tional work at the College at no additional cost.
At the end of the session a certificate was awarded to each student who completed the course which was signed by Gonzalez and Sul Ross President Horace W. Morelock. By June 13 the art students in both the regular Drawing Art classes and in the Art Colony staged an exhibit at Kokernot Lodge. The student newspaper, Skyline, headlined this story with“ Summer Work Under Gonzalez And Woeltz Shown.”
By the second summer session, Rather was hired to conduct the Art Colony while Gonzalez travelled to Paris to conduct research for Tulane University. Woeltz continued teaching the regular Drawing Art courses.
By the fall of 1932, it was announced that Julius Woeltz was hired to head the Art Department and thus began the solidification of the Art Colony at Sul Ross. The first summer session of the 1933 Art Colony was led by the New Orleans artist Paul Ninas and the second by Gonzalez. Ninas was an interesting choice to conduct the Art Colony, as he had never been to the area and apparently was influenced to take the position by Gonzalez due to Gonzalez’ s reports of the beautiful
Stream with Bridge, Oil on Paper, 1927, 9 X 11.5, Xavier Gonzalez, Holly T. and Sanford C. Cox, Jr.
Ranch Country, Oil on Masonite, 1948, 20 X 30, Otis Dozier, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Texas, Gift of the Dozier Foundation
scenery, wonderful climate and fine Western hospitality. During the summer, Woeltz taught the regular Drawing Courses and executed a mural of Santa Elena Canyon for the school’ s cafeteria.
From 1934 to 1936, Gonzalez and Woeltz were each conducting one summer session of the Art Colony. Both men executed a number of large murals individually and along with their students which were sent to the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas.
By 1936 Woeltz resigned as head of the Art Department and
Ms. Milita Hill was hired to head the Art Department. She remained as the Department head until her retirement in 1961. Hill continued Sul Ross’ relationship with Gonzalez as he continued to lead the Art Colony through 1939. It was in 1939 that the Rio Grande Artists Group was formed, which included Art Colony students. This informal group painted that summer in the Davis Mountains and surrounding areas.
From 1939 to 1950 other influential Texas artists would conduct the Art Colony. Texas artists include Harry Anthony De Young, 1940-1941, Otis Dozier, 1947, and William Lester, 1949-1950 and out-of-state instructors, Beatrice Cuming, 1942, and John Bernhardt, 1948.
Even though the Art Colony ceased to exist in 1950, the ramifications were enormous for Sul Ross. It helped to establish Sul Ross’ reputation as an excellent institution to attend, to work with and to learn from some of the best artists in Texas, which continues to this day. f
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