HARLINGEN – Kathy Rinearson understands the importance of art in a community and in the schools.
The former Indiana art teacher gazes around the Harlingen Art Forum gallery in downtown Harlingen. Her face beams with pride and hope for the future.
“This is a treasure,” Kathy said of the Harlingen Art Forum. “More people need to see what a treasure it is. To lose some-thing like this would be sad. I want to continue to make it a treasure.”
The future president of the Harlingen Art Forum, Kathy has some ideas to take the gallery to the next level of success and participation.
Her art is on its walls along with dozens of other talented artists all seeking a place to show their creative sides. Maybe along the way, they can sell some work, too.
But, Kathy, a resident of Rancho Viejo, wants more – increased membership and additional participa-tion.
She has specific ideas in mind that involve workshops, evening activities and potentially fun art classes for those who have little experience in painting and other mediums.
“We are kicking around ideas,” Kathy said. “We are going to do new things.”
Most of all, Kathy wants to see more student and youth involvement in the gallery.
Kathy has long been involved in art. A native of Indiana, she spent years in the classroom as an art teacher for all grade lev-els.
“I wanted to be a teacher since the first grade,” Kathy said. “I used to drag all my books to school and taught during recess.”
She had teaching in her blood.
“My aunt was a teacher, so the time I was four years old, she would unroll shelf paper and give me crayons and I would color and color. My parents let us experiment and always were encouraging.”
At one point Kathy wanted to be a fashion designer, but after being only one of 54 to be accepted into a design program at the University of Cincinnati, she instead headed to college to be a teacher.
Over the years, family always came first with teaching second. She taught different grades and was a gifted and talented co-ordinator as well as an adjunct professor training student teachers.
It wasn’t until after she retired that she had time to create her own works.
She is a talented artist in her own right.
Works of hers have been sold to the SPI Convention Center and her paintings are in galleries in Port Isabel as well as Rock-port.
Her husband, Don, also is involved. He will serve as the treasurer of the Harlingen Art Forum.
He said there’s nothing she won’t try when it comes to art, but believes her watercolors and colored pencils are amazing.
They both hope more people come out to see the great artwork from locals by stopping by the Har-lingen Art Forum.
About 200 attended last month’s art night, Don said about the good turnout, which has been improv-ing this year. But, he said there are people who don’t know about the Harlingen Art Forum gallery, let alone its quality.
“Some people just don’t realize how wonderful this art gallery is,” Kathy said.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Harlingen Art Night
WHEN: Tomorrow night – the last Friday evening of each month, 6 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Harlingen, along Jackson Street
MORE: Stroll the streets of downtown and check out the art, including at the Harlingen Art Forum for the start of their new exhibit, including works from area students and Kathy Rinearson.
Scholarship recipient
This year’s Harlingen Art Forum’s scholarship winner is Eduardo Tristan of Raymondville High School. He received a $1,000 scholarship and artist and former art teacher Kathy Rinearson praised him for trying many different mediums in his art.
“He does a variety and is not afraid to try new things,” Rinearson said. “He had sketches in black-and-white, marker work. He is going into college and the whole world is going to open up and he needs to try things.”
The HAF gives away an annual scholarship and Rinearson suggested this year’s juniors should be planning to enter to be considered for the $1,000.
