LINDEN, Texas - A local pub and restaurant will showcase Northeast Texas area artists during a one-day art show on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Linden Public House routinely serves comfort food like smoked pulled pork mac and cheese with fine wine and beer to wash it down, but they'll also serve up art in the gallery space from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. that day. The public is invited to see the show.
The Linden Public House and 903 Artisans Art Show is the first of what's expected to be regular shows that feature local artists. 903 Artisans now numbers more than 40 artists after starting this spring to promote Cass County artists with an art club.
"We are going to do it quarterly, though. There will be one in November and then we'll set up for the new year," said Nancy Martin, an Atlanta, Texas-based artist and 903 Artisans board member.
About 903 Artisans, Martin said, "We're still very young. We had our first meeting in March, and there was six of us that got together." They felt promoting arts in the area was needed, and so she put the feelers out to see who might be interested.
"There's just so many great artists in this area - in Atlanta, Linden, Queen City," Martin said. "We had really good reception." They've acquired building space to share and set up a permanent gallery, but these shows will happen at Linden Public House, she said.
"The members of the art club will bring their artwork on this Saturday and we'll have a show with a little reception for people to come," Martin said. It's a chance to showcase membership work. She hopes for at least half to two-thirds of 903 Artisans membership participation in the show.
As for the venue, she said Linden Public House is a wonderful place with artistically-inclined owners.
"The upcoming art show is a great opportunity for artists to have their work viewed and potentially purchased. Cass County has such amazing talent and ability in the arts. I hope the community will join us in celebrating local artists," said Anna Dewell-Eddings, co-owner of Linden Public House, in a statement about the event. She's an artist herself, and Linden Public House has included art since it first opened.
Martin said 903 Artisans hopes this art show inspires other businesses to participate in art shows, too, perhaps having them staggered to get more involvement. It's all about increasing area arts participation.
"That's our main goal, just to get the community more involved in the arts," Martin said.
(Linden Public House is located at 401 E. Houston St. in Linden. More info: Email [email protected] or [email protected].)