Four artists from the Odessa and Midland area were recognized at the DRT Republic of Texas Museum 2018 Art Contest Awards ceremony and reception held April 7at the Texas State Capitol.
The contest is open to artists in each of the 10 DRT Districts in Texas.
Competition to place first, second and third place is within each district, and winners receive a certificate, ribbon and monetary prize.
DRT District I is composed of the following counties: Brewster, Coke, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, El Paso, Glasscock, Hudspeth, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kimble, Loving, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler.
There were 37 winners statewide in the Student Division, Power Point Division, and Adult Division.
DRT District I had four winners:
- First place, Student Division: Brad Lopez, 13, fifth grade student at Embassy Academy, Odessa, “Comanche.”
- Second place, Student Division: Lucas Aiden Lopez, 8, second grade student at Harmony Science Academy, Odessa, “Mockingbird,”
- Third place, Student Division: Robert Deaver, 10, fourth grade student at Harmony Science Academy, Odessa, “Devil’s Head Cactus.”
- First place, Adult Division: Linda Drinkard Kirby, Odessa, “I Am A Comanche. I Am A Puzzle. Am I White Or A Comanche Now?”
The DRT Historian General, Liz Hedges (Carthage) presented the awards, in conjunction with the Chair of the Republic of Texas Museum Committee, Julia Lopez (Austin), who planned the Awards Ceremony, assisted by other members of the committee: Betty Bird (Austin), Honey Bellemans (Austin), Linda Dietert (New Braunfels), Anita Eisenhauer (Corpus Christi), Kay Gregory (Austin), Lois Lacy (San Augustine), Nancy Shurtleff (Austin), Lizette Tandy (Georgetown).
There were almost one hundred in attendance, including winners, their families and members of the DRT Board of Management. The audience heard Capitol Tour Guide Nancy Korzilius speak about the Capitol, its many examples of art, and tours available. Refreshments were served.
The Republic of Texas Museum Art Contest and the Award Ceremony is made possible by a grant from the Native Texas License Plate Fund. From the $30 specialty plate fee, $22 goes to the Texas Department of Economic Development in making grants to The Daughters of the Republic of Texas to preserve Texas historic sites or to fund educational programs that teach Texas history. The Native Texan License Plate is available at the local vehicle registration office and available to all Texas drivers, for passenger cars or light trucks, 1-ton or less.
For an additional fee, the plate may be personalized or displayed with the disabled emblem.
For more information about the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, visit www.drtinfo.org.
