East Texas Writing Project

Guest Speakers

Gary Bachers is an artist in the small Texas town of New Boston where he was a popular family physician.  His art career began after a 1987 stroke stole the use of his right hand and his ability to produce written or spoken language. Bachers discovered a new language of visual art.  Over the years, he has made the medium of colored pencils his own, progressing from his first rough compositions to an innovative layering of delicate pencil marks.  His pieces have been called “silent conversations.”  He frames these conversations, asking us to open our eyes and listen.  His works have been featured in art anthologies and numerous juried exhibits around the United States.

John Fooks is a former writer for the Texarkana Gazette.  He remains active in the Texarkana community as a writer and a public speaker.