Chicken Farm Artists

Mejo Okon
Painter
Mejo Okon was selected as one of 21 artists by Southwest Art magazine for their "21 Over 31 - You need to Know: Annual Emerging Artists Search Part II". The contest was open to artists in the U.S. and abroad. Winners will be published in the November 2009 issue and on their website. Her painting "Mertzon Ranch Rodeo" was showcased in the article.

She was awarded with an Honorable Mention for her oil painting "The Brahma-Charollais" in The Seven-State Biennial Competition (Artists residing in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) sponsored by the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. They also purchased her piece for their Permanent Collection. The exhibition runs now through November 27th in the USAO Art Gallery. The show then travels to the Charles B. Goddard Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma and will be on display until January 30, 2010.

In 2008 she was named "Artist of the Year" by the San Angelo Art Club. She is also member of the Colored Pencil Society of America.

A graduate of Heron School of Art at Indiana University in Indiana, Mejo has worked as a graphic designer and as a NBC courtroom sketch artist before devoting herself to painting full time. Her work has been published in Society of Illustrators: Illustrators 18 and 200 Years of American Illustration. Her work is in private collections in the USA and Mexico.

Gary Norman, impressionist/abstract artist
A unique style of impressionist and abstract batik art. He continually explores ways to create a variety of paintings with special textures and exciting color combinations.
His other passion, international travel inspires and influences his art.

Janet Moran/Flaming Glass Studios
An established textile artist and teacher. She has won acclaim for her prize winning quilts and teaches textile art in local, national, and international venues. She is currently creating art using the mixed media of fiber and glass. She creates her art in the hope of bringing pleasure to those who view it.

Janet has spent 22 years traveling the world as a military spouse. While living in England, she began traditional quilting and has since developed her own artistic voice. She spent ten years as an owner of a quilting store but now devotes all of her "work" time to developing and promoting her art. Janet lives in San Angelo, Tx with a loving and supporting husband.

Patti Hensley/Flaming Glass Studios
As a child, I was always making things from other things, using strings, found objects and such. As an adult I still love creating things, but my passion in glass was born at an art show in a park where I watched my first glass artist using fire and glass to create beads and sculptures. Since that time, I have studied with many famous artists in lampworking. After 30 years in the corporate world, flame working with glass is my medium of choice. There are still many hobbies that I enjoy, quilting being one, but lampworking is in my heart.

Ben Sum MFA, Texas Tech University
Assistant Professor of Art
Angelo State University
Ben Sum joined the ASU art Faculty in 2005. Before moving to San Angelo, Mr. Sum was a member of the art faculty at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. Mr. Sum has conducted many figure drawing and portraiture workshops in the West Texas area and at the Hong Kong Visual Art Center as well as directed mural projects in Snyder and in Hong Kong.
An active artist Mr. Sum has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and overseas. He is a recipient of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Grant. Mr. Sum's artwork is held in both public and private collections.

Oscar Latham/Stone dog Studio
Oscar's affinity for stone carving may have originated in his teen years, as he hauled limestone rocks out of the fields on farms and ranches in Central Texas. At the very least, this experience did motivate him to leave the farm and pursue an education in Social Sciences. While working on a Masters Degree in Social Work in San Antonio, experiences in and out of the classroom caused Oscar to reflect upon his life. These events led to his search for metaphysical understanding, which he continues to pursue daily.

Vicki Hardin/Iloveclaystudio
An established clay artist, has worked in clay for the last 21 years producing raku and pit fired pottery; garnering national and regional attention and praise for her work. She has shown throughout the southwest region, extensively in Texas, where she maintains her studio, Clay Art Pottery, home and family. Her pottery is currently on view at Show of Hands Gallery in Philadelphia and at her studio. In 1984 she established Clay Art Pottery at the Chicken Farm Art Center in San Angelo, where she continues to maintain a studio and gallery space. Vicki's work can be seen there by appointment made directly with the artist.

Joe Morgan /teacher/potter/sculpture
Joe Morgan is currently an art teacher at Central High School where he teaches Art I, Advanced 3-D, and Ceramics. Joe likes to play around with pottery, welding and sculpture. He specializes in horse hair pottery, giving demonstrations at the Art Center several times during the year. For samples of work, visit Joemorganpottery.50megs.com

Cycris Ho
A native of Hong Kong, Cycris Ho received her BFA in painting and drawing from ASU. Before coming to the United States, Cycris studied at Hong Kong Technical Institute in Graphic Design. Upon graduation she worked as a graphic designer and art coordinator for eight years. She is currently a freelance graphic artist and part-time art instructor in San Angelo.