The creativity of the Coastal Bend is on display in Rockport and Corpus Christi at two independent yet collaborative art exhibitions. “The New Normal: Rockport” can be viewed at the Rockport Center for the Arts, while “Postcards from Your Neighbor” is at K Space Contemporary of Corpus Christi and the Rockport venue from Aug. 6-Sept. 4.
“Postcards from Your Neighbor” is a partnership and joint exhibition with Rockport Center and K Space. Members of each organization created postcard-size artwork — 5 inches by 7 inches — which were “sent” to the other institution for exhibition. This artistic alliance unites the sister art communities and forges a strong connection between the two organizations.
“We are excited to partner with Rockport Center for the Arts on the 'Postcards from Your Neighbor' exhibition,” said Michelle Smythe, director of K Space Contemporary. “Though our organizations are only about 35 miles apart, we each have our own following and member artists. We look forward to meeting more artists and art lovers in the Rockport art community, making new friends and forging new connections.”
“The New Normal: Rockport” is an initiative at Rockport Center for the Arts that challenged visual artists to create works inspired by their current experiences in the world. Last spring, Rockport-area artists applied for a share of $150,000 in grant money.
Featuring the work of 41 grant recipients, themes include the lingering impact of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic, racial inequality, and social injustice.
The funding for the grants came through a partnership between Fine Line Group, the family office of Sasha and Ed Bass, and Fort Worth-based nonprofit arts organization Gallery of Dreams, which administered the program along with the Alice L. Walton Foundation and Tartaglino Richards Family Foundation.
“This wonderful exhibition is the result of an ambitious program started by Fort Worth businessman, financier, philanthropist, and environmentalist Edward P. Bass and his wife, Sasha,” said Luis Purón, executive director for Rockport Center for the Arts. 
A similar exhibition was launched in Fort Worth in April 2020, which is, like Corpus Christi, another city where the Bass family has strong roots. “This was such an incredible opportunity for our talented pool of Rockport artists, and the resulting show is an amazing collection of work reflecting the artists’ interpretation and personal experience with so many life-altering events,” Purón said.
K Space will have its opening reception from 5:30-9 p.m Friday, Aug. 6, during the downtown ArtWalk. Rockport Center's opening reception for both “The New Normal: Rockport” and “Postcards from Your Neighbor” takes place from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7. All receptions are free and open to the public. K Space Contemporary is located at 623 N. Chaparral St. in Corpus Christi and is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to its website, call 361-887-6834, or visit its Facebook page. 
Rockport Center for the Arts is located at 401 S. Austin St., Suite B., in Rockport and is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to its website, call 361-729-5519, or visit its Facebook page.