- Featured
- Arts
WT Graduate Art Exhibition to Highlight Human Connections
Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas — A childhood spent hiking and camping at a Panhandle-area ranch inspired the graphic abstract art to be featured in an exhibition from a West Texas A&M University graduate student.
“Dendrite” by Ixchel Houseal will be on view Nov. 4 to 24 in the Dord Fitz Formal Gallery in Mary Moody Northen Hall. An opening reception is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 4.
As the exhibition’s title implies, Houseal is inspired by the receivers on neurons that form tree-like structures and conduct electrochemical charges to cells.
“My art basically consists of images of branches or trees against landscapes,” said Houseal, who uses they/them pronouns. “Each branch represents both a dendrite and a special relationship dynamic, but it all is meant to imply human connections.”
Photo: "snakebites," an acrylic on canvas, is among the works to be featured in Ixchel Houseal's "Dendrite," opening Nov. 4.
Houseal, an Amarillo native, spent much of their childhood on a family ranch about 10 miles west of Clarendon.
“I’m especially drawn to the landscape around here,” they said. “It has become a deep part of my visual understanding in general.”
Jon Revett, the Doris Alexander Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts and art program director, said Houseal’s exhibition, part of their work toward a master of fine arts degree, will feature work in a variety of media, all of which will underline the many kinds of connections people can have.
“This work is quite departure from the tiny, meticulous drawing Ixchel was making at the beginning of their graduate studies. While the breadth and scope had grown immensely, certain themes have remained, including the meticulous nature of their work and the desire to connect with others through their creative practice,” Revett said. “This show is a unique experience because it presents a new way to see and think about interpersonal relationships.”
Fitz Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and by appointment Fridays and Saturdays.
A commitment to the arts and humanities is a pivotal piece of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World . That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
—WTAMU—