Hello all!

The opening of Light Through a Lens at the Davis & Blevins Gallery is March 2, 2024. It is a group show with my work as well as work by Dave Shafer, Emily McCartney Eiguren, Debra Fox, Tim Newton, Katie Sickles Rust, Craig Nadziejka and Willetta Crowe. This is the gallery and studio of Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inductee and noted western artist Donna Howell-Sickles. She has been a true patron of western photographers and has put on a yearly show for quite awhile now. I owe her a debt of gratitude for giving us such a fantastic opportunity to show our work.

I will be primarily showing my new body of work called Ranch Bubbles, but there are some Target Practice pieces available as well.

So enter this address into your Map and see what routes pop up!

108 S. Main St – On the Historic Town Square
Saint Jo, Texas 76265

The reception will be from 1-4pm. I will be there and hope some of you can join us in Saint Jo. Since the population of Saint Jo is roughly 1000 souls, many of you might be coming from as far away as Dallas or Wichita Falls. I hope you will make a day of it. There are so many fun places to stop along the way.

Saint Jo is on Highway 82 which runs east/west across nearly all of Texas. And it continues east all the way to Florida. In this neck of the woods, my neck of the woods, it goes from Henrietta all the way to Gainesville and this is my ranch/hometown triangle. I’m either going to Wichita Falls or the ranch and I either take 287 through Bowie (on to Henrietta if I am Falls bound) or 35 up to Gainesville where I hook a left and head through Lindsay, Muenster, Saint Jo, Nocona, and Ringgold after which I roll right on into Clay County and head north to the land of cows and clouds (and bubbles).

In Saint Jo itself you will find not only the gallery, but the wonderful Davis & Blevins gift shop next door. There are prints and gifts of Donna Howell-Sickles works (originals too, of course) as well as gift items ranging from mineral specimens to jewelry, cards, kitchen gadgets, and tasty things too.

Also visit Panache, another home and gift store. You can grab a cheeseburger at the Windmill Grill or try Chisholm Chophouse which is on my list to try soon. I don’t think there is a show scheduled for Red River Station, but drive by either way and consider some of their other shows coming up. It is a fun venue. I just bought tickets for the Hayes Carll show in May. Finally, if you are a military history buff there is a rather impressive museum of all things explosive on the square too.

If you are coming from Dallas on 35, I like to stop at the giant second hand bookstore Recycled Books (music also) on the square in Denton. They have a vibrant town square that is great for a little walk and shop. Same goes for Gainesville (where you will then head west on 82). In Gainesville make sure to stop at Paige Davidson Studio (and handbag line called Cahoot’s) and buy some ceramics or original art, or any of a million other great gifts. I love to buy one little piece of pottery every time I pass though. There are antique shops on the square and two or three great looking food stops. Cornerstone Café and Sarah’s on the Square both look fantastic.

Next for me is Muenster where I stop at Fischer’s German Grocer for some landjeger. There is a German restaurant called Romer’s but I have not yet tried it because I’m always trying to get to the ranch in a hurry. Visit Main Street Antiques or Muenster Antique Mall if you are in the mood to do a little picking. Bayer’s gas station and bakery has big giant strudels if you need one.

If you took 287 from Fort Worth or Dallas, stop in Decatur. Lots of folks love Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes which is a boisterous family restaurant on the square. I stop for BBQ occasionally at Ritzy B’s which is just north of Decatur, and you have to make a rather fast maneuver to turn off 287 to get the entrance so be careful if you stop there.

In Bowie, please stop at Homestyle Collective as it is run by two of the sweetest designers ever, and I love them and their sense of style. Great gifts and a mix of custom furniture and curated vintage finds. Beyond Bowie, in Stoneburg, is a nice little BBQ joint called 5 BBQ. The Stalcups are incredibly nice folks. Check the hours on line if you are going to try it, and don’t blink or you will pass it. It is out there a ways.

You can also drive through Montague for a pretty little road trip.

If you are coming from Wichita Falls, Nocona has really gotten festive in the last few years. Sapphires & Sagebrush for vintage western goodies is fun. 217 Coffee has terrific snickerdoodles and drinks. Peonies is a cute little gift shop, and they are opening a spot in Saint Jo soon. They have a hat bar where you can bling out a hat with all kinds of decorations and baubles. I was told that Mi Famiglia is good for some Tex-Mex and Red River Pizza for pizza if that is more your style.  And the old boot factory is now home to the Nokona Ballgloves company and they have a factory store. The other side of the boot factory is a beer garden and restaurant. Do not, I repeat, do not speed through Nocona, Texas. And do not resume a fast clip until the sign says you may do so. You have been warned.

Once you get closer to Saint Jo there are several wineries and plenty of AirBnB options if you want to make a weekend of checking out North Texas. Diana Ross is singing at the WinStar on the 1st. That could be a heck of a show.

At any rate…I’m thrilled you might be considering coming. It is something of a haul from the metroplex or the Falls, but there is fun to be had if you snoop around. I love this area. I adore it. You will enjoy getting off the road and talking to folks.

Or, head straight to Saint Jo! We’ll all be happy to see you. Please see the Davis & Blevins website for all the pertinent information on the show. Leave a comment if there is a great spot on this route that I’ve missed.