Page 15 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

Crouch was very active in her creation and could be seen spaces, admiring and complimenting artwork by fellow
every day roaming the halls of Sunset Center to check in students. This concept further reinforces the sense of
on artists for a quick minute- or hour-long conversation, community that members feel, as students feel more
depending on the need. She even brought her dogs with comfortable trying new mediums and developing
her every day to Sunset, walking them around to bestow friendships with fellow artists.
love on any passersby. Ann had her own studio on site,
where she created everything from massive textured Following Crouch’s passing in 2017, a foundation
landscapes and painted charcoal owls to the beautiful in her name was tasked with managing the Sunset
abstract paintings of her later years. She was also active Center facility and creating plans for its future. The
in other arts organizations in the community; she served Foundation’s goal was to stay true to Ann’s vision and
on the Chamber’s Arts Committee and Panhandle continue her work of supporting the arts and artists
Plains Historical Museum committees and consistently in the community. After two years and several bumps
attended local exhibitions like the Amarillo Museum along the way, the Crouch Foundation has undertaken
of Art’s 12x12, where she could always be counted a large project to carry out Crouch’s wishes for many
on to purchase several pieces from local artists. Her years. Over the next few years, the Sunset Center mall,
art collection, full of hundreds of pieces, is an eclectic now called Arts in the Sunset, will be undergoing major
compilation of well-known artists from around the renovations to help the facility become more functional.
world and the local artists whom she was vehement to The renovated facility will include the Amarillo Art
support and encourage. Institute, studio spaces for artists, exhibition space and a

community gallery. With more functionality, the Crouch
The Amarillo Art Institute began with small workshops Foundation, which owns the facility, plans to continue
offered throughout the year to help individuals in the Crouch’s vision to create an art mecca for artists and
community to learn from Master Artist instructors. art-lovers all over the community and world. The new
Over the past fifteen years, however, it has grown and facility will offer more opportunities for youth artists to
now offers ongoing classes, workshops, camps, open create and exhibit work, and supporting programs will
studio, and community programs. Every week, close provide opportunities for local artists to grow artistic
to 100 students come through the doors to learn oils, and business skills. The Foundation is excited to carry
watercolor, pastels, acrylic, drawing, weaving, and on the legacy that Ann Crouch left behind and invites all
ceramics. The school also offers opportunities to learn types of artists, patrons, and organizations to join in her
in encaustic, paper making, collage, glass fusing, and vision to make the arts in Amarillo a beacon in Texas.
other mediums. The Institute’s community programs
bring art instruction to schools through “Window on
a Wider World”, art classes at the PARC and senior
living facilities, and creativity classes with high
school students. Ask any member or student, though,
and they will likely tell you that, equally as important
as the instruction, is the creative and collaborative
environment. One of Crouch’s greatest strengths
was creating spaces where artists felt community
with each other, and the Institute is a great example
of how creativity can flourish among a collective
of artists. Crouch housed the Amarillo Art Institute
in a 25,000 square foot space with minimal walls, CLASSES ARE OPEN
giving the school a unique “open concept” where Oil l Acrylic l Watercolor l Pastel
classes take place in the same open air. Because of Drawing l Ceramics l Weaving
this concept, students frequently float through class
amarilloartinstitute.org l 806.354.8802

Amarillo Senior Link 15