ROCKPORT, Texas — The Rockport Center for the Arts kicked off a festival celebrating a beloved Texas musician who spent his teen years there.
The festival commenced its tribute to Grammy-winning artist, Guy Clark, on Friday.
The Guy Clark Festival is an event named after the late country singer-songwriter who called Rockport his childhood home. The center kicked off its celebration with an exhibition called, Rockport Kind of Guy. The show is free, and open to the public now through Nov. 14.
"We are a 52-year-old organization and we would like the new performing arts to be the new area that will create a new interest in the arts here in Rockport," executive director Luis Puron said.
"It's a real joy to curate these types of shows and to have multiple types of galleries to work with and showcase the work of local artists and bring in artists from outside the area," said Elena Rodriguez, curator of exhibitions at the Rockport Center for the Arts.
The exhibition showcases original paintings by Rockport artist Steven Russell and "The Rockport Kind of Guy" CD, produced by local musician John Macy and multiple artists.
"To get a chance to associate with him this late in life is a real honor and something neither one of us would have ever foreseen happening," Russell said. "So just getting to touch elbows with him was such a wonderful thing."
"A lot of his songs that people know him best for were not recorded by him," Macy said. "So it's really great to educate a new, hopefully some future generations about Guy and his history here and at the same time have art as part of the art center to help the art center grow with it and their respect for him."
Clark's sister, Caroline Dugan, said she is excited that the festival meant to honor her late brother is taking place in Rockport.
"Rockport is a lovely little town and was a great place to grow up and its just been fascinating to see the interests that so many many people have in my big brother," said Dugan.
Clark died in 2016 in Nashville after a lengthy battle with lymphoma.
The proceeds from the festival will go towards the new Rockport Center for the Arts building that will feature a variety of programs.
"We will also house programs in art education and we are very excited," Puron said. "This building will be constructed and finished by August, September of next year."
To learn more, pre-order merchandise, and book tickets, visit their website here.
Rockport Center for the Arts has moved temporarily to 401 S. Austin Street.
To learn more about Rockport Center for the Arts visit their website.
Important Guy Clark Festival Dates
Sept. 28 - Tickets go on sale An Evening with Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp
Oct. 1 - Tickets go on sale for Without Getting Killed or Caught Film Screening
Oct. 15 - Exhibit Opens — Rockport Kind of Guy, new work by Steve Russell
Oct. 21 - Rockport Kind of Guy Book/CD Release and Signing with Steve Russell
Nov. 6 - Guy Clark’s 80th Birthday
Nov. 7-8 - An Evening with Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp – A Musical Performance
Nov. 12 - Film Screening — Without Getting Killed or Caught, directed by Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield
Nov. 13 - Film Panel Discussion — Without Getting Killed or Caught, with Tamara Saviano, and others
