “Two Sisters (On the Terrace)” painting. I saw the painting in real life at The Art Institute of Chicago when I was 24 years old and I was so taken with it, I simply could not stop staring. I was absolutely captivated. Kimmie Delaney-Scheffler “Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Pierre Auguste-Renoir. I will never forget seeing this work in person while on exhibit in Dallas. It’s a huge painting, there was a bench in front of it. I think I sat for hours just staring at the painting. Each item (hand, face, clothing, background) was actually made of tiny swatches of multiple colors blended as only an impressionist master could do! Kathy Van Dewalli Just about any Matisse or Picasso’s “guernica,” but I’d need a bigger house. Catherine Stroud A photograph of sunrise over the gulf. Jeannie Malcolm Plass Collier This is such a tempting question — each piece I think about, though, I would feel so selfish to own. Art should be purchased to then be shared with the world. Holly Hopkins My wife’s favorite art is refrigerator art from when the kids were little. Always makes her heart smile. Leonard Woolsey Peter Max — any Yellow Submarine art. William “Boog” Cram “A Sunday Afternoon at La grande Jatte” by Seurat. The pointillist technique served as a springboard for impressionist painters. Saralyn Jacobson Richard Looking into the future — a piece of pottery from our soon-to-be-famous 8-year-old granddaughter, Lena Pearl Leslie. Jim McCurdy A painting by Degas or Chagall then donate to a museum for everyone to enjoy. Dahlia Woods I love the local artists at the galveston Art League. I have many pieces from there! Kristen Carlson If I could purchase any work of art, it would be “The Orange Show.” I have fond memories of visiting the artist in East Houston when I was a girl — he’d tell me stories about his family while working on his masterpiece, now an iconic piece of art and history. Karen Vaden A Christian Rex van Minnen painting or an Ai Weiwei piece. Sophia Longoria An original Dixie Messner floral. Stephanie Carreon Hernandez Any of Monet’s “Water Lilies” series. They are absolutely beautiful. Mary Ann Salch Murphy Any Rembrandt. Linda Chapa-Gionet “The Singing Butler.” Glynda Parker Oglesby “Mona Lisa.” Helen Carmody Stroud Van gogh’s “Starry Night.” Guy Taylor Michelangelo’s “David” — absolutely breathtaking! Shannon Causey Robbins When I was a young girl, there was a beautiful, large painting of the Bolivar Peninsula Lighthouse hanging at the Old Strand Emporium. That’s the piece of art I would like to have still. Carla Davis McLaughlin “The Antrios White Painting,” of course. Dan Braverman Monet’s “The Artist’s garden at giverny” so peaceful. Chriss Sendejas A painted mural on the street side of my house in Clear Lake Shores with Bonnie Blue’s quirky big-butt mermaids. Laura Manning Stokes Van gogh’s “The Church at Auvers.” Beth Arnette Wade “Starry Night” or “The Scream.” Mandy McRider Anything by gustav Klimt. My favorite is “The Kiss.” Christine Ruiz Hopkins “The Elder Sister” at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. My favorite there. Ben Roeder FILE PHOTO: STuART VILLANuEVA Artist Bonnie Blue paints in downtown Galveston at ArtWalk.BET JENNINGS 2022-2025 Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Pros in Galveston & Texas 281.773.3477 | bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate RSPS | chasejennings@greenwoodking.com Breathtaking Panoramic Views in Laffite’s Cove 13415 Jibstay Court 14 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 FEATURE ON THEIR TOES Around the upper Texas coast, world-renowned dancers teach a foundational art form story by SHANNON CALDWELL S arah Morgan dreams of the bright lights of Broadway while studying dance at a prestigious performing arts academy in Chicago. If the League City resident achieves her goals, she’ll be following in the footsteps of other Texas Gulf Coast dancers who have achieved national and internation- al dance fame. Morgan has just finished her first year at The Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago Col- lege of Performing Arts, a prestigious school within Roosevelt University where she was one of just 60 dancers studying musical the- ater dance. The audition-only private school is known as a good training ground for per- formers serious about a professional career. “It’s so cool to be studying in Chicago as it’s such a major theater city,” Morgan said. “Our teachers are working artists and the program allows us to take time off from classes to audition for shows.” Morgan started dancing when she was 4 years old learning ballet, tap and jazz dancing with League City’s Elite Dance Academy before shifting to The Jet-Pac in the Clear Lake area, where she honed her performance and choreography skills within the school’s premiere performance company Juxtapose Arts Collective. Becoming a swing on Broadway is an ultimate goal for Morgan who would relish the challenge of learning multiple dances and roles to step into a show at a moment’s notice. She realizes it’s a big dream and also wants to strengthen her choreography skills while at college. Before college, she choreographed a piece that was selected for the Regional Dance America National Festival in January 2024. Chosen from 16 different performance com- panies, her piece was selected to represent the region. “It was to a song called ‘The Winner Is’ and I had different dancers represent different instruments by dancing in the style of that instrument,” Morgan said. “At the end, we all came together in a symphony of dance. I have never felt so proud in my life watching the dancers from backstage right before I went on.”League City resident Sarah Morgan started dancing when she was 4 years old, learning ballet, tap and jazz. She’s studying musical theater dance at The Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Her dream is to become a swing on Broadway, which is a versatile performer who understudies multiple roles and can step in for anyone at any given time. PHOTO: STUART VILLANUEVAMelanie Leyva De Armas and Victor Alvarez, as well as Sierra Sanders (opposite) perform in the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker.” The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.Heather Steele, founder and direc- tor of Juxtapose, believes the young dancer has what it takes. “So much of our industry is being in the right place at the right time, but I believe Sarah will be amazing,” Steele said. “She is a quick study with an incredible work ethic and a fantastic dance vocabulary. She was a beautiful asset to our company.” Steele, who was born on Galveston Island, danced professionally with Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre for four seasons and choreographed a number of mixed seasons. She danced in New York City with Sans Limites Dance Collective, before returning to the area to raise her daughter with husband Travis Coombs, a fellow performing arts professional. In 2014, Steele launched Juxta- pose Arts Collective and The Jet-Pac. The company is committed to bring- ing dancers, actors, painters and other artists together in multi-media shows, she said. “In our productions, you can see anything from classical and contem- porary dance to comedy, slam poetry and even aerial work,” she said. Bay Area Houston Ballet & The- atre, where Steele danced early in her career, is celebrating its 50th anni- versary this year. Executive Director Jill Reason is proud of the company’s history of presenting high-quality shows to local audiences and of its many storied alumni. Former Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre dancers include Broadway professionals Kevin Cahoon and COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 17 FEATURE PHOTOS: CO u RTESY CAITLIN CANNON PHOTO g RAPHY “In movies, theater and performing arts, so many of the techniques and foundational movements come from ballet.” JANEL AMSALLEMDontee Kiehn, and Ayman Harper an artist and educator who has per- formed in more than 25 countries, taught across five continents and danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Bay Area Houston Ballet & The- atre has an exciting season of events planned to mark its golden anniversa- ry, including “Swan Lake,” the popular Sugar Plum Fairy Gala (now in its 37th year), “The Nutcracker” and a special gala event in January 2026. “We’ve survived hurricanes, the death of our founder Lynette Mason Gregg and Covid,” Reason said. “We are extremely over the moon and excited to connect with our alumni, celebrate with special events and to thank everyone who has supported us over the years. It took a village.” Nelson Madrigal, the organiza- tion’s artistic director, is a former Boston Ballet dancer. He also is a ballet master at Feijóo Ballet School, a Dickinson-based school founded in 2016 by his wife, Lorna Feijóo, an international ballet star and prima ballerina. Feijóo danced with the Cin- cinnati and Boston Ballet companies and was a guest artist with The Royal Ballet of London, and ballet compa- nies in Rome, Milan, Zurich and New York city. Her sister Lorena, former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer, also teaches at the school. “Our area is so fortunate to have world-renowned artists leading our artist staff and to have The Feijóo Ballet School as the training ground for our Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre dancers,” Reason said. Galveston Ballet’s Artistic Director Janel Amsallem believes classical bal- let is a foundational art form. “In movies, theater and performing arts, so many of the techniques and foundational movements come from ballet,” Amsallem said. Amsallem founded Galveston Ballet in 1986 to train young dancers and give local dancers of all ages the opportunity to perform at The Grand 1894 Opera House in the island’s downtown. “We are one of the few companies to present a full-length ballet each year,” she said. “From our toddlers to adult dancers, we include them all in the program. We also have a ‘Peter Pan’ program at Ball High where we recruit male athletes to perform. The basketball and tennis players who per- formed as matadors in ‘Don Quixote’ enjoyed it so much they are coming back for ‘Cinderella.’” 18 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 FEATURE FILE PHOTO: JENNIFER REYNOLDS Galveston Ballet students in Judith Grywalski’s pre-point and point class rehearse in January at the barre. For Art Week Galveston, the ballet offered free trial classes for young dancers. Ballet students also performed during ArtWalk.ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY LICENSE #311651Next >