Weatherford’s Art Heart Turns 60

The Weatherford Art Association turns sixty in 2026, and they are celebrating that big anniversary by featuring some of their members. WAA started with a hand-full of Weatherford artists in 1966 who joined together to do art, talk art, and promote art. Today, it has grown into a thriving non-profit Association of more than 65 members. 

The President of today’s Weatherford Art Association, Kathy Cunning, shares her journey with WAA.

“I’ve lived in Weatherford since 1978, and first joined WAA in the late 1980s. But my twenty-six-year career as an art teacher in Weatherford ISD took up a lot of my time. It wasn’t until I retired in 2011 that WAA became more of my focus. When I retired, I was looking to still be with like-minded artists. I enjoy people who create art because they must, and WAA artists are a fun group that like to learn new art techniques and keep current and fresh in their artwork, whatever their skill level, beginner or professional.”

Kathy has served the Weatherford Art Association as the treasurer and membership chair before her current stint as President of the group. Kathy also gives to Weatherford by teaching free art lessons weekly to seniors. As she said, “The teaching spirit doesn’t go away when you retire from teaching.” She also coordinates the yearly Parker County Student Art Show sponsored by WAA. 

Kathy’s media of choice is watercolor, and she is a well-known and award-winning artist at the local and state level. Kathy recently showed her brilliance with wins at the 2023 State Fair of Texas Art Contest where she won the prestigious Teacher and Professional Division, watercolor portrait, and watercolor still life. Her first-place portrait win was “Banjo Man” and her first place still life was “New Zealand Chevy.” In 2025, she garnered a second-place win with her watercolor “Purple Fairlane.” Kathy’s biggest fans are her husband, Ron, who retired from a thirty-six-year USAF career; her son; and her daughter who lives in Fort Worth. 

So, what’s next for the Weatherford Art Association? “Growth. Wonderful growth…” says Kathy. We have been growing up with Weatherford for a long time. We’ve been at every Parker County Peach Festival with a Peach Festival Art Show at the Doss. We have a long-standing relationship with the Doss Heritage and Culture Center who partners with us in art shows year-round featuring our local artists. We are searching for a permanent home, a place big enough for meetings, a gallery space, and studio space for lessons. We need a place to help support the future of art in Parker County. We meet now on the fourth Monday of each month at the Parker County Senior Center. This is an exciting time for Weatherford and the art possibilities through WAA in this historic town are endless.”