08/05/2026
We apologize for missing this in this week's edition of the paper.
Please read about the Artists. It is Free to appear and speak with the artists.
The Ruralistas (Cindy Zemis Morris, Kim Paxson, Cathie Tyler) in conjunction with Sandstone Winery will open the third show of the 2026 season on Thursday, August 6th. The show titled “Mason Originals” features the work of Ben Bjork, Abby Nash, and Rio Schmidt. All three artists were enrolled in art classes with Ms. Morris while attending Mason High School. Now, more than a decade after graduation, the public is invited to an opening reception to celebrate the work of these seasoned artists.
Ben Bjork (’11) works across many mediums including painting, carving, sculpture, and beadwork. His copper wire sculptures will be featured in the exhibit. Ben’s artistic journey has been shaped by patience, perseverance, and a dedication to the process of bringing ideas from imagination into reality, as well as deep appreciation for natural landscapes that continue to inspire his work today. Ben currently resides in Mason. After years of dreaming of having a dedicated space to create, he now works from his own studio where ideas evolve through experimentation and persistence. Ben also works in Terrell County where he has guided hunts for the past 15 seasons.
Abby Nash (’13) is a mixed-media and digital collage artist based in Georgetown. Her work explores the body as landscape, the textures of domestic life, surveillance, and the shifting nature of identity, often combining found imagery with hand-worked material to build compositions that feel both familiar and unsettled. Abby holds degrees in political science and studio art from Southwestern University and is currently transitioning from a career in content strategy toward a graduate degree in art therapy and counseling, work that grows directly out of her time supporting artists experiencing homelessness through a community arts program in Denver.
Rio Schmidt (’13) is a contemporary printmaker whose artistic practice is deeply inspired by his upbringing in Texas ranching culture. Rio attended Hobart College in upstate New York, where he discovered his love for woodcut printmaking, and earned a degree in both Studio Art and Economics. After graduating, Rio managed many creative projects at Glorieta Camps in New Mexico. He recently relocated to Juneau, Alaska, where he maintains a full-time studio practice. Driven by his love for printmaking, Rio has continued to produce work rooted in his upbringing while also exploring pieces that focus on Alaska's natural beauty.
The public is invited to the opening of these works on Thursday, August 6, 6-8pm at Sandstone Winery, 211 San Antonio Street, Mason, Texas. The exhibit will remain on view until November 1. All works will be for sale.
