I’ve been an artist of some kind all of my life. My journey began as a child by cutting up magazines on my living room floor to make collages. As I grew up, I followed my passion for the arts and graduated from Texas State (SWT at the time) in 1996 with a degree in theatre. I worked for major theatres and talent agencies in New Orleans, Austin and Galveston. My love for visual arts grew while I was living in New Orleans for ten years, serving on the Attending Arts Committee of Young Leadership Council and the board of St. Alphonsus Cultural Center. After Hurricane Katrina, I moved to Galveston and met the love of my life, Marcus. We married in 2008 and became an instant family with his three beautiful kids, and our dog Trudy. In 2013, we moved to the hill country and immediately got involved with the local art guild. After teaching private lessons at the guild, the opportunity arose to open Calamity & Grace. Since then, I’ve used my theatrical flair to create a unique blend of art, theatre and music into the hill country’s only art shop!

- Valerie Smasal, Owner and Founder