Though most refer to him as Terry Fagerstrom, I prefer to call him The Collector. He owns an eclectic event venue called That Joint in Spicewood, built inside a historic post office from the 1910 era. The post office has since closed and now its walls display a diverse collection of items that Terry has accumulated over the past 47 years.
Inside one of the rooms is an indoor stage made from a cypress cistern bottom. Singers and songwriters come to That Joint to perform at live music events and art festivals.
“I was a kid when I started collecting. I couldn’t stick with one thing, so I’ve been collecting all kinds of stuff,” said Terry. “I’d go to Canton when I lived with my parents. I always seemed to find the odd stuff.” When he was 16, he saw a chair when riding his bicycle. “I said, ‘Dad, help me. I’ve got to go down and get this chair.’,” said Terry. Since then he has had the chair refurbished and it now sits in one of the bedrooms of their bed and breakfast—Mellow Yellow Guesthouse. “I don’t really get rid of stuff if I can hold onto it. Even cars from the past,” he added. Next door to That Joint is an old Sinclair gas station, where a blacksmithing shop once operated out of the back. The wall had openings allowing a blacksmith to fix carriage wheels. Outside is a ’68 Biscayne airport limo. Now inside the former Sinclair sits Terry’s 69 XKE Jaguar. “It took first in the nation in 1991 as being the nicest Series-II Jaguar in the United States and it took first place in the Concours d'Elegance,” he said. Looking around the old gas station, every direction caught my eye. It was a treasure trove of collectables that told the story of his life.
“I started with battery operated toys. Someone told me to stick with one thing but I got kind of bored with that. I saw a cool wind-up toy in the store and liked those. The woman at the store told me to collect what I want to collect…and well, I liked that a whole lot better.”
In 2014 Terry purchased the old post office and the surrounding properties. In addition to Mellow Yellow Guesthouse, there’s a fire pit, allowing visitors to be submersed in his collection of the miscellaneous. The backyard contains an airstream, 1947 Mack truck/outdoor stage, school bus, gymnastics tumble equipment, horseshoe and washer pit and so much more. My favorite creative touch by Terry: he uses a colorful assortment of bowling balls as the border for his garden. Some have split over time from being in direct sunlight.
That Joint is the perfect location for Artists Paint Out for Highland Lakes Creative Arts’ Paint the Town 2020. “I go thrift shopping all the time, so there’s plenty of stuff for the artists to paint when they come out here,” said Terry. “I’ve also planted some wildflowers back behind the firepit so once they start blooming, maybe there will be some color out, if we’re lucky.”
“The first time I saw That Joint, I was attracted to the limo out front,” said fifth year returning Paint the Town Artist, Krystal Brown. “I stopped and asked permission to paint and Terry was so sharing and open about his projects. I ended up bringing my friends the next year.”
“Last year, six people came out to paint, so this year I was asked if everyone could come. It’s fun to see what each artist picks to paint and what it sells for at auction.”
“He’s put so much work into his place. It’s been incredible to watch it take shape,” added Brown. “I’m an artist with paint and canvas and his art is physical space. Everything that’s on that property has been touched by him in some way, shape or form and that’s pretty neat.”
Competition artists participating in Paint the Town submit what they believe to be the best piece they created during that week to be judged by Paint the Town judge, Mark Fehlman. The Best of Show, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be auctioned off at the VIP event on Friday, April 3rd. Artwork that is created at That Joint on Artist Paint Out or during the week at the gallery can be purchased by the public the same day. Artists share 40% of the proceeds to the Highland Lakes Creative Arts organization that puts on Paint the Town.
“It is my pleasure to be hosting this year’s paint out,” said Terry. “I want to encourage the public to come out on Tuesday, March 31 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and look at the art and talk to the artists. They’re the type you can walk up to and hold a conversation with.” Oli’s Kitchen will be providing a catered lunch for the 30 artists attending. There will be live music for everyone to enjoy, so come out to That Joint in Spicewood, just half a mile from Krause Springs, and see the artists in action.
About Paint the Town:
Hosted by Highland Lakes Creative Arts, Paint the Town is an annual Plein Air juried exhibition and sale held at the Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls, overlooking the beautiful Lake LBJ. From March 29-April 4, 30 Plein Air artists from across the nation will work in various medium to capture the outdoor sights and scenes of historic Marble Falls and the panoramic Texas Hill Country. For a week, with thousands of visitors, there will be an expansive exhibiting/sales gallery, live demonstrations, a Quick Draw downtown, Sunrise and Nocturne painting, a student competition, a nationally recognized judge presenting the award winners and a full day of family arts activities.
Highland Lakes Creative Arts (the arts) is a 501C3 non-profit initiative that fosters and promotes the creative and performing arts in the Texas Highland Lakes.
