San Augustine artists display artwork in Windows Into History Project

SAN AUGUSTINE, Texas (KTRE) - Residents of San Augustine gathered in their downtown area Thursday to see local artists create displays that filled empty windows in town with local history. Ellen Reeder is the chair of the Windows into History project. She shared that two years ago, local members were given the chance to adopt an empty window to add their pieces of history to the Main Street area. The project aims to increase tourism and get San Augustine on the map. “San Augustine is steeped in history, Texas history, and I thought we could use our empty windows to portray the history of this area,” said Reeder. 17 different exhibits were unveiled. “Some of them have original artwork from artists paintings, but about half of them I guess, and the other half are objects or photographs that’s been enlarged and that sort of thing,” said Reeder. Glenda Harrison is a member of the main street board in San Augustine. She created a canvas of the early 1700s when the first Spaniards’ arrived in the Aiysha bayou area of San Augustine. “I wanted to show as I have, a soldier conquistador horseback and then the priest on the horseback. They’re here and they’re kind of going out exploring the lay of the land,” said Harrison. Artist Jayne Fuller created a painting of Leo Bishop who was a Texas ranger who came to San Augustine in 1935.