Seems like every community these days has a non profit " Art Center". I'm a strong advocate for all…read moreart all the time. On the surface it appears the director of the Port Aransas Art Center is currating the pieces for sale nicely. I didn't see any thing I thought was less than worthy to hang there. They have plenty to choose from if you're in the market for local artist coastal subjects. Go!

I have some major complaints about Michelle, the Gallery Director, that I would like to address…read morewith the board. I have been treated rudely for the past three years by her. I submitted a compaint through the website that was intercepted by Michelle, and she emailed me back with excuses about "procedures" that were complete and utter BS. My last interaction with her was on January 15, 2026, when I arrived for a class and she yelled at me as I was moving my watercolor supplies to the classroom, angrily telling me that I was NOT signed up for the class and was not allowed to go in the classroom. I WAS signed up, and as I tried to show her my Apple Card transaction to Port Aransas Art Center, she essentially called me a liar. I had paid for the class on January 6th through the website, and my card was charged $45. She demanded an email receipt, which I was unable to locate because I was flustered and angry...there were other people also trying to check in, and I felt embarrassed at being accused of somehow cheating the art center. She eventually found my registration, but I was humiliated in front of other students, and she still tried to make it MY FAULT. This is NOT normal. She literally yelled at me over the other girl working there and DEMANDED that I stop walking towards the classroom, as she came out of the office in what seemed like an attempt to physically prevent me from going in. We already spend 50% more for the watercolor class (price went up for the weekly class from $30 a couple years ago), and Michelle absolutely destroyed my creativity that day. I did almost nothing in class because I was so shaken. This is not an isolated incident, and she's been rude and hateful to me (and others) for about the last three years. I would like to address this with someone on the board (not her spouse or significant other). I submitted a long email with events from the last three years, although I've been coming to the center for over ten years. In the last three years alone, I've donated cash to the center, purchased art, paid class fees, donated art supplies, and a few years back donated two jewelry items that I created, valued over $500, for an auction to benefit the center. The total for the past three years, not counting the jewelry items, is over $1,540. And yet I'm still treated rudely, EVERY TIME I visit the center. I have never done anything to deserve this. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss with one or more board members what's been happening. Michelle is not going to forward my email, and she's making excuses for her rudeness...there is never an excuse to yell at or make snarky, nasty, hateful comments to someone who has gone out of their way to support the center. The Art Center was a big part of why we chose Port Aransas to spend thousands of dollars in the local economy each year for the past 15 years. Next year, if we return, I will make sure to sign up for watercolor lessons at the rec center instead. If you're on the board, look up the receipts...I paid for a watercolor class with Carrie on January 6th through the website. I also just donated $100 to the rain barrel project on the 13th or 14th. I live in Colorado and we come down in January and February each year. You can find my contact info there, or reach out to me through the Yelp messaging center.