Rockwall’s Uptown Downtown Art Gallery opens with full house and fanfare

(ROCKWALL, TX – April 21, 2015) The new Uptown Downtown Art Gallery and Studio welcomed a huge turnout during its grand opening on Saturday, April 18. Guests were treated to light hors d’ oeuvres and fine wine while they perused the many different rooms full of vibrant art from the new gallery’s artists.

The gallery – housed inside the former KE Cellars Winery at 301 North San Jacinto in downtown Rockwall – features unique works from local artists Betty Jean Hoaglund, James and Nancy Kuntz, H. Doug Agee and Bob Chilton, as well as guest artists each week.

Local art lovers jam-packed the painted walls of the gallery to enjoy a wide variety of artwork from Chilton’s photographic seascapes, portraits and sports images to Hoaglund’s rich and soulful expressionistic masterpieces.

Also on exhibit now are the works of visiting artists Donna Nelson, Allen Weekley, Karen Frances, Nikola Olic and Julie Reiter.

Hoaglund said the gallery would not have been possible without the generosity of the owner of KE Cellars Winery, Jennifer Norman, who graciously agreed to pass on the winery’s facility to the artists after it closed its doors at the end of January.

“She made this all possible for us,” Hoaglund said, “And right now we all feel like we’re living the dream.”

Uptown Downtown Art Gallery will host a number of different events within the coming months, including events for schools, fashion shows, wine tastings, workshops and art lessons.

This upcoming summer, artists James and Nancy Kuntz’s Color My World art classes will teach children ages 4-6 years and 1^st through 6^th grade some fundamental color techniques through drawing, watercolor, paper-mache and more. Art supplies will be provided for all classes. For class schedules, pricing and additional info contact Nancy at 214-801-1336 or email her at Mad7777@sbcglobal.net.

For more info on the Uptown Downtown Art Gallery, visit uptowndowntowngallery.com.

Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News reporter. 

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