Texas A&M Performance and Visual Studies

10/10/2026

The Bryan TX Songwriter Festival kicked off its Saturday showcases with musical talent from the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts!

Just a day after acclaimed artists Radney Foster and Max and Heather Stalling graced the main stage in Downtown Bryan, that same stage was filled with students: Mary Clare Foley (Music Performance major), Melanie Guerra (Music Technology minor), Keelie Roper (Music minor) and Avery Meredith (Performance and Visual Studies major, who was joined by Carson Cashatt). They took turns playing their original works on acoustic guitar, with a couple of cover songs mixed in, for an enthusiastic audience.

The festival is hosted by Real Life Real Music Songwriters Series. Texas A&M University is among the presenters of the festival, with support from the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.

10/10/2026

The Performance and Visual Studies program presented a discussion this evening about Dolly Parton's career before a screening of “The Best Little Wh******se in Texas,” the 1982 film starring Parton and Burt Reynolds.

Introductory remarks were given by faculty members Cory LaFevers, Ph.D., senior lecturer; James R. Ball III, Ph.D., interim section chair for Visual, Material and Performance Cultures; and Daniel Humphrey, Ph.D., academic undergraduate program director.

They discussed the legacy of Parton, who died Aug. 25 at age 80, and her approach to crafting culture, her ability to cross musical genres and the film, an adaptation of the 1978 Broadway musical based on the notorious Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange.

“Dolly was able to exist across media in a powerful way,” LaFevers said. “Her breakthrough has always been in connection with her ability to project herself on visual media, television and film. Note the elements of country music sounds in this film — listen for banjos, and because this is also in Texas, listen for fiddles, pedal steel and musical showtune sounds. It’s a musical ride.”

10/08/2026

🎶 Come and see students in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts perform a free concert at the second-annual Bryan TX Songwriter Festival on Saturday in Downtown Bryan! 🎶

Keelie Roper (Music minor), Mary Clare Foley (Music Performance major), Melanie Guerra (Music Technology minor) and Avery Meredith (Performance and Visual Studies major) will perform in a song-swap format at 2 p.m. on the main stage, located at the intersection of E. 29th Street and Main Street, near The Owl bar.

The festival is hosted by Real Life Real Music. Texas A&M University is among the presenters of the festival, with support from the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.

The festival runs Friday and Saturday with performances by Radney Foster, former Texas A&M student Max Stalling and his wife Heather, Bruce Robison, Owen Temple, Blue Water Highway, Chuck Cannon, Beat Root Revival and Jason Eady, among others.

To learn more, visit tx.ag/SongFest26.

08/30/2026

Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for a free screening and discussion of The Man with the Big Hat, a documentary about influential Texas singer-songwriter Steven Fromholz. The film's director, Austin Sayre, will be joined by Lyle Lovett to discuss Fromholz's life and music.

Sayre’s documentary features interviews with Fromholz’s family members and artists including Lovett, Ray Benson, Darden Smith, Larry Joe Taylor and Butch Hancock, along with archival footage of Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell and Michael Martin Murphey. It premiered at the SXSW Film and TV Festival in March and won best documentary feature at the San Antonio Film Festival in July.

The screening starts at 6:30 p.m. at Geren Auditorium in the Langford Architecture Center, Building B, as part of Lovett’s Hagler Fellow residency with the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.

Read more at tx.ag/BigHat.

08/28/2026

Thanks to KBTX Media for featuring the "Art & Film/Film as Art" exhibition and film series!

Daniel Humphrey, program director for Performance and Visual Studies, and Kris Belden-Adams, associate professor of art history, discussed the works featured in the art exhibition at The Kimbell Cultural Event Center in Bryan, and the films that will screen through September at the Kimbell, The Queen Theatre and The 101.

It all opens tonight with a reception at The Kimbell from 6 to 10 p.m. For the complete schedule, visit tx.ag/ArtandFilm26.

The interactive display features 14 national artists, famous painting comparisons, and weekly film screenings through September

08/22/2026

Howdy and welcome back, Ags!

Thank you for spending time with us at today’s Howdy Week Art Party! 🎨

Maroon Steel performed in the courtyard of the Liberal Arts and Arts & Humanities Building, as did saxophone students Aidan Bosse and Joshua Mark.

Workshops were held across the building, including drawing led by Dmitri Koustov, senior lecturer in the Texas A&M Visualization Program; button making led by Tina Budzise-Weaver, associate professor in the Visualization program; perler beading led by John Abi-Najm, assistant director of academic services; and bracelet making led by the college's Student Council.

08/17/2026

🎉 Kick off the semester with the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts this Friday! 🎉

Join us on the first and second floors of the Liberal Arts & Arts and Humanities (LAAH) building for the Howdy Week Art Party, with workshops and events hosted by faculty, staff and students.

See the second slide for the full schedule.

08/16/2026

Natalia Cortez, who graduated Aug. 8 with a Bachelor of Arts in the Texas A&M Performance and Visual Studies program, was recognized as a distinguished student in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.

“I am deeply thankful for the unwavering support and motivation from the college’s staff, faculty and peers throughout this journey,” Cortez said. “Their teachings will continue to guide my path toward future goals and opportunities.”

Photo by Flash Photography.

06/04/2026