Heritage Park Museum Annual Banquet 2015

Edgewood, Heritage Park, Memorial, Photography, Spring

May 11th, 2015

The 38th Annual Banquet of the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas was held on May 11th, 2015, in Edgewood Civic Center, Edgewood, Texas. It was a big success with 85 in attendance and several new members joining. Many of the members contributed to the great evening beginning with the thirty minute mixer preceding the brief meeting which was followed by a great catered meal by the Lumber Yard Café. Among the highlights was the continuous video presented by Suzy Heckman and the sing-a-long led by the talented Carl Hall. Also, the silent auction was outstanding and covered all the banquet expenses. The live “Pie and Cake” auction closed the night with cheers and laughter. Thanks to everyone who contributed a helping hand. ~ from the Heritage Park update, May 2015.

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The museum’s website: http://edgewoodheritagepark.org/

Photographs @ 2015 Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

The Praying Citizens

Canton, Historic Site, Main Street City Texas, Memorial, Photography, Spring

May 7th, 2015.

The citizens of Van Zandt County, Texas, gathered and prayed together today to observe the National Day of Prayer 2015 at the historic Van Zandt County Courthouse, in Canton, Texas.

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All Creatures Great and Small: Holiday Exhibition at Bush Presidential Library

Dallas, Memorial, Museum, Photography, Texas

In 2002, Mrs. Laura Bush selected All Creatures Great and Small as the theme to celebrate the joy and comfort pets have brought presidents and their families during their time in the White House.

Bush Presidential Library and Museum archivists and curators are re-creating the 2002 White House holiday displays. These are now exhibited at the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas, Texas, until January 13th, 2015.

As part of “All Creatures Great and Small” theme 2002, White House staffers painstakingly built and painted 25 papier-maché of sculptures of pets of America’s Presidents. These animals decorated mantles and tables throughout the White House. The animals included raccoons that were walked on leashes, sheep that grazed the White House lawn, and even alligator that was kept in the White House bathtub!

Nelson, President George Washington’s war charger.

Laddie Boy, an airedale terrier that belonged to President Warren G. Harding & Mrs. Florence Harding. He brought Mr. President his morning newspaper, had his own chair to sit in during cabinet meetings. The first Presidential Pet that was covered regularly by news reporters on Washington Star and the New York Times.
“Whether the Creator planned it so, or the environment and human companionship have made it so, men may learn richly through the love and fidelity of a brave and devoted dog.” – President Warren G. Harding. Other President Harding White House pets: English bulldog, Old Boy; squirrel, Pete, and canaries. (1921-1923) ~~

The stately 18-feet 2002 White House Christmas tree, re-created for Museum visitors, features native bird ornaments that were handcrafted by artists and artisans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

This picture below was used for the official 2002 White House Christmas greeting card.

Mrs. Laura Bush’s Christmas dresses

Learn more about the Library: http://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/

135th Anniversary of Cheatham Memorial UMC’s Artwork

Edgewood, Festivals, Heritage Park, Memorial, My Graphic Work, MySpread

The Cheatham Memorial United Methodist Church in Edgewood, Tx., where I am a member, celebrated its 135th anniversary this year. The theme “A Legacy of Faith” was chosen for this celebration. The past members and pastors were invited to rejoice with current members and we call it a Homecoming Celebration. I am honored to be one of the planning team members and help with the artwork / press release / publications. History background and the United Methodist Church’s logo (the flame and cross) were the concept used to do the artwork. The works begun in February 2014. First, the anniversary logo was created and it depicts the front view of the church entryway to the sanctuary, with an open door. The cross and flame double-functions as the “T” in Cheatham. The Texas Historical Marker’s icon that the church received in 1982, was also included. The logo was used for any church communications regarding the event.

The more colorful design was to be used as teaser, advertisements, invitations, reminders, etc., as the church built the momentum towards the big day in October 2014 (six months planning period). For this, the colorful play of the flame was applied. The initial design suggested that each flame would represent the ministries of the church.

The church, which was born in 1879, has rich historical background. The congregations have been worshiping in 5 buildings in its 135 years course. The first two buildings served both Methodist church and Edgewood school. The church and school separated in 1897. The latter three church buildings were then incorporated into the design to commemorate this incredible heritage. The initial hand sketches are shown below. The top-left is the Church in the Wildwood (1897-1923) – the insert on top-right is the second version that was eventually being used in the artworks; the top-middle is the first church brick building (1923-1953); and the current church brick building (1953-now) is depicted in the middle. The bottom sketch is one of my draft sketches for logo idea.

These three-church sketches and the flame-and-cross icon were combined in the following works which were dispersed in the forms of postcards, bulletin, also electronic copies. During the discussions with the planning team, the idea “the church is the people” was suggested. I kept that in mind and the opportunity to express that came through the cover of A Legacy of Faith, an illustrated history book which was published to commemorate the anniversary. See it at A Legacy of Faith.

Facebook cover page.

Outdoor banners, 2×5 feet.

Indoor banner, 3×8 feet.

Bulletin covers and name tag for the two main events maintained the visual identity.

A simpler black and white design, with orange flame, was applied for souvenirs such as cotton tote bag, decals. The color was inverted for the chosen black t-shirts.

The Battle of the Neches Memorial 2012

Historic Site, Memorial, Nature, Photography, Redland, Summer, Upper East Texas

Battle of the Neches Memorial Ceremony, July 14th, 2012

Excerpted from “Remembering the Battle of the Neches, Cherokee Chief Bowles, Other Victims” by Shea Gilchrist, published in County Line Magazine, July 2012 issue, page 16:

“… Texas Cherokee and 12 associated tribal bands under the leadership of Chief John ‘Duwa ‘li’ Bowles, Chief Big Mush, and six other tribal chiefs were slain July 16, 1839. The massacre by the Republic of Texas Army, under the direction of President Mirabeau Lamar, took the lives of many innocent men, women, and children along with the burning of a Delaware village. The associated Indian tribal bands were Cherokee, Shawnee, Delaware, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Choctaw, Biloxi, Ioni, Alabama, Coushatta, Caddo of the Neches, Tahocullake, Mataquo and possibly other groups.

In 1936, the State of Texas erected a marker to honor Chief Bowles on the land. It is believed that Bowles died 20 feet in proximity to the marker. When visiting the land, there is a definite feeling of peace, the mystical, and the sacred.

… The most important event they hold on the land each year is the Battle of the Neches memorial ceremony held this year on July 14th.”

The land and historical marker is located at Redland, from Hwy 64 between Edom and Tyler take CR 4923, keep left on a split, keep going and look for the signs “Chief Bowles Memorial”.

Visit their website at www.aics1839.com.