Blue Heartstrings- Katherine Rodgers Artist Talk and Opening Reception Photos

Blue Heartstrings, an exhibit featuring new paintings by Katherine Rodgers—will be on view from September 5 through October 1, 2026. This exhibit features watercolor works of a large variety of mammals, birds, and fish, painted mostly in blue.
Rodgers is donating a portion of the proceeds—along with prints—to the nonprofit organization, HeartGift, which brings children from around the world to the United States where they are provided life-saving surgery to correct congenital heart defects. Attend the opening reception Saturday, September 12, 5 to 8 p.m., when guests can meet the artist and enjoy the artist’s talk starting at 6:30 p.m. Archway Gallery artist Rodgers is dedicating her show to her sister, Laura, who was born in 1972 with a condition called tetralogy of fallot. One of the first babies to be operated on by Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, sadly she passed away after the surgery at the age of almost three. But her short life left an impact on her family. Trying to understand her death led Rodgers to study medicine and become a nurse. “Today in the United States, Laura’s life would most likely be saved,” explains Rodgers. “But this is not the case for all children in the world born with a heart defect.” Globally, 1 in 100 children born each year have a congenital heart defect. More than 90% of these children are born in areas where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent. “HeartGift fills this gap,” says Rodgers. “Because where a child lives should not determine whether they live or not.” Babies with heart defects are often referred to a “blue babies” due to poor blood perfusion that happens when the heart does not pump properly. “Therefore,” explains Rodgers, “in Laura's memory, I am painting a gallery-worth of animals mostly in blue and calling the show Blue Heartstrings.“ Anyone who cannot attend or who would like to give ahead of the show, please donate today at a special donation page Rodgers created, by clicking Here