< Previous30 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 FEATURE to their friends or colleagues or their agent, and they’re going to talk to other people,” Patton said. So, Patton makes sure they have a good time. Mathis loved performing at The Grand and his agent manages other well-known artists, Patton said. His high praises and professional connec- tions opened up new booking oppor- tunities for her. “It also becomes easier as our own reputation builds,” Patton said. “And down here, we have an amazing reputation with those people who are making bookings happen, and they know we take care of our artists. Now there are so many people who know about us because word travels.” Talent is attracted to Galveston and The Grand’s storied history and legacy of renowned performers, she said. Artists talk about the honor that comes with playing on the same stage so many acting, musical or comedic legends have in the past 131 years, Patton said. That, and the preservation of the dignity and time- lessness of the venue draws them in, she said. Put simply: The Grand is grand. Ornate decorations around the stage and velvet balcony seats remind peo- ple of the grandeur of old Galveston. The auditorium’s high and slanted ceilings are designed for acoustic performances, carrying on traditions of more intimate performances with no microphones. Actor Hal Holbrook was convinced (Right, from top) Posters and photographs from performances past line a hallway at The Grand 1894 Opera House; performers at The Grand have left their signatures and messages on the lid of a Hurricane Ike- damaged grand piano that hangs backstage at the historic theater. Actors and musicians from Liza Minelli and B.B. King to Chubby Checker and Carol Burnett all have signed their names. FILE PHOTO: ST u ART VILLAN u EVA FILE PHOTO: JENNIFER REYNOLDS COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 31 SINCE 1995, SOUTH LAND TITLE HAS PROUDLY SERVED TEXAS WITH TRUSTED SERVICE, STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, AND LOCAL ROOTS. THANK YOU FOR 30 YEARS OF SUPPORT—WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE. 30 Years Celebrating to perform at The Grand when he learned patrons are seated within 70 feet of the stage, meaning performers are guaranteed an attentive audience, Patton said. Holbrook, best known for his role as Mark Twain, which he per- formed for decades beginning in 1954 in a one-man show, has played at The Grand seven times now, Patton said. “They fall in love with the theater,” Patton said. “They have a good time, they have a great audience.” The space also is adaptive to meet whatever needs a performance might require. Two treadmills and two horses to mimic a chariot race in a production of “Ben-Hur.” A new floor will be brought in for “Wizard of Oz on Ice” this season. The stage once accommo- dated a circus with live camels. Mötley Crüe brought a cheetah to film its music video for “Without You.” “It was built to house everything,” Patton said. And Patton is always ready to keep booking: Her business cards have The Grand’s seating capacity, dimensions and any detail prospective performers might need. The Grand announced its success- ful procurement of acts for the next performance season to subscribers in June, including comedian Jeff Foxwor- thy, a silent film with Rob Landes and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. “They fall in love with the theater. They have a good time, they have a great audience.” MAUREEN PATTONAt UTMB Health, we understand how much your family’s health means to you. That’s why our compassionate primary care providers are here to build lasting relationships—focused on your well-being at every stage of life. 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Today, there are almost 20 galleries, plus dozens of local businesses that hang artwork — in shops, restaurants and coffee houses. Along with galleries, there are scores of art-relat- ed businesses and outlets: ceramic studios, frame shops with classes, museums with art collections and painted turtles everywhere. “I am blown away,” said Sarah Piel, pres- ident of ARTS Downtown GTX, a nonprofit organization set up in 2016 to support all types of artists, although it had been des- ignated since 2012. “I see lots of positive growth. Things are so happening now. Busi- ness people realize that art is an economic Art by Sharon Hendry is displayed at the Pearl Gallery in downtown Galveston. The island’s art community is welcoming and supportive, said Hendry, a multi-media artist and retired community college professor. PHOTO: ST u ART VILLAN u EVA COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 35 FILE PHOTO: JENNIFER REYNOLDS Sarah Piel, director of education and resource development at The Grand 1894 Opera House, is helping the arts community and the Galveston Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District, now The District, move forward with seed money from the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.36 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 driver. It brings in business and tourists.” More than 47 local artists are registered with ARTS Downtown and are active partici- pants in the community, Piel said. One way the focus on art has been recognized is through ArtWalk, which is a popular free, self-guided walking tour of art venues in Galveston’s historic district. It was established almost 40 years ago in 1986 and recently changed to a monthly event on the second Saturday of the month — the next one is Aug. 9. Artist and Pearl Gallery owner Felicia Barcelona said Galveston has become an arts destination. “I have friends in Houston who plan trips around ArtWalk,” Barcelona said. “They come here for the art, not the beach. Maybe they come and have dinner or go to the theater, but they come for the art.” An additional arts-focused event is Art Week, which occurs in January and involves not just visual artists but also musicians, the- ater arts, culinary arts and writers. Piel helped organize the first Art Week in 2025 and said it will happen again in 2026 — Jan. 19-25. Artists who have been in Galveston for many years say they notice the changing cli- mate locally. Sharon Hendry, a multi-media artist who combines vintage photos of peo- ple posing in front of images of today’s local landmarks, said Galveston’s art community is welcoming and supportive. “It is not an exclusive or elitist communi- ty,” said Hendry, who retired as a professor at Houston Community College a decade ago and moved to Galveston. “There is so FEATURE FILE PHOTO: JENNIFER REYNOLDS “There is so much talent and diversity here. It is a close-knit group, which is something you won’t find in a big city.” SHARON HENDRY COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 37 much talent and diversity here. It is a close- knit group, which is something you won’t find in a big city.” Artists Dahlia Woods and Catherine Stroud, who recently opened a gallery on Market Street in the island’s downtown, said they’re helping to expand the city’s art scene because most galleries are either on Postof- fice Street or The Strand. “We are exploring a new market,” Stroud said. “There are lots of places offering beach art, but our gallery is a place that offers a fresh take on it.” Woods agreed. “We are serious painters and wanted to create a classical, uncrowded art space,” she said. The city actively is supporting the arts — murals, art events, public art and sculptures. Business owners are, too. Many are hiring artists to paint large outdoor murals on buildings across the city — not only down- town. And some are buying and commis- sioning art for their businesses. “Definitely, there is an energy here,” she said, adding that Galveston culture lends itself to artists’ lifestyles. “We have iconic imagery, the water, the beach, an easy lifestyle and no cars honking,” Woods said. “It is inspiring here. We have the energy and joy to do something explorative.” Fellow artists are cooperative and support- ive, which makes for a desirable community, she said. “Everyone seems to get along and is willing to share,” Woods said. “It is far more comfortable to be here and have the support of the creative spirit.” Barcelona also noted that Galveston’s art scene is framed in art. “What a backdrop we have,” she said. “Look at these amazing buildings and neigh- borhoods. It is growing here and there is enough room for everyone.” PHOTOS: ST u ART VILLAN u EVA (From top) Artist Felicia Barcelona, owner of the Pearl Gallery in downtown Galveston, holds a piece by artist Sharon Hendry featuring her grandmother Arah Pearl Putter, the namesake of the gallery; a tiny painting Barcelona created depicting the historic Balinese Room. (Opposite) Artists Catherine Stroud, left, and Dahlia Woods have teamed up on a new gallery on the corner of 24th and Market streets in downtown Galveston. They’re hoping to expand the island’s art scene beyond Postoffice Street and The Strand. “It is far more comfortable to be here and have the support of the creative spirit.” DAHLIA WOODS38 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 FEATURE ‘THE MAGIC’ Galveston residency program offers studio, shelter and support to artists story by LAURA PENNINO | photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS A 500 square-foot private art studio with ample lighting. An art exhibition open to the public. A loft apartment in a historic building within walking distance of the studio. And a monthly stipend of $1,100. Three artists were granted these and many other benefits for 10 months, thanks to the Galveston Artist Residency 2024-25 program. Artists Janaye Brown, Anna Mayer and Stephanie Con- cepcion Ramirez will wrap up their residency and leave Galveston on Aug. 1. Their work was featured in the 2024- 2025 Artists in Residence Exhibition hosted by Galveston Artist Residency from June 14 through July 12. Their exhibit garnered the attention of the online visual arts magazine Glasstire, which ranked it No. 2 among the top five art events in Texas. Brown, a California native who is based in Berlin, is known for creating video art that explores “perceptions of time, fragmented narratives and the unseen.” “The foundation for my practice is based on pregnant moments I observe in my everyday life,” Brown said in her artist statement. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 39 Galveston Artist Residency director and co-founder Eric Schnell, from right, with one of the resident cats, Sallie Barbee, program manager, and Dan Schmahl, operations manager, give artists the space and time to focus on their work. (Opposite) An ornate gate and open courtyard leads to the Galveston Artist Residency on the edge of downtown Galveston.Next >