A Good Friday
Some of the Good Things That Happened That Day
This past Friday, June 21, was a good Friday for sure.
First, the 2024 CASETA Symposium & Texas Art Fair opened here in Houston. That’s CASETA: Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art. We’ve been part of CASETA for more than 20 years now - have never missed a symposium - always great fun - seeing old friends, and making new ones; looking at amazing Early Texas Art; hearing fascinating talks about aspects of the art of Texas.
This year the sympsoium was extra special because if focused on the release and book signing of MAKING THE UNKNOWN KNOWN: WOMEN IN EARLY TEXAS ART, 1860s to 1960s, published by CASETA/Texas A&M University Press.
On Friday, we had a signing event with 11 of the 13 authors who contributed to the book were there to sign, sign, sign! I was pleased to be among them, and honored that I had been able to contribute two chapters on early Houston women artists: a chapter on the amazing Emma Richardson Cherry, and another on a group of her sister artists, including Ola McNeill Davidson, Ruth Pershing Uhler, Nione Carlson, and many others. What a gratifying culmination to this almost five-year joint effort - now going out into the world.
On top of all that, and not even related to CASETA, Friday also saw the publication of my essay “Dust” in the Summer 2024 issue of Superpresent Magazine - available now as a free pdf download from the Superpresent website, and soon in print-on-paper for purchase directly from Superpresent or at bookstores with a literary/artistic bent.
Since you’re already a subscriber to my Substack, you saw “Dust” first, right here (or in your email). Thank you so much for being here with me as I developed the piece. Now it will be gratifying to also see it in print!
Taken all together, it was a very good Friday that I’ll remember forever, or at least as long as I’m still able to remember, which I no longer take for granted. (Had to throw that in so you wouldn’t think I’d gone all optimistic and sappy on you!)
Wonderful book, wonderful and dear friend. Happy Birthday!!!!
Congratulations, Randy, on your wonderful writing accomplishments! You’re receiving well-deserved recognition for your research and your perceptive writing. Ah, and I knew you before the autograph signing for your adoring fans! And I believe that Happy Birthday wishes are also in order. Celebrate!