Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Celebrated September 15 to October 15 to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans to our nation. The observation began in 1968 was expanded by President in 1988. In this month we give extra recognition to the impact of history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and more. Here’s to 57 years of achievements!
Tracy Sommers (she,her,hers)
West Texas Area Director
www.afsp.org/westtexas
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
tsommers@afsp.org
T: 806.670.1227
Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle
PO Box 15127
Amarillo, TX 79105-5127
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One Saturday a month Cinergy will present a family friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory sensitivities. These showings will feature brightened light levels, reduced sound volume, and room for guest interaction and movement. These events are FREE to attend and open to the public.
CONTACT: Honnah Taylor
806-651-2235
Proximity: Rarely Seen Paintings from PPHM Come to WTAMU’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery
Canyon, Texas — Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and West Texas A&M University Art Program proudly present Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, a compelling new exhibition that invites viewers to consider how art brings us closer to one another, to the past, and to place. Exhibition opens August 25.
Featuring rarely seen works from the PPHM collection, Proximity showcases landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings by celebrated Texas artists including Isabel Robinson, Maurice Bernson, Olin Travis, Fred Darge, and Harold Bugbee. These paintings offer more than aesthetic beauty, they become vessels of identity, memory, and regional connection.
“In curating this exhibition, I wanted to highlight not only the individual artists but also the relationships their work creates,” says Deana Craighead, Curator of Art at PPHM. “These paintings reflect a shared geography, a shared history. In many ways, they help define who we are – then and now.”
In a region shaped by wide-open spaces and close-knit communities, Proximity explores how art narrows distance: between artist and viewer, between history and the present, and between the collective and the personal. It’s an opportunity to engage with the cultural richness of the Panhandle-Plains through works that have long been part of our story, yet rarely on public display.
Graduate students Kenedy Wheeler and Madilyn Ballew, serving as curatorial apprentices, have played an active role in developing Proximity as part of their coursework. Their hands-on experience includes selecting artworks, contributing to curatorial discussions, conducting research, drafting extended labels, and assisting with artwork preparation and
installation. Their contributions not only enhance the exhibition but also highlight the museum’s vital role in educating and mentoring the next generation of arts professionals in our region.
This exhibition also marks a continued partnership between PPHM and WTAMU’s Art Program, deepening the commitment to preserving, studying, and celebrating the art of our region. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery and reflect on ways art connects us across time and space.
Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
August 25 – October 24, 2025
Dord Fitz Formal Gallery | Mary Moody Northen Hall | West Texas A&M University.
Admission is free and open to the public during regular gallery hours.
For more information, visit www.panhandleplains.org or call 806.651.2244.
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Thank you!
Honnah Taylor
Director of Marketing & Communications
Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum | TEXAS Outdoor Musical
D: 806.651.2235 | T: 806.651.2244
cultural foundation | panhandleplains.org | texas-show.com
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Save the Date: Amarillo International Film Festival — October 9-11, 2025 – Arts in the Sunset
Open from September 20th – January 9th at the Don Harrington Discovery Center.
Calling young artists and inventors! Immerse yourself in the mind of Leonardo da Vinci– building, sketching, testing, and designing, just like the “Renaissance Man” himself. Hands-on activity tables explore his contributions to art, science, anatomy and engineering. Will you recreate da Vinci’s work, or add an exciting twist that’s all your own?
Included with membership or general admission.
Leonardo’s Lab, a traveling exhibit, was developed by Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and produced in partnership with the Sciencecenter (Ithaca, New York).
Hello!
It is once again time for our annual VA Welcome Home celebration, and we are so excited that we will have a new venue in the Amarillo Civic Center for the event this year . If you are receiving this email, you have either joined us in the past, have requested the information, or have been referred to be a part. The event focuses on thanking our Veterans for their service, offering resources and information that may be beneficial to them, and it generates a great crowd.
If you have participated in the past, THANK YOU, and we hope you come back this year! If you have not, we would love for you to join us as we come together as a community to thank our Veterans and their families. We have hosted up to 2000 people at this event in prior years, so you will have the opportunity to share your program/business information with a huge audience at NO COST. All vendor space is FREE and is first come, first serve. Anyone is welcome to have a booth and we welcome you to come and enjoy the celebration and mingle with some of our nation’s greatest. This year space is somewhat limited, and we only have room for 60 vendors, so please get your forms in early!
If you would like to participate, we ask that you return the attached vendor form ASAP to the contact below so we can save a space for you. Lunch is also provided free of charge to everyone in attendance, including Vendors.
If you would like to be in the CHILDREN’s AREA specifically, please notate it on your vendor form. If you have any questions about the children’s area, please contact Reagan Maldonado at the numbers listed below.
See attached for the official flyer for your reference and to share at your place of business if you wish. We hope you will join us and look forward to hearing from you!
EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday November 1st, 2025
When: 11am-1pm
Where: Amarillo Civic Center, North Exhibit Hall—401 S. Buchanan *** Please note change in venue if you have participated in years prior***
Contact:
Reagan Maldonado @ 806-223-9773, 806-681-5763 or reagan.maldonado@va.gov
Many Thanks!
Reagan Maldonado, LCSW
CRT SW/CC&ICM Program Coordinator
Office of the Chief of Staff
Amarillo VAMC
US Department of Veterans Affairs
6010 Amarillo Blvd West
Amarillo , TX 79109
(806)355-9703 x 4508
(806)681-5763 cell