Texas A&M International University’s Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library opened its doors to the Helen Richter Watson Art Gallery on June 6, 2011. The purpose of the gallery is to honor Watson’s life legacy. The gallery is open to TAMIU students, faculty, and the general public free of charge.
Helen Richter Watson, who was born in 1926, and died in 2003, was a recognized educator dedicated to art exhibiting and lecturing nationally. Watson used to live in Rio Grande where she playfully harvested mud from the bank and was molded into clay pots. The Richter family was prolific in Laredo’s business and artistic heritage. Watson received a Bachelors in Arts at California’s Scripps College and her Master in Fine Arts at Claremont Graduate School. She later obtained a prestigious fellowship from the Swedish Government to conduct research. Watson also liked to play the flute and its melody influenced her art. Even the fine arts, visual arts, performing arts, and art history were her inspiration to her art works, she had an artistic vision of music, the art, and more.
Monumental and miniature works may now be appreciated around Laredo’s businesses, churches, and private collections. The dolly foundation gifted one million dollars to enclose the center hallway of the Killam Library and create a gallery space to house Helen’s work replicating the welcoming Houston street studio. The Gallery is currently open Tuesdays-Thursdays from 10 a.m – 12 noon and from 2 – 4 p.m. Her teaching records and ceramic formulas were donated and may be found in the special collection and archive at the Killam Library.
Students may find not only Watson’s art works, but also, works from Watson Petterson, Clark Rost, Steve McGovney, Alfred School, Edwin and Mary Schier, Paul Darrow, and Roger Kunts who were collections of her colleagues and friends. Materials vary from paintings, ceramics, to sculptures of all sizes and various colors.
For more information students and the public may call the Institutional Advancement at (956) 326-4483
(Sandy Lugo may be reached at sandylugoesopinoza@dusty.tamiu.edu)