Bryan Reese is a longtime drawing and painting teacher at Cypress Falls High School who will showcase his own artwork alongside 38 other artists in the JoMar Visions ArtCrawl on Nov. 17-18 at CustomSpace Houston. This exhibit marks the first time Reese will display his own work in 25 years. (Photo by Kevin Ramos Cruz, Cypress Falls HS)
By Alise Maxie, Cypress Falls HS
CYPRESS — Art is a beautiful quirk of humanity. Although it has been around for centuries, art has still found a way to impact society and create change. This impact, for many students at Cypress Falls High School, began with Bryan Reese.
Reese, a drawing and painting teacher at Cypress Falls, will step back into the limelight after a 25-year sabbatical from showcasing his personal talents of distorting portraits by participating alongside 38 other artists in the JoMar Visions ArtCrawl on Nov. 17-18 at CustomSpace Houston (5301 Polk Street).
Reese was contacted by the gallery and jumped at the opportunity. Although he loves creating pieces and artwork, Reese continues sharing his love of art by passing it along to other generations.
Cypress Falls High School drawing and painting teacher Bryan Reese will showcase his artwork alongside 38 other artists in the JoMar Visions ArtCrawl on Nov. 17-18 at CustomSpace Houston.
“I can remember doing art in preschool and it just comes out,” he said. “I just do it. Art was not my solo career. I started a studio major in college then I switched to art education. I was on track to be an artist, but I didn’t want my next paycheck to be based on whether or not I sold an artwork. When I tried teaching at a summer camp, I found out that I truly love teaching and that it also is my passion.”
Kimberly Ross, a longtime friend of Reese and Cypress Falls art department chair, understands the importance of passing along the love of art to the next generation. At the same time, she also encourages teachers not to lose their own skills.
“You should always be honing your skills,” Ross said. “Keeping up with the new stuff that happens and keeping up with more creativity. You can’t expect that out of your students if you aren’t willing to give it yourself.”
Cypress Falls High School drawing and painting teacher Bryan Reese will showcase his artwork alongside 38 other artists in the JoMar Visions ArtCrawl on Nov. 17-18 at CustomSpace Houston.
The JoMar Visions ArtCrawl began as a small event highlighting a few artists’ studios north and east of downtown Houston. It’s grown to not only highlight artists and the neighborhoods, but also the buildings, restaurants and businesses where the studios are housed.
Admission is free for the event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18.
Reese began his teaching career in 1996, with stops in Tulsa, Okla., and at Houston Lamar and Cypress Falls high schools. The Texas native believes in art educators making their own art so it can come through their own teaching. It’s a role he’s embraced for 15 years – and counting – at Cypress Falls.
“I think for all of us, because we all have our own little quirks and our own style of art, Reese really brings that out in his kids,” Ross said. “He’s a calm, quiet kind of guy and that helps kind of level out some of our crazy that we have down here. He’s nice and calm and steady.”
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