Today we’d like to introduce you to John Lee Hunter.
John Lee, can you briefly walk us through the story of the Irving Art Association – how it started and how you see it today.
In 1956, five artists gathered in a private home, set up a small still life and began painting. The next month, they gathered again to paint. In time as their numbers grew, they found places to accommodate their growing numbers, hired a Dallas art teacher, and began children’s programming.
The first invitational art exhibit was displayed at the Irving State bank on Main Street with one hundred or so local artists renting booths to demonstrate their talents. Monthly meetings continued in private homes until the group grew too large. The IAA found meeting places in various businesses and the Garden & Arts Center on Senter Street. In 1966, the Irving Jaycees and the IAA began preparations to build and secure a permanent home for the group. This was a cooperative effort between the Jaycees, the City of Irving, and the IAA. What is now the West Gallery was the Center for the Arts, and the permanent home of the IAA. Originally designated Plymouth Park, the park was renamed by the City of Irving as Jaycee Park in honor of the Jaycee’s contribution to the project. The City of Irving, the Irving Jaycees, and the Irving Art Association were all instrumental in raising enough money for this project to come to fruition. In time, the building was opened for use to other Irving non-profit groups with the IAA as the primary user.
In 1975, due to the Federal Government issuing funds for civic improvement, the larger East gallery was added to the facility since the IAA had funds available to contribute, and since the IAA had grown to an extent that this was seen as a necessity. The IAA commissioned three life-size sculptures of hippos for the pond in the park, and this earned the IAA a beautification award from the City of Irving. The IAA hosts many local, regional, and national exhibits at the gallery, but the primary focus will always be Irving and Irving artists.
Has it been a smooth road?
The Irving Art Association is simply a necessary result of artists needing a way to come together to share their common interest in art and creativity, and supporting one another in their artistic endeavors. The group’s history is a long story, and specific struggles have been lost to time, but as it is with every group effort, there are pitfalls of differing views of the future. However, these pitfalls have been embraced as challenges, and the group has survived and grown. Being a non-profit organization has inherent obstacles to overcome in the way of garnering and using funds to not only benefit the group and its members, but also to succeed in its obligations to the community.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Irving Art Association – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My specific role as a Board member with the IAA is Membership Chair, and I am also the Gallery Attendant. It is my task as Membership Chair to communicate with the members, and also to create strategies to encourage new members, keep existing members coming back, and to give the members a sense of ownership in the organization. The members are the Irving Art Association, and are my primary concern, always. As Gallery Attendant I am responsible for, with the help of many others, managing the activities at the gallery. Also, when the gallery is open, I am the one who is there to greet visitors, welcome them to the gallery, and to make their first impression of the IAA a good one.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The D/FW metroplex is one of the most diverse art hubs in the nation. It is interesting that Dallas and Fort Worth are so disparate in culture, but yet so alike in vision. A common joke for us is that, “In Dallas, we call it sushi. In Fort Worth, we call it bait.” This of course is a joke, but is borne from the social differences of the two cities. The downside to all this diversity and growth of course is the road systems. There seems to always be annoying road construction everywhere, and it seems as though the traffic system will never get ahead of our growth.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1975 Puritan Drive, Irving, Texas 75061
- Website: irvingart.org
- Phone: 972-721-8063
- Email: irvingartassociation@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IrvingArtAssociation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Irving-Art-Association-134510759954139/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IrvingArt
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
