Celebrate Our 37 Years of Service With Us

In this issue

Celebrate FestEve! 2024 on September 28

Meet the Honorees

In Memoriam: Floyd Newsum

Black Stereo Exhibition Closes

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The Collective's Gift Shop

Jubilee Quilt Circle

Have you bought your tickets yet?

The Collective will celebrate its 37-year history of serving the arts and cultural community with FestEve! 2024 at the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby Street Saturday, September 28.

The evening, which begins at 6 p.m. with a VIP reception, will feature works of art, performing artists, silent and live auctions, dinner and refreshments.

Former Mayor Sylvester Turner is honorary chair of the event, and H-E-B’s Winell Herron and artist Ann Johnson are co-chairs.

Three outstanding contributors to the arts in Houston will be honored at the event. They are Robbie Lee, certified art appraiser and founder and owner of the former Black Heritage Gallery; Artist Patron of the Year; Kristi Rangel, self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist and curator of the “Witness Series,” Artist in Action; and Jan West, co-chair of The Collective’s Advisory Council and assistant director in Multicultural Community Relations in Public Affairs at Rice University, the CAC Beverly Harmon Service Award.

Guests will be treated to an amazing array of entertainment during the evening, capturing the spirit of traditional to contemporary genres of the cultural community.

Emcees Makaela Reed, visionary theater maker and culture creator, and Andrew “Risky Cereal” Evans, music and film video producer and co-owner of All Real Radio, will present the magical evening, showcasing the talents of dancers, musicians, a magician, spoken word, a jazz combo and more. Guests also will be able to participate in interactive art engagement activities.

H-E-B is the presenting sponsor of the event.

Individual tickets begin at $250.00, and sponsorship packages are available. Contact The Collective at 713-523-1616 or visit www.thecollective.org.

Ticket Information, Sponsorship Levels, More Details

From left: Honorary Chair Sylvester Turner; Co-Chairs Winell Herron and Ann Johnson

Meet the FestEve! 2024 Honorees

From left: Kristi Rangel, Robbie Lee, Jan West

Robbie Lee launched the first successful commercial African American art galleries in Houston in 1977. Her Black Heritage Gallery carried the works of Brenda Joyce Smith, Dr. John Biggers, Bert Long, Earlie Hudnall, Jr., David McGhee and Harvey Johnson, giving the community an opportunity to meet them and a chance to build collections of original works by some of these artists early in their careers. She encouraged people to collect and invest in original paintings, drawings, sculpture, prints and cultural collectibles rather than items lacking in potential value. The Gallery also added a top quality in-store frame shop in 1979. Gerald Semien, a talented and skilled framer, joined the gallery. The gallery also provided a forum for Robbie to support numerous organizations like the UNCF, the NAACP and the Urban League through fundraiser donations and advice. She was a resource in setting upauctions, evaluating works of art and organizing art sales for the community. She curated the art displayed throughout the then new TSU Radio Station building, KTSU, and its recording studio and curated the art displayed on the walls of the Mabrie Mortuary, as well as many offices and homes in the local community. Somewhat retired now, Robbie has assisted others in starting galleries and assisted artists in the proper care and business management of their art.

Kristi Rangel is a Houston-based, self-taught multi-disciplinary artist who brings to her artistic practice the passion and dedication to community honed by her many years as an educational, public health and government leader. Starting her artistic phase later in life means she brings some interesting insights to her work and a different perspective. Her paintings have been exhibited at the Jung Center, the Rice University Moody Center and the City of Houston City Hall. Kristi is currently the lead facilitator and curator of the “Witness Series,” an interactive public art experience that explores the many profound experiences communities of color have to the land of Southeast Texas. She is a painter who takes her work beyond the canvas through interactive public art experiences designed to bring communities together. These experiences incorporate dynamic, participatory talks, art, hikes, bird walks and other experiences that create wonder and awe for their participants. She is in the planning phase of the fourth year of the Witness Series, as well as pursuing opportunities to exhibit her work and creating new works.

For over 35 years, Jan West has worked at Rice University, serving as assistant director of admissions from 1973 to 1977, then as employment manager until 1992 and now as assistant director in Multicultural Community Relations in Public Affairs. Over the years, students and alumni have credited her with supporting and encouraging them as they navigated their way through college and life. In 2016, Rice’s Board of Trustees recognized her for untiring dedication to the university and service to its Black students, alumni and community. Most recently, Jan served on the Rice University Task Force on Slavery, Segregation and Racial Injustice, an intensive four-year project of research programming, and assessment of these aspects of the university’s history. She is a1972 honors graduate of Rice with a B.A. degree in psychology. Jan’s grandmothers introduced her to the joys that come with service and the magic in a world graced by the arts. Jan acknowledges that “creating visual artistry is not one of her strengths.” However, through her volunteer work with The Collective, supporting those who do is her way to help release the magic of the many artists that The Collective has nurtured and developed over the years.

In Memoriam

Floyd Newsum

1950-2024

Project Row Houses Founder and Artist

Floyd had a long history with The Collective and served as an advisory board member for the organization. Executive Director Michelle Barnes reflects on some of their history together.

“Floyd and I grew as we supported each other during the last 46 years or so of our career development between the late 1970s, early 1980s and early this week when he made his transition.

“When I wanted to inspire my art students at Sharpstown High School by introducing them to a “real artist," Floyd willingly and most enthusiastically answered the call and made becoming a professional artist a viable option for my wide-eyed students who were wowed by his presentation. When Floyd needed a letter of support as he applied for tenure at UH/D, I prepared the letter. As I was scheduling exhibitions to showcase the aesthetic depth of our cultural community, we created a milestone exhibition with his solo exhibition in 1988 and introduced other artists to a gallery experience. Doing so created an exciting pipeline of local and regional artists that energized our artistic community and contributed to the dynamic cultural landscape that exists today.”

Photo below by Jeffry St. Mary.

"Black Stereo” closed out with art, music and a tribute to the Third Ward's musical legacy. Thanks to artist Tierney Malone, the Community Music Center of Houston, The Collective and Hogan Brown Gallery for reminding us of the talent of the many musical artists who have come from or have ties to Houston's Third Ward.

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