Description
DEGART VisiON is an immersive art and photography experience bringing together visual storytellers from all backgrounds — from traditional film photographers to AI, AR, and digital artists.
Held in DEGALLERY Bryan, Texas, from August 24–31, 2026 this unique event includes hands-on workshops, artist demos, a community photo walk, exhibitions, and visionary meetups designed to inspire and unite the visual arts community.
Everyone is welcome — from seasoned professionals to curious beginners.
Mission Statement
The mission of DEGART VisiON is to cultivate an inclusive creative space where visual artists — working in both traditional and emerging media — can connect, learn, and grow. By blending analog and digital practices through education, collaboration, and community engagement, DEGART Vision fosters the development of a vibrant visual arts ecosystem in Bryan and beyond.
About the Event
DEGART VisiON is a one-of-a-kind creative gathering that celebrates the full spectrum of visual expression — from traditional film photography and analog techniques to cutting-edge AI art, digital illustration, and augmented reality. Set in the heart of Central Texas in Bryan, this 9-day immersive experience brings together artists, photographers, technologists, educators, and curious minds to learn, create, connect, and imagine the future of visual arts.
Program
Monday, August 24
Theme: Start Strong: Inspiration, Skills, and Community.
9:00-10:00 AM Check-in / Registration
10:00-10:20 AM Kickoff – Dary Dega
10:30-12:00 PM Opening Keynote – Kathy Adams Clark: Travel Photography: More Than a Snapshot
12:00-1:00 PM Camera Confidence Pathway Preview: pick up checklist and register for Friday Skills Lab
1:15-2:45 PM Chris Hernandez – Just Like Joe Rosenthal: Photographing WWII Reenactments with WWII Cameras
3:00-4:15 PM Dary Dega – AI, Ethics, and the Creative Image: What Creators Need to Consider
4:15-5:30 PM Meetup / networking / presenter tables; Informal camera Q&A / help desk
6:00-8:00 PM Opening Reception and Panel: Different Paths, Shared Vision
Tuesday, August 25
Theme: Seeing, Capturing, and Presenting the Image
9:00-10:00 AM Check-in / Registration
10:00-11:30 AM Lazlo Perlaky – Macro & Close-up Photography on a Budget
12:00-1:15 PM Pizza Lunch Feature: Lee Hoy – Behind the Scenes: How I Got the Shots
1:30-2:45 PM Doug Box – Creating a Video Legacy of Yourself
3:00-4:15 PM Melissa Barron – Best Practices for Matting & Framing Your Prints
4:15-4:45 PM Meetup / networking / presenter tables
5:00-6:30 PM Dinner on your own or with meetup groups
6:30-7:30 PM Featured Session – Mark Sadoski: Creating Landscape Photographs: Wit and Wisdom
Wednesday, August 26
Theme: Creativity, Voice, People, and New Tools
10:00-11:00 AM Maura Casey – Mastering Cellphoneography
11:15 AM-12:15 PM Kathy Adams Clark – Night Photography; Gabriela Jedrysiak – Confident Clients, Confident You
12:30-1:45 PM Lunch Keynote – Joel Kitchens: It’s Not the Camera (lunch included in registration)
2:00-3:15 PM Kathy Adams Clark – Video with Mirrorless Cameras & Cellphone; Mark Sykes – Natural Light Portraits
3:30-4:30 PM Carol Fox Henrichs – From Capture to Curation: Honoring Your Artistic Voice in the Age of AI
4:30-6:00 PM Meetup / networking / presenter tables
6:00-7:30 PM Featured Speaker – Lee Hoy: Elevate Your Images
Thursday, August 27
Theme: Technique, Workflow, and Critique
10:00-12:00 PM Lee Hoy – Mastering Birds in Flight Photography
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Joel Kitchens – Demystifying Black & White Film
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch break
1:00-5:00 PM Mark Sykes – From Chaos to Calm: Mastering Your Workflow Limited capacity — advance RSVP required
1:00-3:00 PM Carol Fox Henrichs – From Finished Image to Shared Work: Preparing Photographs for Print, Web, and Social Media
5:00-6:00 PM Dinner / reception setup / transition
6:00-7:30 PM Closing Reception with Image Critique: Learning Through Feedback
Friday, August 28
Theme: Optional Post-Conference Workshops and Extended Learning
8:00 AM-12:00 PM Anatol Bologan – Creating Visual Narrative Through Digital Painting and Compositing Limited capacity — advance RSVP required
9:30 AM-12:00 PM Camera Confidence Skills Lab: Focus, Exposure, and Sharper Photographs
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch break
1:00-4:30 PM Anatol Bologan workshop continues
Saturday, August 29
Theme: Post-Conference Field and Creative Workshops
8:00-11:00 AM Carol Fox Henrichs – Morning in the Gardens: A Photography Field Workshop at the Texas A&M Teaching Gardens
10:00 AM-4:00 PM Jaimie Ladysh – Painting with Color and Fire (encaustics) Optional add-on — separate registration required
1:00-4:30 PM Carol Fox Henrichs – Editing for Greater Impact (Lightroom & Photoshop) Limited capacity — advance RSVP required
Sunday, August 30
Theme: Post-Conference Workshop Continuation
10:00 AM-4:00 PM Jaimie Ladysh – continued, Painting with Color and Fire (encaustics) continues
