Galveston Art League Spotlights UTMB Staffers’ Creativity

The Galveston Art League has a unique exhibit from Nov. 29 through Dec. 30: artwork created by five University of Texas Medical Branch staff members.  Following is a brief overview of these artists and the vibrant works they will display and offer for sale from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at the Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston.  

• Mary Feldhusen, editor of the UTMB Health System Friday Focus newsletter, studied studio art at St. Edward’s University in Austin. She has painted for 22-plus years ― primarily acrylic on canvas. In creating her paintings, Mary says she likes to capture shapes and colors while allowing the piece to evolve as she observes the subject. She previously has shown her artwork at other local venues.
• Christian Mikobi is a business coordinator for the division of geriatric medicine. She works in acrylics on canvas and has been painting commissioned pieces for friends and family since elementary school. She received honorable mention for the 2018 UTMB Earth Day Art Contest.
• Rae Kretzmer, MS, RDN, is a nutritionist at the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging. Rae has always loved art, and her move to Galveston has inspired her to create acrylic works on canvas and photography, including artwork for this special exhibit.

• Christopher Fry, PhD, an assistant professor and researcher for the Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, has taken fluorescent pictures of muscle cells for more than seven years. One of his photographs was selected as a 2017 contest winner through Vector Labs. He considers himself a professional muscle biologist and amateur muscle artist. Chris uses techniques that involve isolation of muscle stem cells, in vitro culturing, and immunocytochemical detection via fluorescent markers to make art out of science. His Vector Labs winner, Skeletal Muscle Myofibroblast Transition, a 36-by-24-inch photo on canvas, will be exhibited at the Art League gallery.
• Jean Gutierrez, PhD, RD, LD, is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Metabolism and also serves as program director for the MS and dietetic internship program. Jean has exhibited her art at galleries in Georgetown, Texas, and Ithaca, N.Y., and also has contributed artwork to a charity auction to benefit multiple sclerosis research. Jean primarily works in oil and jewelry-making; she is currently adding silver and markers to her media repertoire. She will display Beetle, a 16-by-20-inch oil painting, at the Art League gallery.
In addition to their individual artworks being shown, Christopher and Jean also will collaborate on a 36-by-27-inch team piece entitled Fluorescent Labeling of Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells.
The mission of the Galveston Art League, a 104-year-old nonprofit organization, is to promote visual arts. The Art League promotes local artists and offers many educational opportunities to the community at large. It operates galleries on Postoffice in Galveston and at 611 6th St. N. in Texas City. For more information about the organization, its workshops, membership, and opportunities to show your support, please visit GalvestonArtLeague.com.

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