Additional philanthropic foundation, business and individual support are needed to make this a reality for the community today and for generations to come. This investment is an investment that benefits families, local employees and the overall quality of life that allows economic growth to thrive and North Texas to sustain its national leadership role as a desirable hub for business and “best places to live.”

“By supporting the Arts of Collin County, Collin County families and corporations are demonstrating their leadership to ensure our region offers quality of life, cultural development and economic impact for generations to come,” states Mike Simpson. “The Arts of Collin County Commission is grateful for their support.”

As the project gets closer to reaching its fundraising goal, groundbreaking is in sight for Spring. The guaranteed maximum price for construction will be announced in February. With this final investment figure, the Arts of Collin County and owner cities can proceed with approval to break ground for phase 1 which includes a 2,100 seat state-of-the-art performing arts hall and arts park nestled among 100+ acres located at the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Exchange Parkway where the cities of Allen, Frisco, McKinney and Plano meet. . Based on today’s market and low construction costs, the remaining funds needed are expected to between $8M and $10M.

A virtual tour of the project is available for viewing at www.artsofcollincounty.org also where online donations are accepted.

About The Arts of Collin County

The Arts of Collin County (ACC) is a nationally recognized, innovative, public-private partnership to develop a 100+ acre arts park. Co-owned by the cities of Allen, Frisco and Plano, with operational support by member cities, Fairview and Melissa, the development of the arts park is supported with $57 million in bond monies, up to $3 million in Collin County Open Space Grant funds, and an additional $17 million financial support from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Located at Sam Rayburn Tollway/ 121 and Custer Road, the arts park will be completed in phases, with a 2,100-seat performing arts hall, sculpture garden, performance meadow, and hike and bike trails included in Phase One. To contribute and learn more, visit the ACC website at www.artsofcollincounty.org or call 214-495-5810.

Sandra Yancey

Business woman Sandra Yancey has been appointed as an At Large Member of the Arts of Collin County Commission. Sandra, her husband Kym and their two children have been strong supporters of the arts community for a number of years.

“As a Plano resident, I have a strong interest in this project. Our collective communities are built on wonderful principles and values and our infrastructure in leading edge,” states Mrs. Yancey. “The only missing element is a world-class arts center, and I would like to contribute to bringing it to our community.”

Yancey is best known for founding eWomenNetwork in 2001, an online networking database that connects women business owners and professionals. As CEO, Yancey has won numerous awards including Business Women’s Network and Microsoft’s 2005 Entrepreneur Star Award, Women’s Regional Publishing Association’s 2005 Advocate of the Year award and Enterprising Women’s Enterprising Women Advocacy Award in 2006. Yancey also founded the eWomenNetwork Foundation in 2001 and has donated thousands of dollars to women’s non-profit organizations and scholarship foundations.

“As we expand the Board to seven members, we looked for members with a corporate network and experience in fundraising as well as passion for the arts,” states E. Michael Simpson, Executive Director of the Arts of Collin County. “Sandra’s experience with nonprofits will add to the collective resources of the board.”

The Arts of Collin County Commission Board of Directors expanded from five to seven members in April of 2009 with two members representing each of the three Owner cities, Allen, Frisco and Plano and one at-large member. With Yancey’s appointment, the final At-Large Member position was filled.

“The Arts of Collin County Commission welcomes Sandra Yancey to the project. Her extensive experience in nonprofits, business development and collaboration will be an asset to our team,” states Bobby Baggett, President of the Arts of Collin County Commission Board of Directors.

The remaining representatives include Mr. Nick Barretta of Frisco, Mr. Bobby Baggett of Plano, Mr. Jim Minyard of Frisco, Dr. Betty Muns of Plano, Mr. Charles Nies of Allen and Mr. Craig Sundell of Allen.

For more information about the Arts of Collin County, visit www.artsofcollincounty.org.

About The Arts of Collin County

The Arts of Collin County (ACC) is a nationally recognized, innovative, public-private partnership to develop a 124 acre arts park. Co-owned by the cities of Allen, Frisco and Plano, with operational support by member cities, Fairview and Melissa, the development of the arts park is supported with $57 million in bond monies, $3 million in Collin County Open Space Grant funds, and an additional $17 million financial support from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Located at State Highway 121 and Custer Road, the arts park will be completed in phases, with a 2,100-seat performing arts hall, performance meadow, and hike and bike trails included in Phase One. To contribute and learn more, visit the ACC website at www.artsofcollincounty.org or call 214-495-5810.

Backroads: Joe Ing Exhibit

Saturday, June 6, the 14^th Street Gallery in Plano, Texas, is holding a reception for Viewing the World Through a Toy Camera by Chip VanPelt and Backroads by Joe Ing. Mr. VanPelt is exhibiting photographs from his travels in Europe and around Texas. Mr. Ing is displaying photographs of country scenes from rural America. Both exhibits are well worth a visit to the 14^th Street Gallery.

Viewing the World Through a Toy Camera

Mr. VanPelt uses a Holga camera for his photography. For those who don’t know, a Holga is a plastic camera that uses medium format film. Holgas are referred to as toy cameras because they are cheaply made in China and feel like something you would give to a child as a first camera. Photographers, however, are not fooled by the lack of quality. They have embraced the Holga and all it quarks to product stunning images. The most notable quark is the less than perfect lens which produces an inconsistently blurry image with a sweet spot of clarity. Holgas are also prone to light leaks, vinyetting and minor distortion. All of these effects could be achieved in Photoshop, but the Holga does them naturally.

Now that you understand Holga, we can discuss the dreamy quality of Mr. VanPelts photographs. Toy Camera exhibits monuments, statues, people, the Alamo and Big Tex. The images, probably shot with black-and-white film (You do remember film, don’t you?), are produced in Sepia tone, which gives the subjects warmth.

A typical Holga shot is VanPelt’s Alamo. The photograph has heavy vinyetting around the corners, so much that it resembles an old TV screen. The image is angled nicely to show mostly the top of the Alamo and it is void of people, which is hard to do with all the tourists.

My favorite photograph was Street Tango. It shows a couple dancing on a portable dance floor in the middle of a crowd. The angle is such that we are part of the crowd watching the dancers over the shoulder of another tourist. The photo has nice contrast and a very rich feeling.

Backroads

I don’t know what type of camera Mr. Ing uses, but I can say with great certainty that it was not a Holga. His photographs a vivid, crisp and quark free. And they are also rustic and comfortable at the same time. Mr. Ing’s subjects include old general stores, weathered barns, roads, fields and sky; lots and lots of sky. The colors are vivid and refreshing.

Early Moonrise has the quality of a silkscreen print. The photograph shows a sliver of land with a tiny tree and a dot of a moon. The rest is all sky that looks masterfully mixed by a printmaker starting with pink and ranging to bark blue.

Mr. Ing has a good eye for shapes and textures. Details include wire, nails, chipped paint, boarded up windows and roof tin.

My favorite photograph was After Storm. The photograph is again mostly sky with a sliver of land at the bottom and a rainbow streaking diagonally through the middle. You can’t plan for a image like After Storm. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. But you do have to be a good photographer to get the image right and that is what Mr. Ing did … beautifully.

14^th Street Gallery

The 14^th Street Gallery is located in downtown Plano, Texas. The gallery is in a wonderfully, remodeled, light brick building just a little past the new downtown development. Parking is available behind the building.

14^th Street Gallery is owned and operated by Gaby Pruitt, one of the nicest gallery owners I have ever met. Ms. Pruitt kindly gave me a tour of the exhibits and told me all about the other services she offers. 14^th Street Gallery does custom printing, matting, framing, scanning, restoration and dry-mounting. Ms. Pruitt can print images on high quality materials. Examples of her printing are also on display. Check them out too.

Toy Camera: Chip VanPelt Exhibit

Viewing the World Through a Toy Camera
Backroads
14th Street Gallery | Reception 7 p.m. on June 6

Viewing the World Through a Toy Camera by Chip VanPelt and Backroads by Joe Ing will have a opening reception from 7 – 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the 14th Street Gallery in Plano, Texas. Mr. VanPelt, an advertising business owner in Garland, has documented some of his travels with his Holga camera. Mr. Ing, a friend of Mr. VanPelt, will also exhibit some of his travels.

The 14th Street Gallery is on 1412 14th Street in Plano, Texas. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. The 14th Street Gallery is directed by Gabrielle Pruitt. Contact Ms. Pruitt at 972-633-3822 for more information.

Dallas Art News will have a review of the exhibit soon.

Backroads: Joe Ing Exhibit