Trails Country Treasure

by
Maryann Miller

On September 26th, the Winnsboro Center For The Arts honored the 2010 Trails Country Treasure. This is the fifth year the award has been given since it's inception to honor Odena Brannam a delightful poet who was well known throughout Winnsboro for her talent and wit.

This year's recipient was Grahame Hopkins - pictured here in his younger years - who is equally well-known throughout Winnsboro for his many creative talents. While he is best known as an artist and art teacher, he is also a percussionist, a writer, and a comedy performer.

He has shared his musical talents with the Quitman Community Theatre, where he has also shared his artistic talents. Bob Hibbard, who founded the theatre with his wife, Becky, spoke at the recent reception where he thanked Grahame for all the set pieces and backdrops he painted. "I told him once that I needed a backdrop to look like a city skyline with high rises, and he painted something so terrific it should have been framed," Bob said.

Bob and Becky met Grahame and his wife, Tracy, shortly after they moved to the area fifteen years ago, and they have been good friends ever since. "Anytime we have asked Grahame to do something for the theatre he has done it in such a fine, gentlemanly way," Bob said. "We are so grateful to have known you and congratulate you on your award."

Winnsboro Mayor Carolyn Jones (pictured here with Grahame before the program) acknowledged the work that Grahame and Tracy have done for the city over the years. "There is so much that he has done for city beautification that people aren't even aware of," she said. "And he and Tracy designed the logos for the Chamber, the City and the Art Center. They do so much quietly behind the scenes without even expecting recognition for what they have done.

"So I am pleased that you are getting this recognition, Grahame. And on behalf of the City of Winnsboro, I want to thank you for being such an immeasurable asset to the city."

Mark Taylor, retired Wood County District Attorney, has been a friend for many years, having met Grahame and Tracy at church - First Baptist. "My first thought when I met him was, 'what is this Brit doing here?'" Mark said. "But I soon realized that he fit here as much as anyone. He and Tracy came here because they fell in love with Winnsboro and their commitment to the city has been great. I just want to acknowledge all that they have done for the arts and the culture that they have brought to the area."

Mark joked that he always thought Grahame was an "old geezer until I saw that picture of him here. He was young once, wasn't he."

In that same vein of levity, he also mentioned that he caught Grahame's comedy routine at the recent Caberet Show at the Winnsboro Center For the Arts. "I wouldn't give up your day job," he said.

Mark closed on a serious note, mentioning what a blessing Grahame and Tracy have been to the city, the church, and to him personally. "I am so blessed to have you as a friend."

That sentiment was expressed frequently by the many guests who attended the reception. There were close to a hundred people there that afternoon to celebrate and honor this special man. One of those guests was Conrad Wolfman, owner of The Winnsboro Emporium, where Grahame's paintings are exhibited and sold. Conrad said that his first introduction to Grahame's work was a painting he saw in The Main Street Gallery, which used to be here in Winnsboro. "The minute I saw the painting, I fell in love with it," Conrad said. "I knew I had to have it."

It is no small honor to be included in Conrad's personal art collection which includes limited edition prints by Picasso and Salvador Dali Prints, original works by several New York Artists, as well as work by local talent including Jory Sherman, Lorelle Bacon, and Barb Richert. Conrad said that Grahame's painting is "sitting right next to Picasso."

Grahame Hopkins started art school in England when he was thirteen and was working as a commercial artist at age 15. He was about to go into the army at age 18, and the studio he was working for didn't want him to go. "So they asked my father to sign me up as an apprentice to the studio to delay my military service until I turned 21." Grahame said.

Later, he came to the United States where he eventually settled in Dallas. There he had his advertising and marketing business and Jim Barrett was one of his clients. "Jim invited us to come to Winnsboro, and I said, 'Where is that?'

"When we came, we really liked what we saw. The countryside reminded me a bit of England, and we found this lovely spot where we thought we would like to live." That lovely spot is where they still live and where Grahame has his studio.

The other thing that drew them to Winnsboro was the plethora of art and artists in the area. "It is amazing," Grahame said. "And we are so delighted to be a part of it."

The certificate of recognition was made and presented by Joe Dan Boyd, who first conceived of the idea of having a Trails Country Treasure Award when he served on the board of the art center.

Helen Burlingham presented the special sculpture of the original logo for the art center that is given each year. The logo is the one designed by Grahame and Tracy, and the sculpture was made by Georgia Lange-Moore.

(below) Grahame and Tracy

Some of Grahame's Work

Past Recipients of the Award: Poet, Odena Brannam, 2006; Historian, Bill Jones, 2007, Photographers, George & LaVonna Hitz, 2008; and Helen Burlingham, great supporter of the arts, 2009.