University of Dallas professor of art emeritus, Lyle Novinski, will present a lecture on Grant Wood and other artists of the Regionalist Movement on Thursday, April 26, at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur. Preceded by a gallery tour of Wood’s art work at 6:30pm, the lecture will be given in the Dupree Theater at 7:30pm.  Presented as part of the Celebrating Irving: The City and The Man series and in conjunction with the Irving Arts Center exhibit, the tour and talk are free and open to the public.

Emphasizing the work of Wood, Novinski’s talk also will encompass Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry and a few others of the Dallas connection to the Regionalist Movement.   It will discuss the relationships between the social, artistic and political forces that shaped the great popularity of the Movement.  The Regionalists focused their artistry on the heart and heartland of the America of the 30’s. Their work both reflected and influenced the culture of the time extending into our films, music, dance and architecture.

For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

Celebrating Irving:  The City and The Man will begin a month of programs on Saturday, April 7, with the “Grant Wood Meets Irving Texas, Tableaux Vivants.”  It will be held at the Singley Auditorium, 4601 N. MacArthur and begins at 7pm.  Admission is free.  Door prizes awarded.

Singley drama and art students have created living pictures of some of the famous paintings by  artist Grant Wood.  This American artist is known around the world by his famous painting of American Gothic . Wood was a leader in the Regionalism style of painting with his images of the rolling hills, corn fields of Iowa, and painting landscapes and people that he knew so well.

For the complete month long schedule, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.  All events are free and open to the public.

The silver is polished and the recipes are being double checked for the Irving Heritage Society 40^th anniversary of the Valentine Tea of 1914 on Sunday, February 11 from 2pm-4pm at the Irving Heritage House, 303 South O’Connor. The Heritage Society was launched at the Valentine Tea in 1978 and charter members of the 40 year old organization will be honored.

The Irving Index newspaper article of Thursday, February 19, 1914, reported:

“Mr. and Mrs. Charles Percy Schulze threw open their beautiful new home Saturday evening to one hundred and fifty invited guests.  The housewarming was in the nature of a Valentine Party – the decorations and color scheme throughout being hearts, arrows and cupid in reds and yellows.”

The same description fits the upcoming event at the former Schulze home now called the Heritage House, as the Irving Heritage Society recreates that party of 1914 with their annual Vintage Valentine Tea.  The public is invited to share in this special event from 2pm-4pm.  Reservations are not required and admission is free. 

Just as in the 1914 article description, there will be strings of hearts from the chandeliers.  The lace draperies at the windows and the dining table will have festoons of hearts and arrows.  Kathy Howard, Judy Pierson, and Nancie Rissing are serving as co-chairs of this year’s event.

For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.

The Irving Heritage Society will host a Soup Supper followed by their general meeting and program on Tuesday, January 23, at the Senter East building, 228 Chamberlain. The Soup Supper will begin at 6pm and the meeting/program at 7pm.  A panel discussion “If Cemeteries Could Talk-What Would They Say” will include Councilman Dennis Webb, former Councilman Gerald Farris and Gary Westerman.  Richard Monroe will serve as moderator as the panel explores various historic cemeteries in Irving. 

For more information visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.  The evening is free and the public is invited to attend.

October is Fire Safety Month and the Heritage Society along with the Irving Fire Department will include an educational outreach in the first Sunday tour program.  Toy fire trucks large and small will be on display during the monthly tour of the Irving Heritage House on October 1, from 3pm-5pm.  Heritage Society member Andy Lucas will exhibit part of his extensive collection which includes very small and detailed replicas of fire trucks to ones brought to him from Japan. The Heritage House is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is located at 303 South O’Connor.  Admission is free and the tour includes a visit to Mary’s Playhouse in the back garden area.

According to the City’s website, the Irving Fire Department was formed in 1925 as a volunteer Fire Department after a fire started in the only schoolhouse in Irving.  R.V. Leach was elected Chief.  Their equipment was a four-wheeled pull cart with a 20 gallon water barrel, a hand pump and buckets, broom, and small ladder.  The City was one square mile at the time.  Volunteers were alerted of a fire by a light and siren on top of the old water tower in downtown Irving.  Rumors say that the first fire chief would shoot his gun into the air to summon the volunteers too.   

The public is invited to attend the free event on October 1.  For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call 972-252-3838.