Third Floor History Hallway

CCA Studio Resident Showcase Exhibition

Gallery 3

2025 Annual Group Exhibition

Wright Photography Gallery

Third Floor History Hallway

This exhibition showcases Makenzie Bierma-Wheeler's latest work, exploring heritage, craft, women's work, and memory. Through abstracted diary-like pieces, she engages with functional art and craft in contemporary discourse. Featured works include kaleidoscopes symbolizing the fragmentation of memory and pieces reflecting her mental and physical health challenges. Together, they offer a layered exploration of identity, history, and personal struggle.

Second Floor Galleries B & C

Third Floor History Hallway

Second Floor Galleries B & C

Through this collection, Tim Chandler invites viewers to take their time to reflect on their own relationship with the land and the beauty it holds. These images encourage a sense of connection to the natural world, prompting contemplation of both its past and its evolving future.

Mar 20, 2025 – May 3, 2025

Hosted at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village

As we approach Buffalo Gap’s 150th anniversary in 2025, we’re excited to announce that our town has been chosen as one of the select Texas locations to host the Smithsonian Institute’s Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit. Buffalo Gap experienced explosive growth in its early days, followed by quieter periods, yet through it all, our community has preserved what makes this town so special. Today, we proudly maintain our rural way of life while still promoting our small local economy. This event offers a unique opportunity to celebrate our rich history, culture, and contributions to the region. Over six weeks, we’ll explore engaging themes that highlight the essence of our town and the enduring spirit of rural communities.

This exhibit isn’t just about looking back; it’s about connecting our past with our present. Each weekend will feature a unique theme, from the heritage of the buffalo to the evolution of ranching and the role of the military, all brought to life through interactive exhibits and events. Our goal is to create an experience that resonates both locally and with visitors, fostering a deeper appreciation for the history and culture that define us all.

First Floor Atrium & Main Gallery

Third Floor History Hallway

Second Floor Galleries A, B, C

A Fine Line features approximately one-third of the 300 drawings in the Old Jail Art Center’s permanent collection. Spanning the seventeenth to twenty-first centuries, this exhibition showcases a broad range of both artists and media.

Works by 71 artists, from internationally recognized Amedeo Modigliani, John Sloan, and Andy Warhol to the talented artists of the Fort Worth Circle, are brought together to underscore the diversity of the collection. A Fine Line also highlights the OJAC’s impressive holdings of works by contemporary artists, alongside those underappreciated in the artistic canon.

While the majority of works are on paper, novel substrates of wax, plywood, cloth, and faux ivory are also introduced. Mark making ranges from conventional graphite, ink, and pastel to the use of copper, soot, and even flames. As such, this exhibition challenges long-held hierarchies and expands our understanding of what constitutes a drawing.

Certainly, drawing is no longer just a precursor to other types of visual art. The singular works in this exhibition offer not only compelling images but creative entry points into meaningful conversations. Drawing’s ability to transcend a fixed set of materials and conventions has ensured the art form’s vitality and power to stimulate change.

Funhouse, curated from the museum’s permanent collection, celebrates the use of humor and levity in art—a much-needed diversion in our lives. Through humor, artists provide a comfortable entry point for ideas, perspectives, and topics that we typically avoid or may never consider. In other cases, works are nonsensical—much like our “normal” realities or unexpected events can be. Works in this concentrated exhibition require the engagement of the viewer. The interaction between object and viewer completes a work, often with surprising, thoughtful, and enlightening results.

The Center for Contemporary Arts is proud to present the 15th Annual juried Intercollegiate Student Art Competition for area college and university students!

The competition is open to students of Abilene Christian University, Cisco College, Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, Texas State Technical College, Angelo State University, Howard Payne University, Midwestern State University, South Plains College, and Tarleton State University. Entries may be submitted in any medium as long as the finished piece meets the size and weight restrictions of the category.

EXHIBITION

Entries will be juried by professional, contemporary artists. Work accepted by the jury for exhibition will be displayed in Gallery 3 at The Center for Contemporary Arts January 23 through March 15, 2025. All work selected for the exhibit must remain on display through the end of the show. 

AWARDS

Awards will be given for Best in Show, as well as Best in Category. Awards will also be given for 2nd and 3rd Place in each category, as well as three Honorable Mentions. Awards will be announced and distributed during the Awards Reception, date TBA.

Experience Altered Vision: Down and Dirty, Secrets from a Mad Potter, a ceramic exhibition inspired by nature and the first solo exhibition by Artist Member, Christi Kuppin.

Join us to celebrate Kuppin for the Opening Reception, January 17, 5-7PM in Gallery 4.

Join us for Cultivating Creativity, an exhibition celebrating the artistic talents of local art educators. Explore inspiring works that highlight creativity in the classroom and beyond.

Opening: January 17, 5-7PM

Jane Adams Breed Gallery

Gallery 3, upstairs

Wright Photography Gallery

First Floor Atrium & Main Gallery

Second Floor Alice & Bill Wright Photography Gallery

Second Floor Gallery B

Second Floor Gallery C