VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Take a visual journey through Cowboys at Betz Gallery opening on Thursday, March 10 6PM-9PM. As March ushers in the spring art season, Betz Art Gallery, located at 1208 W. Gray in the Montrose section of Houston, is the place to be when artists Kevin Vandivier and Skeeter Hagler invites art enthusiasts to take a visual journey through "Cowboys."

The exhibition, which opens with a public reception on Tursday, March 10, from 6-9 p.m., and continues through March 25th, includes a variety of photographs and mixed media works. Beginning at 6 p.m. at the reception, Kevin and Skeeter will give a demonstration and talk on creativity -- discussing the creative process through their photographs.

Photographer Skeeter Hagler is the recipient of photography's highest honor, The Pulitzer Prize, for his documentary on the life of the West Texas cowboy. Skeeter has over 30 years of experience as a photographer and has t raveled the world on assignments and projects. As a freelance photographer, he is equally at ease photographing the West Texas Cowboy driving a weather beaten herd of cattle as he is waiting hours for the light to get just right to photograph a downtown building.

Skeeter has an eye for the details of a subject while at the same time seeing the overall importance of the subject to society and the world. In the words of former Speaker of the U.S. House, the Honorable Jim Wright, "Skeeter gets the picture before he takes it...and makes you feel what you see." Recent projects include "Born To This Land", a photo book with Texas' best-loved cowboy poet Red Steagall, and a book in progress chronicling growth of the master plan development of "Alliance, Texas".

If ³ all the world¹s a stage for an actor², then all the world¹s a studio for Kevin Vandivier! Whether he¹s chasing Hurricane Gilbert down in Mexico that generated a coveted LIFE cover and full two-page foldout in the magazine...or perched at the edge of a rumbling volcano on Mt. Kilahaua, Hawaii...whether he¹s interfacing with presidents and kings, or befriending a lonely homeless child on the streets of Romania, Kevin¹s keen eye for capturing life¹s unfolding drama with richness of color and soul-piercing human emotion, has distinguished his work among peers and public alike.

For over 30 years, Kevin Vandivier has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world, covering assignments for not only LIFE (cover), but also for TIME, NEWSWEEK, USA TODAY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORLD & ADVENTURE, TEXAS MONTHLY (also a cover), TEXAS HIGHWAYS and numerous other publications. His published works also include books, calendars and posters.

Kevin¹s book titles have included A MOTHER¹S TOUCH, SUNDAY IN AMERICA, THUNDER IN AMERICA: NASCAR¹S 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, TEXAS, SMOKIN HOT a Texas High School Football Photo Essay and hot off the presses TEXAS PUBLIC GARDENS.

Vandivier continually seeks out opportunities to give a voice to the voiceless as he has done in chronicling the lives of the Romanian street children through his camera lens. Beyond the goal of just telling a story, he hopes to raise public awareness in America that will generate tangible, life-changing help for many of those in need in the world.

In 2007, Kevin took a break from his freelance career to serve as Photography Editor for TEXAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE. Though his time proved short it was a very rich experience. As Photography Editor Kevin won multiple awards including an Honorable Mention for MAGAZINE PICTURE EDITOR OF THE YEAR in the coveted 2009 BEST OF PHOTOJOURNALISM competition. In January of 2009 Kevin started TEXAS PHOTO WORKSHOPS and has also enjoyed teaching excellence in photography to a very good number of photographers.

Betz Art Gallery is located at 1208 W. Gray in the Montrose section of Houston. For more information about the "Cowboys" exhibition, Betz Gallery's artists, or future events, contact Lori Betz at 713-576-6954, via e-mail at info@betzgallery.com  or by visiting the gallery's website www.betzgallery.com.

Work pictured above by Skeeter Hagler.