2008 Woodie Awards
Art shop upholds family traditions
Dominique Beck
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
Denton art and frame shop HMS at 1212 W. Mulberry St. has sold art supplies and specialty framework for more than 35 years.
Harvey and Betty Hornsby, a couple who shared a common love for art, founded it in July 1976.
At that time, it was at 107 Ave. A, where Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches now resides.
Jimmy Hornsby, the son of the founders, is the current owner of HMS and said his parents never intended for the shop to be their main source of income.
"It was my mother and father's play toy and started out as just a hobby," he said.
Interdisciplinary visual and design studies senior Lisa Kruger is an employee of the shop.
She said Betty Hornsby, originally from the country of England, came up with the name for the shop to stand for "Her Majesty's Ship."
"It was like a piece of home for her here in the United States," Kruger said.
Kate Bourland, an HMS employee and interdisciplinary visual & design studies senior, said the shop is a huge attraction to art majors, members of the medals club and the Visual Arts Society of Texas.
Although the atmosphere is usually pretty mellow, there have been occasions where it has encountered strange occurrences, Kruger said.
"It was the summertime, so we propped the door open to let some of the air in because it was so hot out, and in walks a bird and a squirrel together," Bourland said. "We couldn't do anything but laugh because how often does something like that happen?"
Kruger said she hopes customers will one day come to the shop for more than just framing and to purchase their art supplies, but also to socialize and enjoy the atmosphere.
"HMS was a really big hang-out place here in the '70s and we want the shop to become that again," she said. "Soon, we hope to have an area for students to come in and have a cup of coffee or to just sit outside at a table and relax."
Kruger said members of the NT faculty who were on staff when the shop first opened still come in from time to time to reminisce about the late Harvey and Betty Hornsby and discuss what the shop means to them.
Harvey and Betty Hornsby, a couple who shared a common love for art, founded it in July 1976.
At that time, it was at 107 Ave. A, where Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches now resides.
Jimmy Hornsby, the son of the founders, is the current owner of HMS and said his parents never intended for the shop to be their main source of income.
"It was my mother and father's play toy and started out as just a hobby," he said.
Interdisciplinary visual and design studies senior Lisa Kruger is an employee of the shop.
She said Betty Hornsby, originally from the country of England, came up with the name for the shop to stand for "Her Majesty's Ship."
"It was like a piece of home for her here in the United States," Kruger said.
Kate Bourland, an HMS employee and interdisciplinary visual & design studies senior, said the shop is a huge attraction to art majors, members of the medals club and the Visual Arts Society of Texas.
Although the atmosphere is usually pretty mellow, there have been occasions where it has encountered strange occurrences, Kruger said.
"It was the summertime, so we propped the door open to let some of the air in because it was so hot out, and in walks a bird and a squirrel together," Bourland said. "We couldn't do anything but laugh because how often does something like that happen?"
Kruger said she hopes customers will one day come to the shop for more than just framing and to purchase their art supplies, but also to socialize and enjoy the atmosphere.
"HMS was a really big hang-out place here in the '70s and we want the shop to become that again," she said. "Soon, we hope to have an area for students to come in and have a cup of coffee or to just sit outside at a table and relax."
Kruger said members of the NT faculty who were on staff when the shop first opened still come in from time to time to reminisce about the late Harvey and Betty Hornsby and discuss what the shop means to them.
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