The Stark Museum of Art invites the public to come and see the Guinness World Record certified largest published book in the world, I Am Texas, at the Stark Museum of Art from May 10 through July 29, 2023.
An ode to Texas from the perspective of a child, the seven-foot-tall book captures what the Lone Star State means to 1,000 young Texans in third through 12th grade from more than 80 school districts through stories, poetry, and artwork. The exhibition features 12 Southeast Texas student artists and authors.
“We are delighted to host the I Am Texas book at the Stark Museum of Art and celebrate the creativity of Texas students, especially the 12 student artists and authors from Southeast Texas,” said Executive Director of Stark Art & History Venues Trina Nelson Thomas. “As a museum of Western art, we celebrate the West, and Texas is a big part of that story.”
The book was created by The Bryan Museum and the iWRITE Organization, whose mission is to build student confidence through writing, along with New York Times bestselling author and illustrator team Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos, creators of the “Ordinary People Change the World” series. They published I Am Texas with the help of Phillips 66, the official sponsor of its production.
“We were ready to do something big for our 13th book, and nothing is bigger or more exciting for kids than getting published plus breaking a world record,” said Melissa Williams Murphy, iWRITE founder, and executive director of The Bryan Museum.
The 12 Southeast Texas student artists and authors featured in the publication are: Maya Alvarado (Port Neches), Bront Ballew (Port Neches), Carlee Dupuy (Orange), Kaitlyn Figueroa (Port Neches), Riley Gonzales (Deweyville), Lydia Gragg (Port Neches), Ava Huckaby (Port Neches), Kolbe Hughes (Deweyville), Jaydon McConathy (Deweyville), Kari Medlock (Port Neches), Chloe Prettyman (Deweyville), and Hannah Tait (Orange).
I Am Texas is sponsored by PHILLIPS 66, Title Sponsor; H-E-B, Publishing Contest Sponsor; The Texas Center at Schreiner University, Education Sponsor; McCoy’s Building Supply, Book Tour Sponsor; Taste of Texas Restaurants, Texas Committee Sponsor; Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, School Book Grant Sponsor; The Summerlee Foundation; The Hamill Foundation; SHESPACE; Bella Becho, Book & Print Bindery; Houston Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club; Foxmark Manufacturing Branding Solutions.
The Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, and is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free of charge. For more information about the museum or “I Am Texas,” visit starkmuseum.org or call (409) 886-2787.
