Art: The Universal Language of Health and Healing
Can anything transcend language and geography better than art? It’s a cornerstone of human expression, a connector of people to their emotions, histories and communities.
Art in your Backyard
On September 24, 2024, The University of Texas at Dallas cut the ribbon to the long-anticipated first building of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, a multi-phase arts and performance complex for the UT Dallas campus.
Rozie Deloach-Zimmerman (Owner and Principal Luthier at Caraway Strings)
My family has been involved in the orchestra world since before I was born: my mother was a public school orchestra teacher and my father started a separate instrument rental business in the Arlington area, in his later years.
Beril Berk (Executive Director, Dialogue Institute Dallas)
Beril Berk—attorney, leader, and tireless volunteer—is making a meaningful difference in Richardson. Almost eight years ago, Berk moved to the U.S. after working as a corporate attorney in Turkey.
Ally Haynes-Hamblen (Executive Director, Eisemann Center)
I grew up in Denver, Colorado, in a family of artists, so my interest in the arts was from birth, essentially. I earned my bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Denver and after graduation moved to the east coast to start working professionally.
Mariachi Magic
Berkner’s Mariachi Orgullo was formed in spring of 2022 as an after school program by Lydia Villarreal, the Orchestra director at the time. The following school year, Mariachi became a class.
Richardson’s 2025 Chinese New Year Celebration
Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year because the date of the celebration follows the lunar calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year celebrations can be dated as far back as 3,500 years.