A Book Maker's Art: The Bond of Arts and Letters at Texas A&M University PressA significant collection of Texas paintings and prints hangs humbly and inconspicuously throughout the offices, conference rooms, and hallways of Texas A&M University Press. These works comprise the Frank H. Wardlaw Collection of Texas Art, named in honor of the Press’s founding director, who was one of the genuine publishing icons of his day. Established in 1983 at the dedication of the new headquarters of Texas A&M University Press on the campus of Texas A&M, the collection began with twenty inaugural contributions that came as gifts from respected Texas artists whose art appeared in the books Wardlaw had shepherded to publication at the Press. Since then, the collection—which continues to be linked to artists published by the Press—has grown to house more than one hundred paintings, photographs, and illustrations. Among the noted artists featured in the collection are E. M. (Buck) Schiwetz, Otis Dozier, Michael Frary, Everett Spruce, Emily Guthrie Smith, Jerry Bywaters, and, among more recent additions, Dorothy Hood and Richard Stout. Through interviews with longtime staff and research into the Press’s book files and correspondence, William and Linda Reaves have uncovered the captivating history of this unlikely collection. In A Book Maker’s Art, they present the freshly assembled story of the Wardlaw collection, from its modest yet unique beginning to its present-day status as one of the university’s excellent collections of Texas art, reflecting the exceptional bond of arts and letters that has come to distinguish Texas A&M University Press. |
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A. C. Greene A&M University Press American art books Artist gift Betty Moore Texas Brazos County Brazos Valley Buck Schiwetz Charles Shaw Collection of Texas color E. M. Buck Eighteen Artists El Paso entitled Frank H Frank Wardlaw Gentry Steele Geoff Winningham Gordon West Harold Phenix Hillingdon Hillingdon Ranch illustrator Image in Pecos Image in Reflections Interpretations by Nine Interpretations by Thirteen introduction by A. C. introduction by Ron Joe and Betty Kelly Fearing Leon Hale Lindsey Building Margie Crisp Michael Frary Moore Texas Art Nine Artists Nueces River oil on canvas Otis Dozier painter painting oil painting watercolor Pecos to Rio published by Texas Reaves regional art regionalist Ron Tyler state’s TAMU Press Texas A&M Press Texas A&M University Texas Art Series Texas artists Texas by Eighteen Texas Gulf Coast Texas Hill Country Texas Southern University Thirteen Artists Tom Lea University of Texas Walt Davis Wardlaw collection West Texas