COUNTY LIFE
Camera to canvas: 50 years in the visual arts celebrated by Nocona couple
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Larry and Donna Lemons will mark 50 years in the visual arts with a special celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15 at their gallery in Nocona at 300 Clay.
One of the highlights of the day will be the unveiling of a coffee table book, “A Brush With Faith.” It reflects on a career of “picture taking” and the path he and the love of his life, Donna Rose took, as they built their lives together, with faith often directing those decisions.
Larry’s art career began when he picked up a camera during his second semester at Cooke County Junior College after high school graduation.
Through that lens, he and Donna would create a successful photography studio working for 27 years before he picked up a paintbrush to spark a new avenue of creativity for himself that included writing books and teaching art.
Larry, now 70 and Donna, 68, were high school sweethearts. He and his future wife lived only three streets away from each other when his family moved to Nocona when he was a fourth grader. He graduated two years ahead of her and they were engaged.
He worked at The Nocona News doing everything from deliveries to addressing papers. It was during his second semester at Cooke County Junior College a friend, Gene Brown, talked him into taking a basic photography course.
“I told him I had no interest in this and didn’t know anything about it, but it still sounded intriguing. I didn’t want to go in with no information so I bought a few photography magazines and read through them looking at the pretty pictures. I read about F-stops, focal planes and shutter speeds.
“At first I thought it sounded too complicated, but I also really liked the pictures. I ordered a Minolta camera from a New York camera shop. When I started messing with it the stuff I read began to make sense,” recalls Larry.
As the class progressed and he learned how the camera worked, Larry loved it. Taking black and white photos, then seeing them come to life after processing them in the dark room was fascinating for a young man searching for his future.
Cruisin’ Nocona last weekend had more than 50 entries for the car show including cars, motorcycles, ATVs and working trucks. It was hosted by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce and Nocona Gas Junkies.
This is the list of winners, excluding working trucks which were not available at press time.
Best of Show went to Gary Gregory and his1971 C-10 and the People’s Choice went to Greg Johnson with his 1972 Chevy C10.
See more results and photos in the Thursday Bowie News.
Bubble painting and baking soda painting will be on tap for the 10 a.m. June 10 summer reading program this week.
It is open to children ages 0-12 and these free programs will be at the Bowie Community Center at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in June and July excluding July 1. Children will be given a reading log to bring with them to each program. Each child also receives a book at the end of the series.
Make plans to enjoy a leisure Saturday in the park at the Music in the Park Festival on June 14 in Bowie’s Pelham Park.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day hosted by the Bowie Community Center and R&K Sound Company.
The day opens with a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavillion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. Enter at the QR code on the Clear Choice Facebook page or email fourseasonsraceseries@gmail.com.
Live accoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corbin Woolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee) and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847.
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