December is Universal Human Rights Month Universal Human Rights Month celebrates the landmark document that “enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” This month strives to promote this declaration and the continuing struggles … Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Universal Human Rights Month 2023

Artist Edward “Buck” Muegge Schiwetz (1898-1984) was born in Cuero, Texas on August 24, 1898. After their brief stay in New York, Schiwetz moved back to Houston where he became a partner in what was to become Wilkinson – Schiwetz and Tips, which later became McCann-Erickson.  While in Houston, Schiwetz won many awards for his sketches and paintings of Texas … The Artistic Legacy of E. M. “Buck” Schiwetz

The Grace Museum (originally The Abilene Fine Arts Museum) has a history of collecting important prints, paintings and drawings focusing on the Texas landscape. This companion exhibition features works of art collected during the last 76 years of collecting.

In the early 20th century, painters continued to embrace the landscape. As photography gained acceptance as an art form, artists used the medium to create interpretations of the land through pictorialist effects and, later, through formal compositions of close-up, cropped views of the landscape. Even though the major artistic movements of the mid-20th century were no longer dominated by the … Bill Wright’s Texas: Luminous Landscapes

One of the first chroniclers of art in Texas was Abilenian France Battaile Fisk, who wrote in her 1928 publication, A History of Texas Artists and Sculptors, “…our painters of Texas landscape, with its ever changing moods and rapidly developing country are rendering a great service, as with canvas and brush they are faithfully picturing the characteristics of our Lone … For Love of the Land: Painting the Texas Landscape

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, traditions, and many contributions of those individuals of Latinx and Hispanic ancestry in the United States. The establishment of Hispanic Heritage Month was the first Cultural Heritage Month in the United States. The month allows for Hispanics to feel recognized, accepted, and proud to be a Hispanic living in the United States. Today, … Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

When one thinks of the 1920s, images of flappers, jazz, and speakeasies immediately come to mind. While that is relatively true, for Abilene, the 1920s was an era of major change and growth, just like it was throughout the United States. The population of Abilene nearly doubled throughout the decade with the increase in businesses, buildings, railway usage, and updated … Abilene in the 1920s

The generosity and work of the Collectors Circle is the focus of this exhibition that features works of art purchased and conserved by this outstanding group of Grace supporters. On the evening of January 29, 2023, The Grace Museum celebrated its eleventh annual Collectors Circle event. The tradition was established in 2012 by the museum’s Exhibitions and Collections Committee with … Recent Acquisitions: Gifts of the Collectors Circle

The Grace Museum is collaborating with Abilene Christian University’s Introduction to Public History: Interpreting American Pasts course to create monthly exhibitions that coincide with different cultural heritage months throughout the year. These exhibitions highlight the narratives of various cultural groups that are integral to Abilene’s history while weaving these stores into the broader historical fabric of the United States. November … Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Native American Heritage Month 2023

Immigrant Heritage Month honors immigrants and their positive impact on communities across the country, including those who have greatly contributed to the success of Abilene. This exhibition recognizes two such individuals who have demonstrated strong dedication to our community through their volunteer efforts on several local nonprofit boards and committees, especially here at The Grace Museum.  The Grace Museum is … Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Immigrant Heritage Month 2023

The relationship we have with man’s best friend is a two-way street.  But in art, our canine companions are usually included as an accessory for their owners or as a symbolic reference. Images of dogs can be found in prehistoric cave art and on ancient Egyptian monuments. Today, dogs are so much a part of our lives that they are often … Best Friends III: the dog as subject in fine art photography

As I See It: Earlie Hudnall, Jr. is a solo exhibition of the photography of Earlie Hudnall, Jr., who has lived for many years in Houston, Texas. He began photographing while in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1960s and finds inspiration in the beauty and pride in everyday life in Black communities in Texas. A strong sense of community … As I See It: Earlie Hudnall, Jr.

The Grace Museum presents art exhibitions curated to celebrate the significant contributions of Black artists in Texas, both past and present. The creative process of sharing personal experiences through the visual arts is a testament to the importance of documenting our cultural stories; marking the moment as witness. Each artist in this exhibition brings something authentic, unique, and valuable to … Witness: Black Artists in Texas, Then and Now

Earth Month is dedicated to educating the community about environmental issues, offering climate solutions, and promoting our Earth’s care and sustainability. This exhibition highlights Texas history related to environmental improvements, as well as local efforts spearheaded by groups like Keep Abilene Beautiful and Master Gardeners of Abilene.

June Van Cleef is a photographer from a large ranch in West Texas, about 100 miles from the United States and Mexican Border. She founded the photography department at Collin County Community College in Plano, where she taught for many years. In the 1990s, she received a sabbatical to photograph the people and landscapes of Presidio, Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Culbertson … June Van Cleef: Texas Outback

Independence Day in the United States is celebrated every July 4th to commemorate the Declaration of Independence in 1776 with fireworks, parades, and parties. Throughout Abilene’s history, Independence Day has meant a day off work and celebrating the holiday with friends, family, and the entire city. Families gathered to watch parades, and sometimes even participate, with young boys following the … Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Independence Day 2023