Paul Leicht
Left to right: Letitia Huckaby, Sedrick Huckaby, and Jessica Fuentes
A 100-year-old home in Fort Worth's Polytechnic neighborhood will soon host artists, educational programs, and more under the direction of a prominent creative couple.
Artists Sedrick and Letitia Huckaby on Friday announced the soft launch of Kinfolk House, a community space and gallery that will "paint outside the lines — opening up guests to many different creative forms and exploring the intersections of life, cultural pursuits, and artistry," according to a news release.
"I hope Kinfolk House will be an artistic light that the community will be proud to have," Letitia Huckaby said in a statement.
Kinfolk House is located inside a 100-year-old home that once belonged to Sedrick Huckaby's grandmother.
Sitting on 1.5 acres at 1913 Wallace St., the house previously belonged to Sedrick's grandmother, Hallie Beatrice Carpenter — better known as "Big Momma" among friends and family. After she died in 2008, the house remained in the family until Sedrick purchased it in 2010.
Though Carpenter wasn't a traditional artist, Sedrick said in a statement that his grandmother "had the most amazing ability to create an environment that everyone, no matter how different they were, felt welcomed to and at home."
"I hope Kinfolk House can do the same," he said.
Serving as director of Kinfolk House is Jessica Fuentes, who joins the project following a stint as manager of school and community outreach for the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Beyond her gallery and museum work, Fuentes also serves on the board of Make Art with Purpose, Artes de la Rosa, and the Education Planning Committee for the Smithsonian Latino Center in Washington, D.C.
The Huckabys have long been involved in Fort Worth's art community — Letitia as a photographer and Sedrick as a painter and sculptor. They've exhibited work everywhere from the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin to the Camden Palace Hotel in Cork City, Ireland, as well as galleries and museums around Fort Worth.
They intend to host small, neighborhood- and community-focused events at Kinfolk House starting this fall, with a grand opening planned for February 2022.
More information is available at kinfolkhouse.org.
