Joan Wich & Co. Gallery: In Memory


 

Joan Wich & Co. Gallery was located at 4411 Montrose Boulevard Houston, Texas 77006. Joan Wich Gallery was founded in 1998. After the death of Joan Wich in 2009, the gallery eventually closed. Content is from the site's 2006-2008 pages.

 

In Memory of noted Houston patron of the arts, Joan Wich.

2005 -2008 Exhibitions

 

2008 Exhibitions
 
 
Jeanne Cassanova 
New Work 
Presented in conjunction with ArtHouston
Saturday, July 12 - Saturday, August 2, 2008
 
 
 
Anila Quayyum Agha 
New Work 
paper constructions
Friday, June 6 - Saturday, June 26, 2008
 
 
 
Julie DeVries 
Part of the Process 
cardboard wall pieces
Friday, May 9 - Saturday May 31, 2008
 
 
 
Helmut Barnett
The Shape of Things
paintings, drawings, collages
Friday, April 4 - Saturday, May 3, 2008
 
 
 
Lisa Hardaway & Paul Hester 
From the books California Romantica and Texas Historical Courthouses 
Presented in conjunction with FotoFest 2008
photographs, books, book signings
Friday, March 7 - Saturday, March 29, 2008
 
 
 
Katie Kahn
Gratitude, There's No Competition
drawings on newsprint
January 25 - March 1, 2008
 
 
 
 
Holiday Show
paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, photographs by gallery artists
December 1 - January 19, 2008
 
2007 Exhibitions
 
 
ellen george
undergrowth
polymer clay hand-formed objects
October 19 - November 17, 2007
 
 
 
Mirjam Hoekman
Book of Marvels
acrylic paintings on canvas
September 7 - October 13, 2007
 
 
 
Kelli Vance
Interiors
in conjunction with Art Houston
large acrylic paintings on canvas
July 6 - 28, 2007
 
 
Gallery Artists
Black and White, a Little Yellow
paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photographs by gallery artists
June 1 - 30, 2007
 
 
 
Basilios Poulos
Recent Figure Paintings
acrylic paintings on canvas
April 27 - May 26, 2007
 
 
 
Rabéa Ballin and Julie DeVries
Unbleached
brown paper paintings on board; scrapbook collages
March 21 - April 21, 2007
 
 
 
Jeff Yerger and B. Moss
New Work
acrylic paintings on canvas, graphite drawings on paper; charcoal paintings on board, prints
February 16 - March 17, 2007
 
 
 
Viveka Barnett
Dog Life
graphite and crayon drawings on paper
January 12 - February 10, 2007
 

2006 Exhibitions

 
 
Gallery Artists
Holiday Show
paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, photographs by gallery artists
December 2 - 22, 2006
 
 
 
Tracye Wear
Private Matters
encaustic works on board
October 20 - November 18, 2006
 
 
 
Floyd Newsum
The Things I See
paintings on paper
September 8 - October 14, 2006
 
 
 
Anila Quayyum Agha
Illuminated Spaces
in conjunction with Art Houston
cut and sewn paper pieces
July 8 - August 5, 2006
 
 
Patricia González
Conditions for Life
oil paintings on canvas and paper
May 20 - June 17, 2006
 
 
 
Lynn Randolph
Magic Coast
oil paintings on board and canvas
April 7 - May 13, 2006
 
 
David Crossley and Gulf Coast Institute
Houston Green City, Garden City
in conjunction with PhotoFest
photographs, architectural renderings and models, fruits and vegetables
March 10 - April 1, 2006
 
 
Gallery Artists
Group Show
paintings, drawings, photographs
February 17 - March 4, 2006
 
 
 
Jim Hatchett
Return to Color
acrylic paintings on paper and canvas
January 14 - February 11, 2006
 
2005 Exhibitions
 
 
John Sturtevant
New Paintings
oil paintings on canvas
December 2, 2005 - January 7, 2006
 
 
 
Nicholas Bakaysa
New Directions
oil paintings on canvas
October 22 - November 26, 2005
 
 
 
ellen george
thin air
polymer clay sculpture
September 9 - October 8, 2005
 
 
 
UH Graduate Students
Houston 7 - Ballin, DeVries, Flanagan, Gray, Moss, Trotter, Yerger
in conjunction with Art Houston
acrylic and oil paintings on canvas and board
July 9 - 30, 2005

 

2009

Joan Wich, Houston Iconoclast  Mourned

JOAN HOHLT WICH, died on Saturday, December 12, 2009 after a brief illness. Born November 28, 1934, Joan was a native Houstonian, a rarity, and by choosing to stay in Houston she made it richer and more diverse through her contributions in politics and the arts.

Joan was a member of the second graduating class of St. John's School in Houston in 1951 and she graduated from Mount Vernon College for Women (now George Washington University) in Washington D.C., where she was president of the student body. Joan graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in political science. She was an active member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. During college she developed a lifelong passion and advocacy for liberal Democratic causes. After graduation, she worked in the office of then Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Joan returned to Texas and in 1962 married Roger Wich of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Roger died on April 25, 2008. Their generosity and vision lives on through the Joan Hohlt and J. Roger Wich Foundation.

Joan and Roger lived in Austin and Corpus Christi, but finally settled in Houston where they made many lifelong friends. They often spent leisurely weekends at the Old River Ranch near Brenham fishing with their nephews and enjoying fried chicken dinners with their friends.

Joan did social work for Neighborhood Centers and worked as a secretary for Leon Jaworski of Fulbright & Jaworski. Private and reserved, Joan quietly supported many causes including Emily's List, Annie's List and Planned Parenthood. With her sister Betty, she served on the Board of Directors for Project Row Houses in Houston's Third Ward where together they sponsored the Young Mother's Day Care Program. Her enjoyment and support of the arts, especially the Orange Show and the avante-garde Catastrophic Theatre, culminated in the opening of the Joan Wich Gallery in 1998.

The gallery is a showcase of emerging and established artists and a sometime salon for new urban ideas and discussions.

Joan founded the Wich Scholarship Fund in Art to support student artists from the University of Houston. Gracious and intelligent, Joan will also be remembered as an iconoclastic fashionista and for her strong sense of mischief and fun.

She is survived by her sister Betty Hohlt Pecore and brother Richard Bozman Hohlt, nieces and nephews Richard Randal Hohlt, Mary Kaye Walrod, Barbara Ann Hohlt, Daniel Arthur Pecore, Douglas Wilkin Pecore and John William Pecore, and many grand nieces and nephews.

Joan is also survived by her long time assistant, Paul Brockman, and dear friend, Dawn Fudge; together the three shared the fun and adventure, the challenges and sorrows of the last ten years.

She also leaves behind her longtime close friend of 39 years, Sandra Lowery, with whom she shared many special moments in her life.

The family will receive friends for a celebration of Joan's life on Thursday, December 17, 2009 from six until eight o'clock in the evening at the Bradshaw-Carter Home, 1734 West Alabama Street, Houston, TX.The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions in Joan's memory be directed to Planned Parenthood, 3601 Fannin, Houston, TX 77004, (713-522-3976); Project Row Houses, 2521 Holman St., Houston, TX 77004, (713-526-7662); or Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, P.O. Box 1952, Brenham, TX 77834, (979-277-9383). 

 

My side:
It was sad when the Joan Wich & Co. Gallery closed. I moved to Houston in late 2007 from Colorado. I brought all my cold weather clothing including super warm North Face fleece jackets which obviously I wouldn't need. I thought my move would be temporary and I was planning to return to the Colorado mountains. I never did, although I do take ski vacations and the North Face fleece jackets come in handy then. I still buy Northface clothing. Their tops, tanks, and shorts made from ultralight, breathable singlet with moisture-wicking FlashDry™ fibers are perfect for outdoor activities. But their jackets, nope. There are still several galleries at 4411 Montrose Boulevard Houston, Texas 77006. I visit them every couple of months with friends. Two of my favorites are Barbara Davis Gallery and the Anya Tish Gallery, which has been around since 1998. I still miss the Joan Wich & Co. Gallery.

 


 


JoanWichGallery.com