Presented by The O’Connor & Hewitt Foundation
Rockport Center for the Arts (RCA) is proud to announce The Big Wave! Annual All-Members Exhibition, presented by The O’Connor & Hewitt Foundation, on view December 13, 2025 – January 18, 2026 across the H-E-B Gallery, the Mendez Family Gallery and the Jeanie and Bill Wyatt Gallery. Running concurrently, Standing Out: 2025 Merit Artist Exhibition will be featured in the McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery, on view November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026.
A joint opening reception for both exhibitions will take place Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 5–7 PM, free and open to the public.
The Big Wave! Annual All-Members Exhibition
Presented by: The O’Connor & Hewitt Foundation
Exhibition Dates: December 13, 2025 – January 18, 2026
Location: Across the H-E-B Gallery, the Mendez Family Gallery and the Jeanie and Bill Wyatt Gallery
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 5–7 PM
Featuring nearly 200 works by RCA member artists, The Big Wave! showcases artworks in a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. The exhibition remains one of RCA’s most anticipated annual traditions, celebrating the depth and diversity of artistic talent within the Rockport community and beyond.
“What makes our final exhibition cycle of the year so special is the range of artists it brings together—from first-time exhibitors to seasoned members—each artist shares their best work in The Big Wave!” said Catey Arnold, Barrow Foundation Curator of Exhibitions. “We’re grateful for the dedicated creatives who fuel our membership. The energy throughout the galleries this time of year is unmatched.”
Standing Out: 2025 Merit Artist Exhibition
Location: McKelvey Charitable Fund Gallery
Exhibition Dates: November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Reception: Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 5–7 PM
The Standing Out exhibition honors Rockport Center for the Arts’ 2025 Merit Artists. This special group exhibition will showcase artworks by a select group of artists featuring intricate ceramic sculptures, large Gyotaku works on fabric, botanical and other nature-based prints, emotive encaustic paintings, and more.
Jeanna Peña, Dinah Bowman, and Michelle Belto were selected by the 2024 Big Wave Guest Juror, Joe Schenk, former director at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi, for their exceptional work and artistic merit. Presented as a focused exhibition, Standing Out highlights the emerging and established voices that continue to shape RCA’s artistic legacy.
2025 Merit Artists
JEANNA PEÑA – Ceramic Sculpture | South Padre Island, TX
DINAH BOWMAN – Gyotaku, Collage, and Painting | Portland, TX
MICHELLE BELTO – Encaustic Painting | San Antonio, TX
“Standing Out is our way of celebrating artists who continue to grow, experiment, and inspire,” said Catey Arnold, Barrow Foundation Curator of Exhibitions at Rockport Center for the Arts. “Each Merit Artist brings a distinct perspective that reflects both individual dedication and the collective strength of our regional art community.”
Standing Out 2026: Call for Entries
During The Big Wave! three (3) artists from the exhibition will be selected for the Merit Artist award by a guest juror and announced on December 13, 2025. The winning applicants will hold the title 2026 Merit Artist and be honored in the Standing Out exhibition in the Fall-Winter of 2026-2027.
Eligible participants must be current RCA Members (in good standing as of December 3, 2025) and exhibiting in The Big Wave!
The esteemed 2025 juror is Aleida García, Director of the San Benito Cultural Arts Department. A native of the Rio Grande Valley and University of Texas–Pan American alumna with a BFA in metals and jewelry, García brings more than twenty years of experience as both an artist and dedicated cultural arts leader connecting communities through the arts.
The deadline to apply for Merit Artist consideration is Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Artists wishing to be considered are encouraged to submit an artist statement and up to three additional images of other works to assist the juror in the selection process.
About Rockport Center for the Arts
The 1.2-acre Rockport Center for the Arts campus is located in the Rockport Cultural Arts District and features multiple galleries, classrooms, a sculpture garden, and The ROCC conference center. RCA is dedicated to supporting the arts through exhibitions, education, outreach, and community engagement. Admission to the galleries is always free. For more information, visit rockportartcenter.com or call (361) 729-5519.