Three artists reflect on their west-Texas roots through different art styles.
Reception: June 20, 5:30 - 7:30PM
Linda Stricklin
Linda brings a rich and extensive background in the arts. She earned her BFA from McMurry University and her MFA from Texas Woman’s University. For 13 years, she taught a wide range of art courses at McMurry, specializing in ceramics and metalsmithing.
Over the past two decades, Linda has been the proud owner of Abilene Frame & Art Galleries, retiring from the business this year. She was also a partner in the beloved Calypso Gallery and has been an active member of the Center for Contemporary Arts for many years.
Linda continues to create from her private studio, where she focuses on ceramic sculpture. She can be reached through Facebook or at 1117 Studios.
LaGina Fairbetter
As a child, I was intrigued with horses and pictures. Identifying as an artist and a horseperson, I cherish my connection with early peoples whose drawings date back tens of thousands of years.
Nature is my enduring inspiration in life and art. Like clouds, nothing is static but is eternally connected. My horses and the land they live on keep me grounded and are constant reminders to practice being aware and ever present in the moment.
My life path includes creating and sharing what I love. Teaching, creating, and exhibiting my work are some of the ways that I share. These components are a genesis force to encourage observation, curiosity, exploration, and discovery. My work includes paintings and commissioned murals and dioramas for museum exhibition.
Tawnee Bland
Tawnee Dee Bland is a Texas-born artist whose work is deeply rooted in the rugged beauty and soulful spirit of the western lifestyle. Raised in the small town of Anson, TX, Tawnee grew up surrounded by wide-open skies, dusty trails, and the quiet resilience of rural life. The outdoors weren’t just a backdrop—they were her playground, her refuge, and ultimately, her greatest inspiration.
Her paintings are vivid reflections of the landscapes she has explored on foot—each brushstroke carrying the emotion and energy of the places she’s hiked and the moments she’s lived. Tawnee doesn’t just paint what she sees; she paints what she feels. Her work captures the raw awe of nature, infused with a reverence for God’s creation and a personal twist that turns each piece into a story, a memory, a prayer.
From sweeping desert views and sunlit canyons to quiet trails and mountain ridges, her art is a celebration of the earth’s sacred beauty and the spirit of those who wander it. With every canvas, Tawnee invites viewers to step into her journey—to feel the wind, hear the silence, and be moved by the divine wonder of the natural world.