Harry Lewis

At 77-years-old, Harry Lewis continues to embrace life with the same wild abandon of his youth.  His unabashed enthusiasm filters into every facet of his life - his latest passion being no exception.  The former horseman, New York City window designer and gourmet chef has been reveling in his newest love - painting.

 Lewis brings the results of that passion to Longview with his 25 piece exhibit, entitled “thoughts”.  The exhibit, which features oil-on-canvas florals, will hang in the Longview Museum of Fine Arts until August 26.

 The one-man exhibit showcases richly-textured paintings, which often reflect the colorful personality of their creator.  The show will open July 9 to members and July 12 to the public.

 A Mississippi native, Lewis began painting in college.  However, up until five years ago, he had not so much as picked up a paintbrush.  When he enrolled in classes at Cedar Valley College, he did so for what he called a “refresher course.”  Under the direction of his instuctor Linda Ridgeway, the experience opened yet another chapter on a life that has been something of a circuitous journey.  His first solo show, “Without Irony,” opened just one year ago at the ArtCentre of Plano.  Before that, Lewis found himself on a career path that took him from serving in the Navy to designing window displays for Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s to raising championship Arabian horses here in Texas.