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Studio Art Lounge held its regular art show on Mother’s Day weekend. Founded by Amy Duquette in October 2023, Studio Art Lounge was created as a space for an art studio, gallery, classes and a lounge for people to enjoy some art and have some free coffee.

“God speaks to me through my gut, and he’s always been there for me. I feel like this is my way of giving back. It was successful, and it was a good thing for me. He put it on out there, but I have to give back because of what He put in front of me,” said Duquette.

Each art show benefits a local charity – most recently, including Tyler Street Team, a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness, and Angel Paws Advocates which rescues dogs in the area. The charity chosen for the weekend show was Children’s Village, which helps neglected children.

“I usually pick organizations that aren’t as well known, or aren’t as popular,” said Duquette. “I go for the underdogs, so to speak. I like to pick the ones to help get the word out and spread awareness of the organizations.”

Children’s Village exists to help children from Northeast Texas who are neglected, abused, or experiencing homelessness, according to its website. Since 1980, the organization has provided 24 hour residential care in family-style living homes on a rural campus setting. The homes are co-ed so the organization can serve sibling groups.

“We believe that siblings should stay together for support and security whenever possible. Children’s Village is dedicated to offering hope and healing to youth who find their lives shattered by their present circumstances,” the website states.

“We’re a foster home setting for children who are in the foster care system,” explained Matt Rogers, Executive Director of Children’s Village. “We try to get the kids to experience a lot of different things.”

Rogers is only the third executive director in the past 40-plus years since the organization’s founding.

“One of my main priorities over the last couple of years has been to get out more and introduce us to the community, to let them know that we’re here and we serve local kids. We really are truly homegrown. The kids that come to us we get to watch them grow up,” said Rogers.

A portion of the show’s ticket sales went to Children’s Village. The show also featured a silent art auction from the displaying artists, and 50 percent of the winning bids also went to Children’s Village.

Diane Reis, president of the Palette of Roses Art League in Tyler, helped Duquette with the production of the art show.

These shows aim to bring “attention to organizations that aren’t already in the limelight,” Reis said, “and I think it’s the same way with the artists … it communicates you can afford great art from talented people with a connection to it and you can afford to give to local charities that bless our community.”

The art show featured local artists with their own stories to tell in East Texas.

Featured artist April Green was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder after a car wreck. She started painting six months after.

“I’ve had a lifelong love for art. I never could do it before the accident. And after the accident, it was a way for me to connect with art to do what I always had a passion for but could never do,” said Green.

Her husband Eric Green added, “Part of her therapy was to regain her fine motor skills. She did that by taking watercolor lessons and now her art has evolved from basic photographs to what you see here.”

Another artist featured at the show was Carl Nelson, who said he acts quickly when he has the inspiration.

“Sometimes I’ll get a vision, a download in my head, and I’ll have to immediately paint it,” said Nelson. “I stop when I see the spirit of it. There’s something bigger than myself that wants me to paint when I’m painting.”

These art shows are held every three months, on the second Saturday of every month. When a show is not being held, the studio is still a great spot for people to check out. The studio offers various art classes, a relaxing lounge area with coffee and tea bar, and more. Studio Art Lounge also has art on display for sale by local artists.

The studio’s address is 328 S College Ave. You can visit the studio from 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.