Salon Series

Soon after we installed original Texas modernist sketches at Hotel Ella, guests and visitors began to ask about the pieces. Some wanted to know the story behind the art, and some wanted to buy the artwork itself. At the same time, New Waterloo was looking for opportunities to create community at the hotel. After an afternoon of brainstorming, the Hotel Ella Salon Series was born. We envisioned a salon-style format engaging locals and guests that would also honor the legacy of the mansion’s original occupants, as the Wooten family had been faithful UT stewards, hosting meetings and parties in their home.

For the launch, we asked the collector who’d sold us the vintage sketches if he’d be interested in hosting an intimate conversation about the art. As both a great storyteller and scholar, he knew equal parts history and juicy backstory of the period and the works. The talk was free, open to the public, and available to the first 75 people who responded. That first talk was followed by programming that has expanded over time to include musicians, filmmakers, authors, artists, and makers.