"I thought to myself, now this would be my dream job!" Wilson recalls.

Well, that dream came true.

On July 13, 2020, she became only the fourth person to be named director in the 18 years since Creative Arts Center opened its doors in 2002.

"Being the director here is definitely a dream come true," Wilson says now.  "This job, to me, is connecting to the community with the voice of art.  I am grateful for all the twists and turns in my life that brought me to the place I have always wanted to be. How do I feel about this job? Someone please pinch me!"

This transplanted Texas was actually born in Detroit, Michigan and lived on the outskirts of the city for the first couple of decades of her life.

"I fell in love with art when I was in kindergarten," Wilson says. "I dreamed of being just like Miss McCann, my elementary school art teacher, when I grew up. Something about the smell of the paste and paint was uplifting...I never wanted art class to be over.  I had many great art and theater teachers throughout the years, all of whom I admired. They all nurtured talent that I couldn't see.  As I got older, I found my singing voice.  My love for the theater and the arts grew in the arts district of downtown Detroit as I explored galleries, museums and off-Broadway plays."

"I moved with my family to Pennsylvania to a city just outside of Philadelphia," Wilson continues. "I began to study yoga in 1996 after my second son was born when I stumbled upon a book at a garage sale claiming to heal the mind, body and soul that was published in the 1960s. I couldn't get enough of yoga after exhausting every video, book and article I could find at the public library. I finally found a yoga studio not very far from where I lived. Now I had another dream; to help people move through the healing practice of yoga. I moved to Texas in 2001 and received my Yoga Teacher's Certification in 2003. I taught some of my first classes here at the Arts Center. The director at the time was Inga Posey."

And what does she see in her crystal ball, now that she is in charge of the cultural mecca for the region?

"My vision is to fill the community with the joy of art," Wilson replies, "and to share art with all ages. To educate children in art and give them an opportunity to express themselves artistically outside of school. I am working on an after-school program for high school students for Thursdays where teens can explore arts in a positive uplifting environment while expressing themselves through painting, drawing, music, dance, yoga, theater and more -- the ideas keep coming!"

Wilson and her husband, Chris, have been married since 2014. They have a blended family with six children: Jacob, 29, Nathaniel, 27 Rachel, 25, Josh 23, Michael, 24 and Rebecca 17.

The Wilsons have two German shepherds that keep them busy during their free time.  

"As far as hobbies, I am in love with nature," she reveals. "I love taking hikes at Bonham State Park. I enjoy gardening, even though everything I planted in the spring has died. Of course I like to paint, draw and practice yoga. I love learning about Ayurveda, aromatherapy and other practices/therapies to help heal."

Wilson hopes to pack the Creative Arts Center calendar full of events and happenings and she has certainly hit the ground running.

Future Events:

September

Youth Arts classes Tuesdays from 4:00pm-5:15pm
Yoga 6:00pm-7:15pm  Tuesdays (starts September 1st)
Community Art Show & Contest Opening and Music in the Garden Concert September 4. Cash prizes for First in show and First place in each category. Party starts at 6:00pm.
Children's Art in the Garden 11:00am -12:30pm September 12 (free community events for children)

Art Party! September 22

October's theme is Sparkle me Pink!

Asking for t-shirt design entries for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Winning design gets $50 and of course, a free t-shirt! Designs are due by September 22. A percentage of all proceeds for the T-shirts and for the month of October go to Women Rock of Texoma to help local women in their fight against breast cancer.  T-shirt orders must be received by September 30.

Private Collection of Bob and Kathy Self reception September 18 (collection is currently displayed in the East Gallery). A percentage of the proceeds will be given to The Creative Arts Center, CASA and to Rotary Club.

We are hoping to host a Big Band Party toward the end of September.

October

Sparkle me Pink! Exhibit. Dedicated with love support to women everywhere fighting breast cancer. The exhibit is an expression of the feminine. Gallery Exhibit Starts October 1.

Adult art class by Katherine Kluger; A Study Celebrating Women of Art

October 17 -- Art in the Garden for Children & (tentative) Farmer's and Crafter's Market
East Gallery private artist show for Patsy Szaley
October 31 - Masquerade Ball

November will be a celebration of the art of food!

The Great Pie Bake - Pie bake off contest, sale and auction (tba)

Chili Cook off and contest

East Gallery Reception for Phyllis Ryser

December

Looking forward to Sweets, Spirits and Sparkles and participating in the wine walk.