June 2024

The Artist

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I V T H E R A P Y

M E M B E R S H I P S

Experience delicious Coastal American Cuisine while enjoying beautiful bay side views at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. Whether you are looking for a hearty breakfast or delectable dinner, dine with us to taste exquisite pasta dishes, fresh seafood and more. Let us make the most of your culinary journey of taste and texture.

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Why choose a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association which encompasses comprehensive dental care for all children, from infancy through adolescence.

A children’s dental specialist like Dr. Solis is practitioner who, after becoming a general dentist (often called a family dentist), has completed an additional two years of post-doctoral training in the recognition and treatment of children’s dental services. Specialty education includes child psychology, behavior guidance, preventative techniques and restorative dentistry.

A thorough exam will be done to evaluate the health of your child’s teeth, gums and mouth. Dr. Solis will evaluate your child’s growth and development and check to make sure your child’s oral development is on track. Our office will make child-specific recommendations for the need of sealants, fluoride and other services based on your child’s individual needs and habits.

Dr. Steven Solis was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated from the Health Science Academy at Foy H. Moody High School in 2007 followed by his attendance at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2011. He went on to attend dental school at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, graduating in 2015 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery. After dental school he spent the next two years in Holyoke, Massachusetts where he first completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency through the New York University-Lutheran

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system and then practiced dentistry at the Laredo Branch of the University of Texas Health-San Antonio. Dr. Solis is no stranger to Dentistry Just for Kids, since he started as a patient at the office back in 1996 with Dr Sewell and eventually was one of Dr. Nolfi’s patients. Throughout college Dr. Solis worked at the office during his summers and developed a deep love for the office, its staff, and the patients so much so that he has come full circle to work with us and his mentor, Dr. Nolfi. Dr. Solis’ hobbies include cycling, scoping out local eateries, traveling for continuing education courses, and anything in the realm of superheroes.

Rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It’s the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.

The majority of Alzheimer’s patients are 65 years of age or older, but it doesn’t just affect older adults.According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 200,000 people in the United States who are under the age of 65 also have early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms usually develop slowly and become more severe over time. The most common early symptom of the disease involves difficulty in remembering newly learned information. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms may present that include disorientation, confusion about information, mood changes, behavior changes, unfound suspicions about known individuals, and even difficulty in walking, speaking, or swallowing.

While there’s currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s, treatments for symptoms are available.

At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, our specially-trained, interdisciplinary team works with Alzheimer’s patients and their families to help them maintain their abilities and independence for as long as possible. This in turn can help to decrease caregiver stress.

Depending upon the stage of the disease, we create individualized treatment plans with patients and family members, which can include:

• Physical Therapy – Focuses on improving balance, muscle strength and mobility; fall prevention

• Speech-Language Pathology – Focuses on cognitive and communication skills; swallowing difficulties

• Occupational Therapy – Focuses on daily living activities such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting

• Neuropsychology Counseling—Helps patients and family members adjust to emotional and physical changes

• Home Evaluations – Identifies necessary modifications to provide a safe home environment

• Family/Caregiver Education – Teaches caregivers about disease process and how to best help

• Community Resources – Provides patients and caregivers with educational resources, including respite care

For more information on Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital’s Alzheimer’s services, call 361-906-3700.

Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital provides specialized rehabilitation services to patients recovering from or living with injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. The hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its Stroke Rehabilitation program and Brain Injury Program. For more information, visit CCRH.ernesthealth.com.

JOEY BLAZEK

PUBLISHER

Chris Knapick chris@thebendmag.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Kylie Cooper kylie@thebendmag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Jarred Schuetze jarred@thebendmag.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Alexa Rodriguez alexa@thebendmag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kent Cooper kent@thebendmag.com

SALES DEVELOPMENT

Kim Delos Santos kim@thebendmag.com

COPY EDITOR

Steve Gill

PHOTOGRAPHY

Rachel Benavides

Robin Blackshear

Matthew Meza

Jason Page

Benjamin Zaragosa

CONTRIBUTORS

Luis Arjona

Jillian Becquet

Justin Butts

Kayla Butts

Kirby Conda

Jacqueline Gonzalez

Jo Anne Howell

Eleanor Mason

Vanessa Perez

Lauren Pieper

Elizabeth Welsh

PRESIDENT Jordan Regas jordan@hilltopmediagroup.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Kaley Regas kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Meagan Matthews meagan@hilltopmediagroup.com

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Lisa Munson accounting@thebendmag.com

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The Bend Magazine Volume 11 / Issue 6. The Bend Magazine is published by Bend Holdings Sub, LLC. Copyright © 2024 Bend Holdings Sub, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. The Bend is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials. The Bend reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed detrimental to the community's best interest or in questionable taste. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.

Volume 11 / Issue 6, The Bend (periodicals 25150) is published monthly, 12 times a year, by Hilltop Media Group, 402 Peoples St. 4C, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Periodical postage paid at Corpus Christi, TX and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Bend, P.O. Box 16765, Hollywood, CA, 91615.

SPINAL SURGERY

– Minimal invasive microscopic endoscopic lumbar discectomy

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BRAIN SURGERY

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PAIN PROCEDURES

– Dorsal column spinal (DCS) stimulator

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Sparking Conversations and Creativity

As editor-in-chief of The Bend, I don’t spend nearly as much time interviewing subjects for pieces as I once did in my earlier days with the magazine. I haven’t written a profile for the annual Artist Issue in four years; that responsibility has been imparted to a handful of talented writers over the last several iterations. This year, when our team selected Jimmy Peña as one of the five featured artists, I felt particularly inclined to get myself involved again.

Peña is a notable name in the local art scene, and I’ve been a fan of his work for a long time. Beyond his talent, I’ve admired Peña’s outlook on the world, his creative perspective and the comforting energy he exudes. When interviewing the artist for a story back in early 2018, our conversation pivoted at one point to the topic of love and I shared with him, before anyone else in my life, that I had just gotten engaged. The genuine joy and care he expressed in that moment meant so much and has always stuck with me. To now have the honor of sharing his story with our readers in a longform way is almost a kismet moment of gratitude—and the best way I can think of to rejoin the writing team for this feature.

Longtime readers will know the Artist Issue has been an annual theme since 2015. To prepare for this issue each year, our team puts

out a call to Coastal Bend museum and gallery professionals, art professors and previously featured artists to gather recommendations for the current year’s lineup. Our goal with the final selection is not only to spotlight individuals doing new, innovative things but to honor the longtime greats, as well.

Beginning on page 37, contributing writer Vanessa Perez, managing editor Alexa Rodriguez and I pull back the curtain to showcase the inner workings of local artists June Ainsworth, Leticia Gomez, Jimmy Peña, Alison Schuchs and Leandra Urrutia. I suggest you take in the feature twice: Once to immerse yourself in the visionary world of each artist and then once more to pair their works with their beautifully articulated life stories. From picture-perfect portraiture work to thoughtprovoking anatomical ceramics, each of these artists takes in the world around them to form a narrative that, in turn, helps us all make sense of the world around us.

On page 47, featured artist Leandra Urrutia speaks to this very idea: “There’s a lot of reality in people’s work. Our stories are so ingrained in us. If we could change some of these narratives, the world would change,” she said. “In my art, I flip the script on some of these ideas and challenge how we think about these connections.”

Other art-filled stories fill our pages this month, such as Driscoll’s first-ever licensed art therapist (pg. 24); a look inside a 1930s-era bungalow boasting local art and inspired design (pg. 28); a lineup of artfully plated dishes to savor (pg. 53) and the tale behind an iconic Corpus Christi mural’s second life (pg. 64).

From these stories, I hope you find inspiration to start on that creative idea you’ve been putting off, spark a conversation with someone to learn more about their endeavors, stop by a local gallery to check out the artistic talent in our community or all of the above. With that, enjoy the masterpieces awaiting you inside.

KYLIE COOPER, EDITOR IN CHIEF kylie@thebendmag.com

BIG HEART

It is so inspiring to learn of young Coastal Bend residents dedicating their extra time and resources to giving back. Seven-year-old Nate Gonzalez founded his own nonprofit focused on uplifting other kids in our community. Pg. 20

LISTEN CLOSELY

As a record enthusiast, I am beyond excited for Corpus Christi’s first vinyl listening bar, OK HI-FI. The brainchild of local producer and DJ El Dusty, the new spot promises an evening filled with music unlike anything else in town. Pg. 54

KEEPING MEXICA TRADITION ALIVE IN THE COASTAL BEND

I’ve had the privilege of being at several events where Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin shared its prayers and rituals. Not only is it a beautiful and sacred experience, but an educational one. I am honored to include a piece of the group’s story in this month’s issue. Pg. 62

NATE'S

How this local student became an Olympic athlete and the road ahead to Paris 2024

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Ryann Phillips

How this local student became an Olympic athlete and the road ahead to Paris 2024

By Kylie Cooper Photo by Benjamin Zaragosa

At just 20 years old, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi student Ryann Phillips has officially become an Olympic athlete. One of the best trap shooters in the country, Phillips earned one of only two spots to make the team.

In an interview with the university at the beginning of this year, Phillips said, “When you take on a dream like this, it’s definitely a labor of love. When I first began shooting as a kid, I almost gave it up, but then I tried again and as my mom says — I came back with a vengeance. I am incredibly proud and excited to have the chance to represent my country and this university on the world’s stage.”

We caught up with Phillips to discuss trap shooting, her initial reaction to finding out she had made the team and what she's most looking forward to about heading to Paris.

Kylie Cooper: How did you first get into the sport of trap shooting?

Ryann Phillips: I got started in shooting sports through 4-H when I was in third grade. I wanted to show animals, and my mom told me no, so I went and found something else to participate in and chose shotgun sports and archery. I ended up quitting archery but stuck with the shotgun.

Eventually, I began competing in international USA Shooting competitions. In 2018, I did really well at the San Antonio Stock Show SALE Shoot in Modified Trap, which was sponsored by USA Shooting that year. From there, I got an invite to the Texas State Junior Olympics and then to Colorado Springs for nationals — and I haven’t stopped competing since.

KC: How would you explain trap shooting to someone who has never heard of the sport?

RP: My sport consists of shooting rounds of 25 shots at flying orange disks called birds. We shoot 12-gauge shotguns, and however many you hit out of those 25 targets is your score. Most international competitions consist of five rounds of 25.

KC: You are officially on the USA trap shooting team for the 2024 Summer Olympics. What did the trials entail?

RP: To make the Olympic team, you must compete at two International Shooting Sports Federation-sanctioned matches. After that, two matches made up Part 1 and Part 2 of the Olympic trials. They took the top two women and the top two men in trap to compete at the Games.

KC: What was your initial reaction when you found out you had made the team?

RP: Mostly excitement. It still doesn’t feel real, so some of that excitement hasn’t hit. Mostly I was very proud of myself for shooting as well as I did.

Photo provided by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

KC: What does it take to become an Olympic-level shooter?

RP: Dedication and a love for the game. Shooting is a very time-consuming and expensive sport. You have to be willing to put in the work even when it isn’t fun anymore, and then go back out and remember that love and passion.

KC: What does it mean for you to have female representation in this sport?

RP: I feel like female representation in all sports is important, especially shooting sports. When I first started in the sport, I was told there weren't many girls, which is still true. There are a lot of women and girls who don’t participate because it is seen as a “boy sport.” I want people to realize that the only thing that matters is if you are having fun.

KC: You’ll be heading to Paris for the games soon. What are you most looking forward to?

RP: We are participating in the Opening Ceremonies at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which is really cool. That is probably what I am most excited about, because it is an amazing and unique opportunity.

KC: How can the Coastal Bend community support you?

RP: Help spread the word about shooting sports. I am always looking for new people who want to participate in the sport. If anyone wants to learn how to start or just have questions, they are welcome to reach out to me on Instagram. I also want people to advocate for everyone to find a sport or a hobby they love and to stick with it, no matter other peoples’ opinions.

Tough Jobs, Smooth Starts

CONTACT

@ryann.phillips22

2024 CHARITY LEAGUE COCKTAIL PARTY

Held at a private residence on Feb. 14, the annual Charity League Cocktail Party benefited the Corpus Christi Literacy Council. After the Cocktail Party and Annual Style Show and Luncheon, $365,000 was raised for the local nonprofit.

STATE OF DOWNTOWN 2024

from local businesses.

Emily & Marcus Veazy

Eric Vela, Ken Haynes and Dr. Derek Chang

Todd Pietsch and Marshall & Lani Davidson

Bibiana Dykema and Garrett & Trish Frazier

photography

Elizabeth Lomax and Richard Lomax

The State of Downtown 2024 was hosted at BUS on Mar. 28. The annual fundraising event featured the presentation of the 2023 Impact Report, Downtowner Awards, live music and specialty tastings

Cody Hammond, Cade Mason & Alyssa Barrera-Mason and Adrian Escobar

Presentation of the 2024 Downtowner Awards

Al Arreola Jr., Brett Oetting, Amy Granberry, Christina Sanchez and Kevin Smith

Mike Olivarez, Hilary Soderborg and Hank Harrison

Cecilia Orozco and Logan Cobbs

Bend

Nate’s Big Heart

How

a seven-year-old community member’s nonprofit helps kids achieve their goals

By Luis Arjona Photos by Robin Blackshear

Nate’s Next Kid Up is the brainchild of a selfless and compassionate Coastal Bend seven-year-old who harbored a profound desire to make a difference. In the solitude of 2020’s isolation, Nate Gonzalez conceived a heartfelt wish: to offer his Christmas gifts to the foster children of his community.

Gonzalez’s motivation came from a simple conversation about missing family and friends during the holidays. Upon learning about the circumstances that children in foster care face, his empathetic nature led him to forgo his gifts, wishing instead for these children to feel loved and cherished. With the support of the National Little League, Gonzalez began a toy drive.

“At a young age, he has always had a big heart and wanted to help others,” said Nate’s mother, Izzy Gonzalez. “We just want to help him achieve those goals.”

However, Gonzalez’s vision extended beyond just toys; he promoted the provision of sports equipment, advocating for an active and wholesome lifestyle for children. As the holiday season passed, his commitment endured, evolving into a fully-fledged non-profit organization. Nate’s Next Kid Up operates with the following mission statement: “Let’s be the change to help kids achieve their greatest potential in life through teamwork, leadership skills, integrity, social interaction and expanding their knowledge in arts.”

From art and sports programs like Fiesta De Arts to kids’ yoga sessions and sports camps, Gonzalez’s mission to enrich the lives of children continues to expand. Most recently, Nate’s Next Kid Up

Nate's Next Kid Up's Fiesta De Art 2024 takes place Jun. 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Art Center of Corpus Christi.

partnered with the Houston Astros to take 50 foster children to an Astros game.

"The support has been amazing, and I can not do this alone,” Gonzalez said as he reflected on the help he’s received from the community. From the uplifting support of his parents and local organizations such as the Corpus Christi Hooks, Jose Trevino’s Toy Drive and CASA of the Coastal Bend, Nate’s Next Kid Up has planted roots in the community that he hopes will expand into more partnerships.

Nate’s Next Kid Up isn’t just an organization; it’s a testament to the power of compassion, generosity and the belief that, no matter your age, you can make a difference. With Nate Gonzalez leading the way, the future shines brighter for Coastal Bend children.

CONTACT natesnextkidup.org

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Providing cosmetic surgery in Corpus Christi, TX and surrounding communities

CALENDAR

JUNE

JUNE 1

RAINBOW RUN/ WALK 5K

The Coastal Bend Pride Center invites the community to lace up those running shoes and get moving. Kick off Pride Month with a 5k run/walk route along Ocean Drive starting at 6 a.m. Day-of registration is available for $35. CBPRIDECENTER.ORG

JUNE 5

HOOKS PRIDE NIGHT

Whataburger Field and PRIDE Corpus Christi join forces to host an evening of community, unity and fun! Starting at 5:15 p.m., watch as the CC Hooks take on the Frisco RoughRiders and enjoy special surprises, activities and concessions.

PRIDECORPUSCHRISTI.COM

JUNE 6

COASTAL BEND SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Join Visit Corpus Christi for a celebration of sports excellence. The Inaugural Hall of Fame & Awards Show will take place at the American Bank Center and spotlight Coastal Bend's amateur and professional sports achievements.

VISITCORPUSCHRISTI.COM

JUNE 7

MURAL FEST 2024

The Downtown Management District is hosting the third annual Mural Fest from 6 to 10 p.m. The festival will introduce five new murals to the downtown area, and include an ArtWalk takeover, self-guided tours and regular ArtWalk block party programming. New this year, the 2024 National Mural Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 8. GODOWNTOWNCC.COM

JUNE 9

POP ICONS BRUNCH

Hosted by Azul Entertainment, House of Rock’s Pop Icons Brunch will feature a starstudded lineup of queens performing your favorite pop star anthems. Starting at 11 a.m., enjoy a brunch buffet, vendors, photo ops and dazzling entertainment. This event is for ages 18 and up.

TEXASHOUSEOFROCK.COM

JUNE

13

ARTRAGEOUS: ROCOCO RANCH

With inspiration from the Art Museum of South Texas’ summer exhibition, experience a ranch fit for the royal court … Rococo style. The museum’s summer fundraiser will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. and feature a costume contest, food, drinks, entertainment and more. ARTMUSEUMOFSOUTHTEXAS.ORG

JUNE 14-16

76TH ANNUAL SHRIMPOREE FESTIVAL

Head out to Aransas Pass for a weekend of delectable shrimp dishes, live music, arts and crafts vendors and carnival rides and games. The 76th annual Shrimporee includes performances from Kevin Fowler and the Chad Cooke Band. Saturday’s parade kickoff is at 10 a.m. ARANSASPASS.ORG/ SHRIMPOREE

EVENTS

JUNE 9, 11-12

10 DAYS OF JUBILEE

TABPHE-CC will host the Juneteenth 2024 Kickoff event at the Boys & Girls Club on June 9 at 7 p.m. On June 11, a town hall forum will be hosted at Del Mar College from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with a panel discussion and breakout sessions. Then on June 12, join the Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce for the State of Black Business Juneteenth Luncheon at the Emerald Beach Hotel. TABPHECC.ORG

JUNE

14-16

2024 JUNETEENTH CORPUS CHRISTI FESTIVAL

Join TABPHE-CC for its annual Juneteenth Corpus Christi Festival in honor of the organization’s 25th anniversary. Festivities kick off on June 14 with the Annual Black and White Dance and Comedy Show (tickets required). June 15’s main event at Water’s Edge Park includes vendors, food trucks and live music from headliners Tweet and Slim Thug. The celebration ends Sunday with a Family Fun Day at Dr. H.J. Williams Park. TABPHECC.ORG

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Creative Therapy to Create Change

Driscoll Children’s Hospital offers art therapy for youth mental health

By Lauren Pieper Photos by Robin Blackshear

According to Mental Health America, Texas ranked 46th in the U.S. last year for mental health care accessibility to youth. As part of its commitment to increase mental health accessibility, Driscoll Children’s Hospital offers therapeutic arts and mental and behavioral health services to its young patients.

Housed under Driscoll’s Child Life and Therapeutic Arts Department, the therapeutic arts program addresses patients who need mental health care, a therapeutic outlet or emotional support during their healthcare experience. Art therapy is integrated into mental health and applied psychological theory, and can enrich the lives of individuals through creative, expressive and therapeutic art-making sessions. Art therapists are Master’s-level mental health professionals trained in visual arts, the creative process, human development and behavior, psychology, mental disorders and counseling theories and techniques, as well as social, cultural and family issues.

“Initially, I introduce myself to the patient, explain the process of art therapy and talk to them about their past experiences with art and counseling,” explained Haven Wright, Driscoll’s first-ever art

therapist. “These conversations help me understand the patient and how I can help.”

Wright offers materials at the bedside or in the art therapy studio on Driscoll’s campus. Materials available include Lego bricks, Model Magic clay, colored pencils, paints, collage materials, stickers, etchings and sewing and crochet materials, just to name a few. Technology is also available to explore digital artmaking through drawing programs and 3D modeling.

Interventions used during sessions are specially designed to assist patients with accessing a nonverbal means of communication, decreasing anxiety, addressing depression, pain management, emotional regulation, empowerment, grief/trauma debriefing and support, identifying coping skills, fostering self-esteem, processing medical diagnoses and treatment, stress reduction and relaxation.

“Patients don’t realize how much they open up while they are creating,” Wright said when reflecting on the power art therapy sessions have on facilitating healing. “It’s vulnerable to discuss thoughts and emotions, and instead of getting stuck there, patients can get into the flow of the creative process, allowing the conversation to develop naturally. At the end of the session, patients are left with something they’ve created with their vulnerability.”

Driscoll's Therapeutic Arts services provide treatment to patients at the bedside and in select clinics.

According to a study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy, participating in art therapy can improve mood and reduce pain and anxiety in children as well as adults. In light of this, Wright stated, “I stress to patients that there are no expectations for how something should look. The biggest misconception is that art has to be perfect or photorealistic to be ‘good,’ but art therapy is about reconnecting with the feeling of making art we enjoy. Art is for everyone, regardless of artistic training or talent.”

CONTACT

Behavioral and Mental Health Department 361.694.6434

Artistically Living

A 1930s-era bungalow boasts creativity and culture through local art and inspired design

By Eleanor Mason and Elizabeth Welsh, ASID

The kitchen is often said to be the heart of the home, but in this Del Mar neighborhood abode, the heart is in the originality that has been diligently and lovingly invested by its owners. Built in 1936 and true to the architecture of the time, the original layout had multiple small rooms with low human-scale ceiling heights. Today, after eight years of hard work and patience, the three-bed, three-bath open concept bungalow is the epitome of color and character.

A welcoming atmosphere captures guests as they enter the living room, where splashy artwork, primarily from local artists, offers insight into the family’s vibrant life. Custom built-in shelving displaying memorabilia and treasures from the owner’s past and present emphasizes the charm.

A large sunset canvas painted by Jeffery Neel McDaniel sits atop the original oak fireplace, anchoring the room with a variegated palette that establishes color selections for the upcycled furniture pieces. “I really want people to feel comfortable when they come in,” remarked the owner of the artistic home.

Adjacent to the living room is a cheerfully appointed playroom full of art supplies for the owners’ children, emphasizing the importance of creativity in each of their lives. A sizable energetic painting by Abby Kiel contributes to the room’s playful disposition. The artist, a personal friend, introduced the owners — thus beginning their story as a family. Its impressive scale and presence in an inner space signifies a sense of togetherness and a nod to the layered history of the family.

At each turn, visitors are met with echoes of adventures the family have taken together. Nods to West Indies and Moorish styles are interspersed throughout, highlighting a sampling of the owner’s cultural influences. The dining room subtly represents the family’s tropical vacations with a surround of celadon green touches and jungle-esque palm wallpaper. Dark teak case goods recall the original stained wood flooring and showcase the painted splendors that adorn the walls above.

and décor.

Photos by Jason Page

The dining room's red oak flooring emphasizes the lively wallpaper, art

Photographs taken by the owner on a Mexican vacation add authenticity to the charismatic gathering space by highlighting the entryway into the kitchen. Redondo cement tiles imported from Mexico are inlaid into the surrounding red oak flooring, serving as a vibrant accent runner that elongates the room and directs the eye to the chalkboard focal wall used as “central command” for family messaging.

While the home is approximately 3,000 square feet, the layout suggests a life lived more intimately. The primary bedroom with a daybed in the center exemplifies this intentionality — it’s a place where the family can bond and have the occasional slumber party together. “I wanted it to reflect how we live our lives,” the homeowner said.

Inspired by African journeys, the bedroom is styled in earth tones, graphic patterns and textures.

Handwoven baskets surrounding unique taxidermy mounts accent the vaulted ceiling. A dynamic painting centered between two genuine African blades exudes a cultured impression while complementing the space with its alluring color palette.

The owners expressed deep value in maintaining the originality of the house by preserving it as much as possible while making it their own.

“I wanted to reflect that it was built in the 1930s,” they said. “We tried to bring in shapes and colors that reflect that period but are fun and weird.” Each art piece and memento has a story and a personal meaning to the owners. Every aspect of the house, inside and out, brims with artistry and openheartedness, and embodies the heart and soul of the family.

Souvenirs from the owners' travels bring authenticity to the space.

BOOK SMART

From beautifully designed coffee table books to cookbooks with stunning imagery, inspiration can be easily found within the pages. Here are eight visually appealing books available for purchase from a local business.

Coastal Closet Hotel Wailea Maui

Indigo Eclectic Capri Dolce Vita @indigoeclectic

Vianney Rodriguez The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker sweetlifebake.com

Sew Bonita Mi Cocina sewbonita.com

NOW GROWING

SALVIAS

The gorgeous spires of salvias and how to grow them in the Coastal Bend

By Justin Butts

Salvias are perennial flowering plants that bloom from early spring through late fall in the Coastal Bend. They are prolific and drought-tolerant, bring gorgeous color to the garden and are easy to grow, even in the heat of summer.

With over 1,100 varieties, salvia flowers come in nearly every color under the sun, and many varieties have leaves or flowers that are edible or medicinal. Salvias are sometimes called subshrubs because they are smaller but bushy in growth.

The plant is an excellent attractor for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, especially in the hottest part of summer when few other flowers bloom. Mystic, indigo, amante, hot lips and Mexican bush sage are some of the top salvia varieties to grow in your Coastal Bend garden.

VARIETIES

Mystic Spires: A popular variety with extremely prolific blooms, this is a smaller plant that does well in pots. The flowers are blue and continuously rebloom from spring through fall. Spacing: 18” | Height: 30” to 36”

Indigo Spires: Similar to Mystic but larger, this variety features blue flowers on dark calyxes. Make sure to prune, as these can get leggy. Spacing: 36” | Height: 48”

Amante: With hot pink blooms on purple to black calyxes, this variety grows tall. Prune the top 1/3 of the stems in early spring for more dense, lush blooms. Spacing: 36” | Height: 48” to 60”

Hot Lips: Bi-color, red and white flowers turn completely red in the hottest parts of summer before fading to black to red and then white before falling. A less hardy variety, hot lips do not rebloom well. Spacing: 18” | Height: 30”

Mexican Bush Sage: A more compact variety, this features purple flowers on dark calyxes. Spacing: 24” | Height: 36”

“Profusion” Series: The salvia Profusion series are smaller with shorter flowers, but have incredible rebloom capability. Plant several together for a stunning flower show. Spacing: 24” | Height: 36”

GARDENER'S NOTES

GROWING UP

To grow this plant successfully, ensure proper spacing and well-drained soil. Plant in full sun with some afternoon shade, and group several for a fuller appearance. It regrows from its roots, so it can survive hard freezes. Add organic compost each spring — avoid fertilizers — and water regularly without overwatering. Fortunately, it’s not prone to pests.

PROFILING

To promote continuous blooms, pinch flower tips and deadhead often. For denser growth, prune the top 1/3 of the stems early in the season. Salvias make great cut flowers and last for days in a vase. They grow lusher in the second and third years in the ground. Bring potted salvias indoors during freezing weather for growth in the second year.

FUN FACTS

The Salvia Wish Collection is a range of hybrid salvias bred in Australia, which includes three varieties: Ember’s Wish, Love and Wishes and Wendy’s Wish. Buying any of these flowers donates a portion of the sale proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Australia Foundation, granting life-changing wishes to critically ill children.

inside the minds and visionary worlds of five coastal bend artists

Art, in its varied forms, has the unique power to move people, evoke emotions and connect us all via the reminder of the human experience being a shared one. This year’s annual Artist Issue includes a lineup of five incredibly talented creatives who share this sentiment.

Though each artist’s point of view, background and medium differ from one another, what June Ainsworth, Leticia Gomez, Jimmy Peña, Alison Schuchs and Leandra Urrutia all have in common is their desire to take in the world around them and find ways to communicate life’s realities through creative expression.

By Kylie Cooper, Vanessa Perez and Alexa Rodriguez

Artist Portraits by Matthew Meza

t’s fair to say Jimmy Peña’s artistic talents are intrinsic. Instead of humming along to the music on the radio, a 2-year-old Peña, sitting in the backseat of his parents’ car, painted a picture in his mind. He remembers Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” blaring through the speakers: “I saw this image in my mind. To me, ‘La Bamba’ wasn’t a song, it was these two elongated shapes interacting with each other — one red, one green — and they were on a checkerboard floor, dancing around.” Decades later, Peña would revisit his first memory of “art” as a concept and painted the very composition he imagined that day in the car.

A self-taught artist, Peña dropped out of high school and joined the Army. While serving, he talked his way into painting murals — one of his favorite mediums — at his duty stations in Gunzburg, Germany, and Junction City, Kansas. After three years as a radio operator, he moved back to Corpus Christi, taking a bellman job at a hotel downtown.

In 1991, he took a painting gig at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History, where he met Raychelle Schaudies. Four years later, Schaudies called Peña to share the news that she and her husband Erick had established a community art space, K Space Art Studios, and she wanted him to come by. The rest, as they say, was history.

“So much has happened to me because of this place. I owe everything to this studio and the people here,” Peña said. “These people have inspired me countless times. I got my education through them — just watching and talking with them.”

The ideas are out there in the universe, like ripe fruit, You just have to look for them and pick the one you want.

He speaks about K Space in a way that paints it as a safe haven for people who feel underrepresented or cast out. “We support each other,” he continued. “We respect each other and we don’t censor anyone. We aren’t afraid of showing people’s truths, and to me, that is what art is about.”

Much of Peña’s work features political undertones and themes of an unjust world. Perhaps partially inspired by his time spent in the Army, Peña isn’t necessarily interested in making “beautiful things.” Instead, regardless of medium, he is more interested in unearthing the sometimes harsh realities of life and using that as inspiration. “The ideas are out there in the universe, like ripe fruit,” he said. “You just have to look for them and pick the one you want.”

When starting a new piece, it isn’t about technique or medium for Peña, it’s about the story. As he shows off the piece he is currently working on, before he even mentions the materials used, he begins to share the narrative. Not the narrative he hopes to convey to the onlooker — that’s not on him to decide for others — but the story he uses to guide the direction of the piece.

This is an integral part of Peña’s process. Though he’s dabbled in a variety of mediums from mixed media to acrylic on canvas and beyond, charcoal on wood is his bread and butter. Akin to discovering secrets hidden in the wood, he described this medium as one that always keeps him on his toes.

“There is always something deeper hidden within the grain. That’s where I find the narrative that will act as a guiding light for the rest of the piece,” he said. “I start with an idea

and it typically doesn’t go as planned; it diverts to something else, something unexpected, and I like that even more.”

Peña’s most recent contribution to downtown street art is the mural titled “I Saw Diego at the Washateria.” The idea came to him when he and his wife were at the laundromat. On a smoke break outside, Peña noticed a faded, hand-painted advertisement on the side of the building. “I thought to myself, ‘What if Diego Rivera came to do his laundry here? What might that look like?’” An image slowly began to take shape in his mind. Four years later, K Space Contemporary’s Summer Mural Arts Program was looking for a design to inspire its 2023 summer mural, and Peña’s composition was finally brought to life.

An integral piece of Peña’s story is his rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in 1988 while he was still a bellman. “The pain was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” he said. But continuing to create was crucial for him and over three decades later, he firmly believes his craft saved him. It’s given him a reason to keep going, and in turn, art has served as his most reliable medicine.

“Something that slowly occurred to me is that if I didn’t have this studio space as a reason to get out of bed in the mornings, my arthritis probably would have gotten worse,” Peña said. “I’ve taken so many medications and have had all these different treatments over the years, but the drive I have to come up here every day and work on my art, that really has saved my life.” – KC

alking through Alison Schuchs’ hometurned-studio is similar to walking through an exhibition of portraiture past and present. The Scottish Highlands native’s artistic journey manifests itself in the hundreds of tiny brushstrokes to form hyper-realistic portraits of her family and the impactful people she finds along the way.

Though unequivocally beautiful, the art of portraiture holds a deeper significance for the artist and the viewer. Transcending both personal experience and the therapeutic aspects of putting paint to canvas, the anatomical features and colors in Schuchs’ work intertwine the viewer with the subject. “[It offers] windows into the past that celebrate the enchanting and intricate tapestry of the human experience,” Schuchs said.

Just outside her studio, framed charcoal works starkly contrast the hyper-realistic, colorful works on the subsequent walls. “Those are my daughter’s…she passed away,” Schuchs recalled with simultaneous grief and pride.

“When we went through all her stuff, there were all these little portraits and doodles and drawings, and a lot of them were portraits of herself. I think, subconsciously, without me explaining it to myself, I just decided to take up portraits because it made me feel close to her in some way,” she continued.

In hindsight, this event was the unfortunate and unexpected catalyst for taking up painting. Since then, Schuchs' identity as an artist has morphed into a mission to “freeze time, capture the essence of [her] subjects and weave their fascinating stories into the canvas for future generations,” she shared.

It offers windows into the past that celebrate the enchanting and intricate tapestry of the human experience.

After her daughter’s passing in 2003, Schuchs and her husband opened a non-profit coffee house for teens which served as a place for them to eat and hang out. Schuchs would even cook for the teens at the house, and when the day was over, she would read about painting and eventually start painting portraits of the kids.

“They say it takes 10,000 hours to master something,” Schuchs said of her time spent self-educating. Some spend those hours in school or working in a specific field, but for her, it was spent reading books about painting and sharing her work with professional critics. Before she knew it, the kids were asking to be painted, which served as great practice for the skill she would grow to master after several years of dedication to the craft.

Long before portrait painting came potato prints in school. “I never felt like I could create a masterpiece in the time frame I was given,” Schuchs recalled of her first conscious experience with creating. Years back, Schuchs was diagnosed with aphantasia, a condition that impairs her ability to create mental imagery, making her a perfectionist by necessity. Schuchs was exposed to art in childhood and through her grandmother’s landscape paintings, but her talent was not realized until she leaned into realism. Though envious of artists who can create abstract works from imagination, Schuchs has taken ownership of her mastery of replicating facial wrinkles, eyelashes, satin fabrics and other exquisite details taken from photographs. Some of her portraits mirror the photographs so closely, you’ll have to do a double take.

At 18, Schuchs married a sailor and moved to the United States. Fate and proximity to the grandkids landed the couple in Corpus Christi in 2020.

She traded the cool, often gray Scottish landscapes for Texas' quintessentially warm-toned scenery. “I want to paint Texas,” she said. Vibrant pink and orange sunsets, blooming cactus flowers, red dirt and coastal vignettes allow Schuchs to infuse colorful landscape elements that complement the personalities she paints. Replicating the diverse landscape and people of Texas, in many ways, filled the void that the lack of imagination created.

Many of her recent works depict the cowboys of King Ranch and various aspects of South Texas and Mexican culture. Her current musings are community members who sit for a weekly portrait class Schuchs hosts at the Art Center of Corpus Christi. Paintings featuring dozens of recognizable local faces will be displayed at her next exhibition, Oct. 4 - 26 at the Art Center.

Gentle, empathetic, kind and curious are all adjectives to describe Schuchs’ essence as observed by only a brief conversation. It should come as no surprise that her work––with its striking human features––forges the unbreakable bond of shared humanity and evokes those same feelings.

In reality, facial wrinkles tell a tale of a life well-lived, color tells a cultural story and the textural elements of fabric inform certain parts of the personality that make us uniquely human. The art of portraiture, and the capturing of the smallest details, achieves what everyone, though self-realized or not, is after––to be understood and, eventually, to be remembered. – AR

nderneath the surface, Leticia “Letty” Gomez is a researcher, hyper-focused “uncreator” and dreamer.

As the youngest of seven kids, Gomez’s childhood was marked by sitting around the kitchen table, doodling with pen and paper while her siblings did homework. Later, she would get in trouble for drawing on the wall with a red pen. “I just remember thinking that ‘This isn’t fair.’ So then later, when I was 16, I did a mural in my closet,” they recalled.

Though met with resistance in childhood, Gomez’s adolescence revealed a necessity to comprehend their mind’s inner workings through art. This led to obtaining an associate’s degree in studio art from Del Mar College, a bachelor in fine arts in drawing and painting from the University of North Texas and a master of arts in consciousness and transformative studies with a concentration in dream studies from John F. Kennedy University. Through years of human subject proposal research focused on dream states, Gomez came to understand that creating from a fringe awareness is actually her process for deconstructing or “uncreating,” as they call it, the obscure subconscious.

Those moments around the kitchen table, they found, acted as the catalysts for her to lean into surrealism as an artistic calling.

“Since the beginning, it has been surrealism, that whole movement,

That approach of having intrinsic motivation is the paradigm of creating, which is that there is no real control. There isn’t conscious control either.

where there is now nonexistent realism that is also portrayed — like half in, half out semi-dream worlds,” Gomez said about the through-line in their body of work. Her pieces consistently deal with shadow play in an outer world and depict figures pulled from indigenous creation stories, myths and reflections from dream work readings she studies.

In high school, one of Gomez's instructors took a hands-off approach to teaching, encouraging students to create in the flow of things without a push toward any specific medium or goal. “That approach of having intrinsic motivation is the paradigm of creating, which is that there is no real control. There isn’t conscious control either,” they said. “I’m very much creating from this blind state of un-creating, being hyper-present in the moment.”

Tapping into a flow state is one of Gomez’s biggest strengths. It is marked by blaring music, lots of dancing and even practices like packing a lunch to ensure the following day will be free of interruptions. These routines, often synonymous with the naivete of childhood, tether her to a colorful, robust world and prevent her from being tainted by the unavoidable negative experiences of adulthood.

“There’s always going to be a positive from a negative. And I’m going to use that to create work from it,” they emphatically stated.

Tuning out the world to create from an autonomic state is critical to the process. “It is a total surrender …

I don’t have to think about anything,” Gomez said. The colors and images that form on the canvas are the result of being in that fringe awareness, hyper-focused on deconstructing any and all mental musings. One could even argue that in those flow states, Gomez isn’t thinking about “nothing,” but rather they are thinking about everything, all at once.

The images in her work, reflective of dream states and questions about belonging, will never be clearly defined. Gomez is drawn to the obscure and the unknown. When asked what success looks like, Gomez said with a glimmer in her eye, “It’s happening right now.”

Though they cannot express the necessity for artistic autonomy enough, collaboration with other artists, exhibition bookings throughout the year and most importantly, the ability to share resources and encourage budding artists have been highlights of the artist's career thus far.

“It’s strange to think that the thing I got in trouble for the most as a kid is the thing I get paid to do as an adult,” they said. With that in mind, it’s fair to say Gomez has always been attuned to tapping into that flow state, creating simultaneously with reckless abandon and discipline. With each new work, she’s making things make sense, while always leaving room for the obscure and the curious. – AR

fter a lifetime as a geologist, June Ainsworth still traces maps of images beneath what most eyes can see. In many ways, Ainsworth equally credits her aptitude for creating images and her profession in mapping the earth as each having influence over the other—a classic “chicken or the egg” conundrum. Even in still images, Ainsworth weaves her way through different approaches to the canvas, like contouring peaks and valleys on a map, with seasoned skill.

A native of north Texas, Ainsworth recalled growing up in a family with practical ideas but creative sensibilities. “My mother used to make all our clothes,” she said, calling back to a pair of memorable patterned coats fashioned for her and her twin sister, Jane. “I don’t think my mother thought of this as art, but really she was fairly creative.”

In her high school days in Dallas, Ainsworth would ride the streetcar across town on Saturday mornings to attend art class at the Dallas Museum of Art, where she studied watercolors. Eventually, she would go on to the University of Oklahoma to earn a science degree with a focus on geology.

“I got a job as a geologist in Kansas right out of college, which was rare then: to be a girl geologist. We

Not everyone sees the world this way, but I like to see all these designs come together to tell a story.

were considered kind of an oddity,” Ainsworth said, noting she and her twin were both geologists. “I love making maps. You could use your imagination, but you still had to have these content numbers. I think the art thing was good for me, taking all these numbers and making something beautiful.”

After a full career, as well as a life raising children, Ainsworth spent time living in Kansas and then Long Island before settling down in South Texas to set up a home base. An active resident of Fulton, Ainsworth has made the community on the water her muse over the last two decades. She credits her time in the Coastal Bend as the most productive in her painting career, having created most of her work in the last 10 years.

In the bright hues of Ainsworth’s paintings, she points a keen eye at a life lived along the coast, encasing these moments in oil on canvas. Throughout her seaside residence and studio, artifacts of working and living are found in every cranny and crevice. Each painting lining the walls forms a piece of a timeline that takes visitors across Ainsworth’s life and the evolution of her work, which oscillates between schools of pure impressionism and abstract works with impressionist features. Ainsworth’s paintings display a range of styles, each showcasing different facets of beloved subjects.

Her studio is tidy, with signs of persistent work — covert stacks of oil studies tucked neatly into corners of the room. The skylit space is an assured heaven for any artist. And although the comfort of a studio is convenient, Ainsworth prefers to begin her works en plein air. The ideal painting day for her is on the waterfront, close to sunset, when the sky is flushed with color.

“I like to push color and shapes,” Ainsworth said of her more abstract works. “Not everyone sees the world this way, but I like to see all these designs come together to tell a story.”

In Rockport’s thriving artistic community, she finds inspiration and a drive to keep creating. A familiar and favored face among those who frequent the Rockport Center for the Arts, Ainsworth expresses great pride in the strides the community has made in becoming a haven for nurturing creativity.

Staying busy is easy for Ainsworth, who keeps at least one goal each day: to paint. “I’m still just going strong, [I am] nearly 90,” she said with a laugh. “But somehow I just keep painting. It’s so much fun, it keeps me going.”

Ainsworth’s work can be found in Rockport’s Wind Way Gallery alongside other artists of the coastal collective. – VP

s a child sitting in the quiet awe of a church pew, Leandra Urrutia found her earliest inspirations by gazing up at faces and figures that would trace a thread throughout her life of work. Whether it was drawing or carving hands out of household objects, Urrutia recalls having a drive to create. Growing up in a Mexican American household with strong Catholic traditions, she captivated herself during Sunday masses with the numerous saints, icons and Bernini replicas found in her church.

The daughter of an aerospace engineer, Urrutia had a knack for biology but quickly settled into a drawing major at Texas State University and eventually the ceramics program at Southwest Texas University. Throughout this time, she continued to develop a special relationship with her favorite subject, people, by working as a portrait artist at amusement parks.

“I believe that you can receive energy and kind of a sense of spirit from people just talking to them or being next to them,” Urrutia said of her early sensibilities. “I think I have trained myself to be somewhat sensitive to that. I really enjoy translating that [energy] into something physical.”

While in graduate school at the University of Mississippi, Urrutia quickly identified her niche in finding the beauty in people’s individual bodies and features. In these parts, she discovered something uniquely expressive; they transcend many of her

There’s a lot of reality in people’s work. Our stories are so ingrained in us. If we could change some of these narratives, the world would change,

installations and find a major role in many of her subjects.

“I never take in the whole person — I fall in love with the little bits I think are beautiful. Parts of the face, parts of the hand, little things like that,” she said. “People sometimes have a fear of drawing [human features], but I never wanted to let that scare or deter me.”

Throughout her career, Urrutia has drawn inspiration from her upbringing and culture, as well as from her travels to China, where she helped establish an international artists’ collective, Studio Nong. She went on to teach at the Memphis College of Art from 2002 to 2020 and now educates undergraduate and graduate students in ceramics at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi (TAMU-CC). Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, covering themes like intimacy, spirituality and aging and the concept of personal myth through a female lens.

“We all have these fears in contemporary society. We make up comforting justification stories to make sense of chaos in our lives. We all do that. Women especially are good at it, because we really are tested for patience and perseverance,” she said. “I try to cover more universal themes; the connection is the biggest thing.”

A prolific creator who finds inspiration in the process of engineering designs, Urrutia experiences endless opportunities for innovation in her medium. The trial and error of intricate processes, in many ways, drew her to ceramics years ago.

“I respected that ceramics had the potential for a lifetime of discovery and learning. There are so many things you can do in clay, you can’t possibly master it all,” Urrutia said. “But I do really take pride in that kind of fluency, to be able to speak all these kinds of clay languages.”

While much of her work is built in solids — heads, hands, ears and many other complete body parts — some use the slip technique of drawing in a mold to create shapes out of the ceramic. The process itself involves the overdeflocculation of ceramic, something that may otherwise be considered a critical error in this medium, but which allows Urrutia to find balance to combine and create with her two great loves of drawing and sculpting.

Across her work, Urrutia seeks to challenge larger religiously based, cultural narratives surrounding women, as well as societal ideas of compassion and connection. “There’s a lot of reality in people’s work. Our stories are so ingrained in us. If we could change some of these narratives, the world would change,” she said. “In my art, I flip the script on some of these ideas and challenge how we think about these connections.”

As part of an art collective of clay makers and educators, Urrutia will showcase and demonstrate her slip technique at the Oso Bay Festival at TAMU-CC in October. Her work can be found at the Zuckerman Museum of Art at Kennesaw State University, as well as on leandraurrutia.com and her social media. – VP

Corpus Christi

Just Desserts

Recipes for bananas Foster and homemade brownies

By Kayla Butts MS, RDN, LDN Photos by Rachel Benavides

Dessert plays an undeniable role in the meaningful moments of our lives. It’s the crowd favorite on holidays and special occasions. We offer it to those who are grieving and friends who are celebrating. No dinner date night is complete without it.

For those of us who like sweets on a regular basis, a nutritious alternative can keep us on track with our health goals while we have our cake and eat it too; and because eating healthy looks different for different diners, we’ve compiled a variety of strategies to adapt your favorite treats. Whether you’ve gone gluten-free, are playing at paleo or watching your added sugar, here are our top tips to make over your desserts:

1. TRIM THE FAT. Try grass-fed butter, pastured lard or coconut oil for a lower inflammatory fat in pastries or pie shells. Sub in applesauce to cut the saturated fat and add a higher-fiber sweetener.

2. SWAP IN NATURAL SUGARS. Use pureed fruits, like apples, bananas, dates or pears, to sweeten muffins, coffee cakes or frozen desserts. Honey, maple syrup or molasses can add a richer flavor than granulated sugar. Sugar substitutes such as monk fruit and sucralose can help reduce the glycemic load for people watching their blood sugar.

3. GO WITH YOUR GUT. Desserts with colorful fruits, vegetables (carrots, beets, pumpkins or sweet potatoes) and dark chocolate offer probiotic phytochemicals and fiber that promote gut health.

4. DON’T FORGET THE FLOUR. Substitute a third of the all-purpose flour in a brownie or blondie with whole wheat flour. Add protein with spelt, amaranth, garbanzo or oat flour. Try a gluten-free baking blend if you’re new to the game.

5. AMP UP THE NUTRIENTS. Add walnuts, flax or chia seeds rich in omega-3 fatty acids to pies or puddings. Ditch the dairy and try coconut milk in custard or mousse.

We put these tools to work in two classic dishes: bananas Foster and homemade brownies. Our bananas Foster flambé gets most of its sweetness from fiber-rich bananas. We top the warm bananas with nice cream, a threeingredient frozen dessert without added sugar. Better-for-you brownies are rich and moist, thanks to heart-healthy avocados and dark chocolate for a powerful antioxidant punch. They contain a third of the sugar of traditional brownies and are gluten-free. These desserts prove that sometimes your favorite food just needs a little love and ingenuity to love you right back.

RECIPE

Bananas Foster Flambé with Nice Cream Serves 2

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOK TIME: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp grass-fed butter or coconut oil

3 tbsp packed light brown sugar Juice of 1 lime

2 ripe but firm bananas, halved vertically 1/3 cup dark rum

DIRECTIONS:

Melt the butter with brown sugar and lime juice in a large skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the banana slices to the brown sugar mixture and brown for 1-2 minutes on each side.

Remove the skillet from the heat and pour in the rum. Place the skillet back over the heat and tilt the skillet to ignite the fire if using a gas range. Alternately, bring a lit match close to the sauce to ignite the alcohol in the mixture. Let the alcohol burn off and the flame die before transferring the banana and a generous spoonful of sauce to a serving bowl. Top with a scoop of nice cream.

NICE CREAM INGREDIENTS:

3 frozen bananas

2 tbsp coconut milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If the mixture is not solid enough to scoop, freeze for 30 minutes to harden.

RECIPE

Better-for-You Brownies Makes 1 8x8-inch pan

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

COOK TIME: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 large avocado, peeled and pitted

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup almond flour or gluten-free

1:1 baking mix

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp espresso powder or instant coffee

3 oz dark chocolate bar (70% cacao or greater), roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat an 8x8-inch pan with baking spray. Blend the avocado in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients (except the dark chocolate bar) and blend into a smooth batter. Stir in the chocolate chunks and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.

PROVIDING THE BEST IN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Pet Therapy: Animals as Healers

What are the benefits of Pet Therapy in the dental office?

In a search to help alleviate the stress of visiting the dentist, Pediatrix Dental welcomes Mila. She is a certified therapy dog that has helped our patients who may be a little nervous enjoy their dental visit.

Mila is friendly, patient, gentle, docile, loves hugs and to cuddle. She’s great with children.

Nervous parents and scared children feel an ease in their fears when they see a cute cuddly welcoming dog like Mila. The distraction of a therapy pet helps to break the anxiety sometimes felt from walking into a dental office. Mila’s calm demeanor helps to relax the children and they find joy in visiting the dentist. Positive interaction with a dog, such as petting, can decrease stress by increasing oxytocin and decreasing cortisol; the hormones related to stress. Studies have shown that just petting a dog can reduce the petters blood pressure and heart rate. The simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response, lowers anxiety, helps people relax and provides comfort. It has been scientifically proven that therapy dogs stimulate emotional support, which is good for psychological health.

We can not wait for you to get the chance to meet our furry new team member, Mila!

Artfully Plated Dishes

Packed with flavor and plated to perfection

By Kylie Cooper Photo provided by Dokyo Dauntaun

Culinary artists are known for their attention to detail, creating visually appealing dishes and invoking all of our senses. The presentation of a dish can be just as important as its taste — after all, they say we eat with our eyes first. To help you discover some local culinary masterpieces, we’ve selected five dishes from around the Coastal Bend that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

Sashimi 3 Piece

DOKYO DAUNTAUN

When it comes to presentation, few do it as intentionally and beautifully as Dokyo Dauntaun. Just about every dish and cocktail on the menu is served with aesthetics in mind, but here we’re choosing to spotlight the Sashimi 3 Piece. Your choice of delectable fish is served on a bed of thinly sliced cucumbers and shredded daikon radishes, then garnished with a flower and a bamboo leaf.

424 N. CHAPARRAL ST.

Chef’s Specials

BIEN MÉRITÉ

Sure, the pastries are Instagram-worthy, but Bien Mérité’s fine dining dinner concept is certainly a sight for sore eyes. From the Lollypop Wings made with a maple, orange and chili sauce to the pan-roasted duck breast elegantly paired with an arugula and fennel salad, each dish crafted as a chef’s special on its dinner menu is not only packed with flavor but plated to perfection.

1336 S. STAPLES ST.

Salmon Carpaccio

ELIZABETH’S

It should come as no surprise that the dishes served inside The Art Museum of South Texas have an artistic flair. From Elizabeth’s cold bar, the Salmon Carpaccio creates a casing with thinly sliced Scottish salmon to house microgreens, anchovies, capers and red onions. The plate is then drizzled with chive oil and lemon, bringing a painterly essence to the dish.

1902 N. SHORELINE

BLVD.

1855 Ribeye (16oz)

WILD PRAWN

Wild Prawn serves exquisite dishes with a focus on quality ingredients and the refinement of culinary art. From a menu filled with artistically expressive dishes, we’re spotlighting the 1855 Ribeye. Hand-cut to order, the pan-seared steak is garnished with microgreens and a delicate radish round, then topped with maple roasted garlic butter.

1941 HWY. 35 N., ROCKPORT

Pancetta Shrimp

LISABELLA’S BISTRO & BAR

From the small plates and starters portion of the menu, Lisabella’s pancetta shrimp is a culinary delight bursting with color. The plate is painted with a chipotle honey glaze before four hefty pieces of shrimp wrapped in pancetta are placed on top. A medley of mango pico de gallo and greens finishes the dish off on a refreshing and bright note. 5009 TX-361, PORT ARANSAS

DOKYO DAUNTAUN

Listen Closely

OK HI-FI brings the listening bar experience to Corpus Christi

By Luis Arjona Photos by Matthew Meza

Prepare to immerse yourself in a unique blend of wonderful music, delicious drinks and an environment that expands your taste in more ways than one. OK HI-FI, a new establishment in downtown Corpus Christi, is not just a bar, but a symphony of sights, sounds and spirits orchestrated by local producer and DJ Dusty Oliveira, also known as El Dusty.

OK HI-FI is more than just a business venture; it’s Oliveira’s commitment fueled by his passion for music and a desire to create an inclusive space for the community. The bar is set to become a sanctuary of sound and a place for music lovers and vinyl enthusiasts to come together.

“I hope HI-FI can bring more foot traffic downtown and create a place where vinyl heads, producers, sampling [music enthusiasts] and the community can congregate,” Oliveira said.

Central to the OK HI-FI experience are the specialty cocktails meticulously selected by Oliveira and his friend and collaborator, David Le. Expect a familiar selection of drinks, but delight in the opportunity to explore new tastes, as the craft cocktail selection stems from Oliveira’s personal experiences and travels.

Among the highlights will be the Toki Highball, a refreshing cocktail combining House of Suntory’s Toki Blended Japanese Whisky and soda water and served from a dedicated machine. The only one of its kind in the Coastal Bend, it dispenses super-chilled, perfectly carbonated and portioned Toki Highballs at the pull of a tap.

Even beyond the music and cocktails — both top-notch — lies a deeper purpose. With plans to host events featuring big-name DJs and local talents alike, OK HI-FI aims to be a cultural hub, a place where people from all walks of life can come together to celebrate their shared passions.

OK HI-FI's soft opening hours are Thursday through Saturday from 8 p.m.1 a.m.

“My approach to DJing has always been open format, and OK HI-FI will be a representation of that,” said Oliveira. OK HI-FI will be a revolving door for talent and those curious to listen, as Oliveira wants the amalgamation of genres and people to create a new vibe downtown.

Hi-fi bars are designed with acoustics top of mind for a unique listening experience. To help design the space, Oliveria called in Justin Gainan and John O’Brien, and the result is distinct within the cultural landscape of Corpus Christi. With inspiration drawn from Japanese jazz kissa, love for the Lennox lounge in Harlem and pride in Oliveira’s Chicano roots, OK HI-FI is a pastiche of cultures reflective of the tapestry forming on Peoples Street.

A journey of beats, booze and camaraderie awaits at OK HI-FI, guided by the steady hand of El Dusty and his unwavering commitment to creating moments that linger long after the music fades away.

CONTACT

415 Peoples St. | @ok_hifi

DINING SPOTLIGHT

TABLE TALK NEWS

Coastline Grill

BAR + GRILL

Summer is here and a weekend at Cinnamon Shore South provides the ultimate beachy staycation for the whole family. Whether lounging by the Cabana Pool or with the kids at the new Splish Splash Pool, Coastline Grill offers pick-up fare and cocktails to fuel your fun. The menu includes fried pickles, jalapeno queso, a variety of salads, blackened mahi tacos, burgers and more.

225 Coastline Dr. coastlinegrilltx.com

DRINK SPOTLIGHT

SPICY

WATERMELON

MARTINI

THE ANNEX @the_annex_cctx

Pucker up!

The cocktail on everyone's lips is the newest addition to The Annex's weekly specials, the spicy watermelon martini. A Wednesday special, this mouth-watering cocktail is the perfect balance of heat and sweet.

312 S CHAPARRAL ST

MICRO BODEGA

Stocked with a myriad of snacks from classics to international, this micro bodega is the perfect pit stop. Don't forget to check out its weekly food drops of fresh sandos, musubi and bánh mi by way of Dokyo Dauntaun. 415 Peoples St. 4D $

AFTER HOURS

Lucy's Snackbar EVENING DELIGHTS

Lucy's evening delights menu serves up salty and savory snacks like chips and dip, marinated olives and delicious mini charcuterie. Enjoy with a glass of wine or craft drink from the fridge. 312 N Chaparral, Ste. A $

UPSCALE

The Mariner CAVIAR SERVICE

Cinnamon Shore Boiled

Shrimp: Enjoy delicious Gulf shrimp tossed in coastline seasoning and boiled to perfection served with cocktail sauce and lemon.

courtesy of Cinnamon Shore

The seasonal caviar service at The Mariner checks all the boxes. Served over ice with Créme Fraiche, house blini and pickles, it's the perfect way to treat yourself. 108 Peoples St T-Head $$$

SCAN THE QR CODE TO ACCESS OUR WEBSITE AND DISCOVER EVEN MORE FOOD AND DRINK CONTENT THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL BEND.

Photo

Coastline Grill

Coffee, Community and Culinary Creativity

Locally sourced delights at Daily Fix Café

By Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos by Benjamin Zaragosa

We love a good coffee shop, and the Daily Fix Café elevates the form—it’s a thriving spot where delicious food and a great atmosphere create a community hub. As the owner of an adjacent insurance agency, Cynthia Moreno saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the local dining scene by opening a brunch spot that serves delicious, healthy fare.

“I [have] a passion for coffee and community, so I wanted to create a cozy café where people could gather to work or relax,” Moreno said.

She got to work designing the concept to bring this new venture to life and approached a local duo to help with the menu. Megan Lee, the former owner of popular eatery 8TE, and Jessica QuintanillaJackson collaborated on Daily Fix’s offerings. Lee's culinary prowess aided in creating a well-rounded food menu—including a few original 8TE recipes—while Quintanilla-Jackson's skills lent themselves to a delightful lineup of drinks.

The cafe opened its doors in February and the community support quickly poured in, establishing the Daily Fix Café as a bustling brunch destination with something for everyone.

Since its inception, the café has undergone exciting transformations to better cater to its diverse clientele, including introducing a loyalty card for rewards and expanding the menu to include an array of breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, desserts and specialty drinks. But one element has remained constant: “We’ve always prioritized quality and use high-quality, locally sourced ingredients for each dish,” Moreno said.

Among the delicious additions are the various toast selections, such as The OG Toast, a delightful ensemble of avocado, red pepper flakes, sliced grape tomatoes and an over-medium egg; or The Sweet

Open Tues - Fri., 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tooth, a tempting medley of Nutella, bananas, strawberries and almonds.

For those in need of a quick breakfast fix, the Chopped Lox bagel or the classic BEC (bacon, egg and cheddar cheese) are surefire winners. Meanwhile, lunch options abound with a selection of sandwiches, salads and kolaches, satisfying savory and sweet cravings alike.

Quench your thirst with specialty drinks including teas, fruit or veggie smoothies, coffees or the popular Tiramisu Latte and Mexicana Mocha. The Mama Matcha, a definite crowd-pleaser, takes a typical matcha latte and adds a house-made strawberry compote and strawberry cold foam, making it quite a refreshing delight.

Beyond the culinary delights, Daily Fix Café serves as a welcoming environment. As the café continues to evolve, Moreno and her team remain dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for all who step through its doors.

6237 Kostoryz Road | @dailyfixcctx

Blocks from Ocean Drive | 3850 S Alameda | Corpus Christi, TX

winners of the 2023 “the local’s list” from THE BEND magazine we are proud to be home for the best of south texas

the best brunch | HESTER’S CAFE the best children’s clothing | FOUR CHICKS IN THE PARK the best craft cocktail | THE POST the best formalwear JULIAN GOLD the best gluten-free options | HESTER’S CAFE the best mixologist | Michael Green at THE POST the best pastry chef | Hester Rodriguez at HESTER’S CAFE the best personal shopper | Alexa Gignac at JULIAN GOLD the best salad | HESTER’S CAFE the best sandwich | HESTER’S CAFE the best wardrobe stylist | Alexa Gignac at JULIAN GOLD

ANN TAYLOR LOFT

BKK THAI KITCHEN + BAR

CHICO’S

FOUR CHICKS IN THE PARK

GOLDSMITH JEWELERS

GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY

HARKNESS YOGA

HESTER’S CAFE

HOT BOX SALON AND SHOP

JULIAN GOLD

PARK SEVEN

TALBOTS

THE POST

YOLA COCINA MEXICANA

AROUND THE BEND

iconic Corpus Christi mural is given new life

Keeping Mexica Tradition Alive in the Coastal Bend

Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin elevates cultural awareness through sacred performances

By Kirby Conda Photos by Bejamin Zaragosa

South Texas has a rich, diverse culture begging to be shared with the community. This area was built on Indigenous lands, and the heritage of Indigenous people is one that shares many ties to present-day Mexican American culture.

Although numerous Indigenous sites span from Portland to Northshore and all along the coast, many of these lands have been given over to industrial development. The sacred lands may no longer exist, but people like those of Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin keep the Indigenous traditions alive.

“The conquerors from Europe tried to invade the whole continent and the whole culture, but we are still here and our culture is alive,” said Adalberto Zanes “Tonalhuitzil,” capitán of one of two Kalpullis (a Nahuatl term for a group or collective who lived close together and shared social responsibilities) in the Coastal Bend. “If you know where you come from, you know where you are going— that’s why I share everything I know about the Mexica tradition.”

Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin is a distinguished local Mexica Kalpulli closely linked to the Azteca traditions. A tribe from Mexico City, whose name translates to “Venerable Butterfly of the Wind,” it is characterized by its work to unite all Indigenous peoples. Each member of the Kalpulli is given an Azteca name based on the place and time they were born. Their Spanish name is sent to a professional in Mexico who specializes in interpreting the Aztec calendar. Zanes’

Kalpulli performs rituals and prayers at a variety of community events such as Third Thursday at the Art Museum of South Texas and Dia de los Muertos.

name, “Tonalhuitzil,” means hummingbird because of the tequila plant flowers blooming at the time and place he was born.

One component of Kalpulli is a warriorstyle dance; members participate in ceremonial Mexica performances consisting of music, dance and storytelling. The second component is made up of a series of cultural awareness workshops and lectures. Together, both components harken back to Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin’s mission to share the traditional dance, songs and arts while educating the public on who Mexican Americans are as Native American people who maintain a living and evolving tradition.

The group aims to reclaim some of the spaces that were taken and encourages others to understand the importance of having a relationship with the sacred land they occupy. “If we do everything with discipline, the world will be a better place,” Zanes said. “If we take care of our planet, there will be more rain and more plants. Our role is also to take care of Mother Earth,”

Through members’ prayers and rituals, Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin wants the community to reconnect with parts of their own heritage and remember that we are all a part of this planet, and that we all share a bigger and connected experience with this earth, together.

When asked what he hopes the community takes away from interacting with these rituals, Zanes said, “Every single dance is a prayer. It is a spiritual experience. I hope everybody is more human, a more lovely person, after interacting with our rituals. We take this opportunity to keep these traditions alive for future generations.”

CONTACT

Find Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin on Facebook

The

Gabriel Lopez, M.D.

Gabriel Lopez, M.D.

Board

Rudy Garza, M.D.

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Board Certified in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology 3825

Second Side of the Sun

An iconic Corpus Christi mural is given new life

By Kirby Conda Photo provided by Del Mar College

The prominent art scene in South Texas is filled with historical and iconic pieces, many of which have lived several lives throughout the decades. “Circle in the Sun” is one of those iconic pieces that was recently born anew.

In 1961, “Circle in the Sun” was created by Dot Turner and Joan Allen — they spent over a year drawing sketches for the work, which would eventually be painted at the Corpus Christi International Airport. The piece was conceptualized with the inspiration and influence of 31 “pioneer families” of the Coastal Bend: well-known community leaders, philanthropists and local art advocates. Their significance is sprinkled throughout the mural’s timeline, which takes the viewer on a journey beginning with the influence of Mexican culture to the legendary King Ranch, all the way through to the region’s exploration of oil and gas, the Port of Corpus Christi, fishing and beach communities and the Harbor Bridge.

After nearly four decades, the Corpus Christi International Airport was due to undergo renovations, meaning the piece that travelers so lovingly adored for many years would need to be removed. Given the size and scale of the piece — it spanned an entire wall in the airport — and its relevance to travelers at that time, the gravity of having the piece gone was significant.

“Anyone who went to the airport during that time, everybody who flew back then, remembers this piece,” said Gilbert Cantu, owner of Can2 Creative Company and part of the restoration team. “The piece was iconic.”

Officials from the City of Corpus Christi analyzed the feasibility of removing and relocating the piece, but the cost to do so was

hefty. “They had to demolish the whole wall,” explained Cantu. “There wasn’t a way to preserve [the piece] because it was painted on the wall.” The Dobson family, owners of Whataburger and longtime community advocates, stepped in to save the mural. The Dobsons agreed to have the work housed in one of their storage facilities off Ayers.

Demolishers then had to cut out the entire wall in one big piece, transfer it to an 18-wheeler and bring it to storage, where it lived for the next 15 years. When Del Mar College began working with Turner Ramirez Architects on renovations, Philip Ramirez, principal architect and current board chair for the Art Museum of South Texas, suggested giving “Circle in the Sun” a new home at Del Mar College. From there, a restoration team was formed and the process of reviving the mural began.

Immediately it became clear that over time, the wall had deteriorated from lying flat in the storage unit and falling victim to water damage. “If you were to touch it, it would start to crumble,” said Cantu. Because there was no way to physically move the piece, Ramirez hired Cantu to digitally recreate it.

“I asked Carlos Villareal to take photographs of the original in pieces,” said Cantu, and in a series of high-resolution pictures, Villareal captured the original nuances of the work for Cantu to recreate it while keeping the integrity of the piece.

Through a multi-step process that took several months, the restoration team successfully produced a digital print replica of the original “Circle in the Sun” mural, complete with the signatures of both artists, which in and of itself is an iconic part of the piece.

As of last July, the reproduced “Circle of the Sun” digital print is on view inside the Main Building Lobby on Del Mar College’s Oso Creek Campus. The magnitude of the piece is still intact, as it spans its new wall at the college — giving a new space to decades worth of South Texas history and cultural impact in the Coastal Bend community.

See the mural inside the Main Building Lobby on Del Mar College’s Oso Creek Campus.

Spreading the Word

Catchy phrases and nicknames were used to draw tourists’ attention to the Gulf coast

By Jillian Becquet Photo Credit Corpus Christi Public Libraries, La Retama Special Collections & Archives

From early in Corpus Christi’s history, it’s been a destination. Some of the first big investments made by boosters of the city in the late 1800s focused on tourism, including hotels and railroads.

Nicknames for cities in the region were common in advertisements like the ones seen here. Corpus Christi was the “Bluff City,” the “Texas Riviera” and of course the “Sparkling City by the Sea.” Portland was the “Gem City of the Gulf” and Ingleside was the “Playground of the South.”

After the turn of the century, the region was advertised as the “Naples of the Gulf” and was a popular destination for those seeking improved health, rest and mild winters. Several railroads, including the Gulf Coast Lines, had reached the area, increasing accessibility for easy visits.

In the 1940s, the chamber of commerce marketed the city as “The Port of Play and Profit.” Slogans like “The City of Certainty, Where the Sails Meet the Rails” (Aransas Pass) and “Where They Bite Every Day” (Port Aransas, referring to tarpon) sought to attract visitors with the natural beauty of the area.

The millions of visitors to the Coastal Bend each year are an extension of this early tourist industry, but our method of advertising has changed just a bit.

Tourist brochures from the 1920s and ’30s

Providing Cosmetic surgery in Corpus Christi, TX and surrounding communities