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This month's featured artist Debra Hanson is an artisan jeweler that uses found and recycled objects to create her works. Submitted photo

Autumn & Art Squared are here

Friday, October 12, 2018

Autumn is here and that means everyone can expect cooler weather for the Art Squared Arts Market on Saturday.

Sponsored by the San Marcos Art League, the Art Squared Arts Market features local and regional artists exhibiting and selling their handmade works. The event takes place from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., on the Hays County Courthouse lawn. Admission is always free. 

Along with dozens of artists, including this month’s featured artist, Debra Hanson, enjoy a free yoga class in the morning, free children’s art activities, an art supply swap and live music by Marie Wakefield and Nomad. 

This month’s featured artist Debra Hanson, works in a wide variety of disciplines including apparel, crafts, home décor and artisan jewelry. Hanson has enjoyed rich and eclectic experiences in the arts for over four decades.  

After owning a storefront to showcase her work for several years in Houston, Hanson entered the management industry in order to raise her son. She worked for several commercial companies before securing a position in pre-operative services at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She continued to develop her artistic ideas, sharing her work with a select group of friends and family.

As her son approached college age, Hanson experienced an unexpected yet extraordinary blessing with the birth of her twin sons, Joshua and Nicholas. 

Hanson has overcome an array of challenges and illnesses and declared victory over cancer. Her fervor for life, commitment to her family and passion to connect with others and enhance the world with her talents was evidenced by her tireless work ethic and volunteerism. Most of the artwork she produced at this time was donated for silent auctions and charities to raise money for nonprofit art organizations in the Houston area. 

A few years later, when her eldest son came to San Marcos to attend graduate school at Texas State University, she felt a call to the city and knew it would not be long before she joined. Within a few years, she retired from MD Anderson and moved to San Marcos, which she now calls home. 

Shortly after the move, Hanson welcomed the birth of her first grandchild, Emily. Her new life as a fulltime mother and grandmother served as the perfect inspiration to create new work, specifically in artisan jewelry. True to her passions and commitments, Hanson donates a portion of her jewelry to local arts organizations to help raise funds for their work in the community, especially San Marcos CISD music programs and the SMART Orchestra, founded by her son Christopher Hanson. She welcomed her second grandchild, Graham, into the world in 2017. 

Hanson’s jewelry has been featured in a number of local art shows and exhibits, and she also makes custom pieces upon request. She works with incredibly diverse new and vintage materials and utilizes many found and recycled objects from local antique shops and historical sites in order to preserve the heritage and significance of San Marcos.

View samples of Hanson’s most recent artwork on Facebook at Twin Pearls. Be sure to stop by her booth at this month’s Art Squared and take a close look at her fine creations. 

We are pleased to bring fresh and exciting talent to this month’s Art Squared Art Market. Mare Wakefield and Nomad play a rich mix of Americana, folk, country and much more. They are completing a months-long cross-country tour and Art Squared is excited to host their final show before they head home to Nashville for a well-deserved rest. 

Versatility and love for travel is evident in Wakefield and Nomad’s music. Listeners roam through Arizona deserts, Oklahoma oil fields and South Dakota plains, with side-trips to ancient Babylon and the streets of Amsterdam. The journeys go inward too, exploring hope and heartbreak. Story and song woven seamlessly together by Wakefield’s intimate delivery and Nomad’s exquisite melodic arrangement. 

Wakefield and Nomad have been honored by the Kerrville Folk Festival's NewFolk songwriting competition, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the International Songwriting Competition and the Great American Song Contest. 

Visit their website to learn and hear more about Wakefield and Nomad. But the best way to enjoy them is to hear them live at Art Squared.

This month’s featured organization, CASA of Central Texas, Inc., plays a critical role for children. When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe, a judge may appoint a committed volunteer to represent and advocate for a child’s best interests in the child protection system. That volunteer is called a Court Appointed Special Advocate®, or CASA. 

CASA volunteers save taxpayers’ money and children’s futures by helping find a safe, permanent home as soon as possible. They are carefully screened and highly trained, then assigned to help one child or set of siblings at a time, so they can focus on providing the advocacy and attention that is needed. Their sole objective is representing the best interests of the child or children to whom they are assigned.

CASA of Central Texas, Inc. provides valuable volunteer advocacy for abused child from Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties. CASA volunteers serve as the “eyes and ears” for the judges in child welfare cases. This includes researching each child’s specific situation and making objective recommendations to help them reclaim their childhood from abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers are frequently the only stable presence in these children’s lives.

In 2017, CASA volunteers served nearly 575 children in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties, but there were still another 550 children who did not have the voice of a CASA. More advocates are needed and trainings are held throughout the year. If you would like to make a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child in your community, please contact the CASA office 512-392-3578 or visit CASA's website.

Children attending Art Squared Arts Market can explore their creative side at the Kid’s Craft Table. Each month they can experience a different art activity that will stimulate their creativity and allow them to create a unique piece of art. The Kids’ Craft Table is free and open to kids of all ages.

A free one-hour yoga class starts at 9 a.m. on the courthouse lawn, led by Nicole Marie and/or Betsy Robertson, both certified yoga instructors. People with all levels of yoga experience are welcome. The class consists of gentle yoga appropriate for beginners, but also offers options for those who want more challenge. If interested, bring a yoga mat; the instructor will have extra mats available to loan, if needed. 

Clear out art and craft supplies you no longer need and bring them to the Art Supply Swap, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the courthouse. Trade them for something different or simply donate them. All items should be in good condition, from a smoke-free environment and placed in small containers or clear plastic bags. Leftover items are donated to Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos for use in their children's art classes.

The Art Squared Arts Market is sponsored by the San Marcos Art League and is funded through memberships, donations, and the city of San Marcos Arts Commission. The Art League’s goal is to create a successful, community-minded event that heightens awareness of the arts in San Marcos. Art Squared runs the second Saturday of every month between March and December.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666