History of WCAG
Back in September of 1976, in the small little town of Georgetown,
two individuals dedicated to the arts founded the Williamson
County Art Guild (WCAG). Sheila Crabill and Steve Benton were co-
founders of the art organization that is now celebrating its 50 years
of encouraging and supporting the arts in our community.
Sheila is a native of Central Texas and received her Bachelor of Fine
Arts from the University of Texas with her emphasis on sculpture.
Taking much of her inspiration from her photos, she created
abstractions of patterns, textures and forms with lush colors. The
results were one-of-a-kind sculptures and paintings which were
exotic and exciting.
Steve Benton was born in Texas and graduated from Southwestern
University in Georgetown. He was a deputy for Williamson County
Sheriff’s Department and continued his career in various positions
in law enforcement, including as forensic artist for the City of
Georgetown. His art interests included painting, sculpture, metal
work, and woodwork as well as owning the Hanging Tree Art
Gallery. Steve passed away November 21, 2025.
And so, the organization grew. In 1981, WCAG was established as a
501c(3), organized and operated for educational and charitable
purposes to stimulate interest in art in Williamson County.
And they were indeed doing that! WCAG attracted many artists from
the community who had exhibited their work both locally and
nationally in museums and galleries and received awards for their
artwork. They got involved in teaching classes and workshops,
judging art shows, involving themselves with RRISD and GISD art
programs, volunteering at Williamson County Juvenile Services to
teach art, engaging in leadership roles in various art organizations,
and much more.
As is the case today, Williamson County Art Guild welcomed artists
of all mediums. Members worked in pencil, pastel, oil, watercolor,
acrylic, fiber, art glass, photography, and sculpture. Many of their
studios studded Georgetown in commercial spaces and private
residences.
The artists made early imprints on the community by displaying
their artwork with numerous local merchants such as banks,
jewelers, Chamber of Commerce buildings, libraries, theaters,
universities, county buildings, churches (panels and glass), and
coffee shops as well as festivals and events. Artist Carol Light
remembers a project the guild took on one year of decorating the
businesses on the square for Christmas.
Some of the early members may be very recognizable to you, such
as Carol Light (expressive watercolor), Dalhart Windberg (Texas
landscapes in oil), Lucas Adams (sculptor and painter) and Don
Snell (expressive figurative in oil). Some of their work still exists in
Georgetown in various places.
WCAG opened its first gallery in 2000, which was only 400 square
feet, on 8 th street by the barber shop. Work by CE Locklin, Lucas
Adams, Carol Light, Linda Figg, Tom Tischler, Don Stackhouse, Lan
Patterson, Larry McCormick, Dottie Foreman, Jane Goosby, Chuck
and Margaret Roush, Pat Langley, Joyce Glasscock, Brenda Briggs,
Mary Knape, Billie Jo Holland, Wes O’dell, Lynn Kessel (and her
father) and so many more were exhibited. Due to the inability to keep
up with the rent increases, sadly, WCAG had to close its doors
approximately 5 years later.
And yet, another opportunity presented itself. Fred Bolgen had
opened a frame shop, Framers Gallery, off the square and offered a
space for the guild to exhibit their work. So, the guild’s gallery
became a large wall in the art coop portion of the business. That
relationship continued for a couple decades while WCAG had no
gallery space of their own. Even when Kimi Chapman bought Fred’s
business 13 years ago, she continued the strong relationship with the
guild.
The guild sought additional partnerships within the community to
exhibit artwork, many of which are continuing to flourish: Berry Creek
Country Club, Wildfire, First Texas Bank, Walburg Bank, The Palace
Theater, Truewood by Merrill, the Williamson Museum, the
Georgetown Library, St. David’s Hospital, Franklin’s Jewelers, etc.
Around 2010, WCAG decided it needed a logo. Nick Ramos, graphic
artist for the Georgetown Red Poppy Festival (among many other art
acclaims), designed our “fingerprint-palette” logo, and helped the
organization be identified and recognized.
WCAG opened its current gallery at 708 S Rock St. in October 2023.
WCAG decided to open another gallery with the intent to further
support our local artists as well as bring art to the community on a
larger scale. This venture (or adventure shall we say?) has been
highly successful as measured by several factors: local artist
exposure to the community, community awareness and interest in
art, collaborations with other community entities, membership
count, visitor count, art sales, etc.
This over 1100 square foot space offers a variety of opportunities to
showcase art. First, the front gallery and annex gallery hold our
monthly exhibits made up of numerous member artists. Sometimes
this space is used for special exhibits such as our veteran’s show,
our student show, and our African American artist show. We also
offer gallery space to other art groups who don’t have space of their
own to hold an exhibit.
Second, the gallery houses 26 resident artists who are renting wall
space for longer periods of time.
Third, we have an Artist of the Month space devoted solely to that artist to exhibit for that month.
And guess what? All of the art gets changed out every month! Yes,
we are very busy bees at this gallery! Our First Friday receptions
from 5-7pm are a popular event to attend, offering an opportunity to
view the new art preemptively, talk with the artists, and enjoy
refreshments and live music.
The gallery showcases all art mediums as well as artists of all
levels, giving everyone a chance to participate in exhibiting their
art.
While art exhibits are key ways to bring art to the community, there
are other ways to inspire interest in art. WCAG offers art
classes/workshops to guild members and the community
throughout the year in a variety of mediums. WCAG has taught art
with the youth detained at Williamson County Juvenile Services.
WCAG has taught art for girl scout troops, conducted art activities
at school art events, and guided students through preparing for an
art exhibit. Scholarships for art students, and donations of art
supplies as well as funding have also been provided to local art
endeavors in need.
WCAG also hosts a monthly meeting at the Georgetown Library
where a visiting artist presents about his/her craft and background
or topics of interest for artists (like marketing your artwork, how to
take photos of your art, etc.). These presentations are open to the
public and a way to find out more about the guild.
As WCAG continues in its educational and charitable mission to stimulate interest in art in Williamson County, its vision is to be the creative heart of our county where artists learn, grow and are supported, where the community connects with and values local art, and where barriers to creativity are removed. We hope you will join us in this effort of enhancing our community through creativity.