Straightening up our own kitchen after our weekend morning coffee, David calls to me up the back stairs, “We don’t want to do this!” “Oh, yes! We do!” I call back down. “I’ve never known you to be a wimp!” Silence. Long pause.
 
David calls back up, “I guess we’re going. Where’s Chiquita’s poncho?” I call back down, “In Ding’s cat food cabinet. I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

​Twenty minutes later with puppies, treats, toys and tethers gathered, vibing on pumped up resolve and determined to not miss our weekly walk-about-outing, we shut the door behind us. Stepping out into April’s shivering twenty-nine degrees of an unpredicted blowing spring snow, we find the patio, gardens and Lasyrenn’s agility course are serenely blanketed in white.
 
We’ve made plans with our friends Kerry and Bev to meet up for a pancake breakfast at our much loved Hwy 59 Café in Diamond, Missouri, and we’ve decided not to disappoint them or us or the puppies. Loading into Van (Gogh) we go south.
 
Our meet up is predictably happy and fun. Bev and Kerry catch us up on their recent projects. She’s helped successfully launch the Master Gardeners’ 2018 seed library. He’s been out with the Missouri Stream Team testing water quality in Center Creek. We agree we want to paddle our kayaks there together. Since they’re enthusiastic artCentral members, we give them all our arty news. Over extra cups of coffee, we sing them a wee duet from those we’re working up for our Annual Membership exhibition and picnic.
 
Parting with hugs and handshakes, Kerry and Bev head home as David and I carry on to George Washington Carver National Monument. On our walk this morning we see new wild flowers emerging in spite of the chill. David regrets not bringing his sketchbook. The weather’s become totally inconsequential.
 
I grew up with a weather maxim handed down by my Arkansas hillbilly ancestors: “If you don’t like the weather, wait a day or two. Change is sure to come.” Seems quick change is the theme of Missouri weather, too, especially in this fickle spring. One day the hastas are emerging and unfurling while guys walk into the Post Office in flip-flops and shorts. The next we’re dealing with the prospect of another freeze that has us frantically covering up all our tender plants we want to save.
 
Perhaps, now we’ve reached a week when spring’s ready to hold steady and the only dramatic change we’re facing is swapping the contents of our closets from our winter to our summer wardrobes. Today I’m wondering what’s weather-appropriate to wear for my lunch time meeting with my book club. Will the temps be up or down? Shall I dress in layers? Throw on a coat?
 
My wardrobe concerns are truly petty compared to those faced by the characters dealing with deprivation and harsh weather in “Enemy Women” by Paulette Jiles, the book I’m preparing to review for my book club discussion in May.  Knowing I was looking for a provocative read, David pitched the possibility of this historical novel set in southeastern Missouri during the Civil War. Since he loves to read as much as I do and our literary tastes, like our artistic tastes, are complimentary, I followed his advice. I’m glad.
 
Only a third of the way through “Enemy Women”, already I’ve decided this is a book to be added to our artCentral library in the section dedicated to local and Missouri writers. Author Paulette Jiles knows well where we live. She was born in the heart of the Ozarks in Salem, Missouri, population 4,950 in 2010, the county seat of Dent County in the midst of the Mark Twain National Forest. Raised in small towns in both south and central Missouri, she graduated from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
 
In “Enemy Women” the author introduces a quilt motif that’s capturing my attention, for these days quilts are frequently on my mind: in the colorful paper scraps used by Josie Mai as she pieces together her hand-rubbed collages, in the family heirlooms David and I use to wrap and transport art from venue to venue and in the call for entries going out for THE ART OF QUILTING, the juried exhibition to be shown at artCentral this coming October and November.
 
Unmistakably spring’s snow, seeds, streams and collages are steadily carrying and flowing us forward toward the exquisite quilts of artCentral’s autumn.

​According to folklore traditions, the four clover leaves represent different attributes: hope, faith, love and luck. The Druids carried four-leaf clovers as Celtic charms. I have a few clovers I’ve found and plucked over the years and pressed between the pages of random books. When I open a dusty volume from our bookshelves, if I unexpectedly discover an old clover, I instantly think, “Oh, good! Luck is on the way!” With childlike anticipation, I wait to see in what manifestation my luck will appear. The arrival always delights me.

​Lots of luck arrives recently as I answer the phone, “Good morning, artCentral. This is Alice Lynn. How may I help you?” The pleasant voice of a gentleman caller inquires, “Do you teach blacksmithing classes? We’ve just returned from Branson,” he explains, “My stepson was intrigued with the working blacksmith we saw there.”
 
I confess, “We’ve taught many innovative classes at artCentral’s summer artCamp for kids, but blacksmithing has never been a part of our curriculum.” As consolation I offer, “Please give me your name and number. I’ll call you if we come up with a blacksmithing class for this July’s artCamp.” To my many, many phone contacts I add this stepdad’s phone number captioned as “Blacksmithing Class Request”.
 
When my husband, David, comes home from work, we talk enthusiastically about this intriguing new idea—the art of blacksmithing to be explored, the lessons to be learned and the skills to gained by artCentral’s young campers. We ponder and discuss the challenges of finding an instructor and getting the approval of my board of directors and the funds to cover the costs. I put this class possibility on my ponder-further-later list to be intentionally, ritualistically considered.
 
David and I love the rituals that sustain and animate the balance of our beautiful, shared life. We begin every morning and end each evening moving through our simple practices.  We speak and audio record our intentions for our day, then we ring our Tibetan singing bowl, release our intentions and send them on their way.
 
We’re repeatedly discovering in this first year of marriage that when we ponder, talk positively with confidence and intend good things we always get Lucky! Lucky! Lucky! From our spoken and shared intentions beautiful, exciting manifestations happen, like going to buy chicken feed and seeing a notice on the feed store door that leads us to our Australian Shepherd puppy, Lasyrenn (“la-se-wren”, the siren).
 
Now we have brand new rituals we share with Lasyrenn and her six-year old companion, Chiquita, our Wheaten Terrier Poodle. Having wished for, talked about and intended a nice place to walk our girls, early on a weekend morning, we pile into our white van, affectionately named “Van-Gogh”. Equipped with toys and tethers we make a pilgrimage south to the George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Missouri.
 
Before making our weekly “walk-about” on the trails through the park, we stop for a hearty breakfast at the Hwy 59 Cafe where we always order and split the Full Bull Rider complete with two giant, plate-sized pancakes, two sausage patties with two eggs easy-over, shredded hash browns made extra crispy plus a side of biscuits and gravy. The servings are not only generous and pocket-happy, the wait and kitchen staffs are always so friendly I feel I’m getting a full meal of déjà vous southern hospitality like what’s reliably served up in my home state of Arkansas.

​On our most recent Hwy 59 Cafe and walk-about outing, we get really, really lucky, lucky, lucky! We should have seen this coming! We’d been given all the signs: the call from the “Blacksmithing Class Requested” step-dad, the cowboy motif of 59’s dining room and the horseshoes hung over their door.
 
This weekend morning we’re just starting out from Carthage, both puppies riding shotgun between us, when I see a horse trailer passing us and start calling to David, “Remember that number on the side!.” He does remember and repeats the digits for me to dial. I do! Excitedly I tell the nice man that answers, “You just passed us on the freeway! Will you come teach a blacksmithing class for kids at artCentral’s summer artCamp?”
 
Chris Gregory, owner of Heartland Horseshoeing School outside Lamar, Missouri, explains he’s not in that trailer’s pickup truck. Those are some of his students driving to Oklahoma to test for their official certifications. He’s off somewhere teaching wanna-be-farriers, and “yes” he’ll bring anvils and a forge and teach an artCamp class on Wednesday, July 11th for seven students, ages 12-14. Those seven artCampers are going to be Lucky! Lucky! Lucky! to make real horseshoes to carry home and hang over their doors!

​

artcentral all year through. Especially in this full-on-getting-ready springtime, when nature is bursting into new life around us, artCentral is vibrantly blooming, too—making plans for our magical artCamp, July 9-20, and a whole bunch more.
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Our board of directors is in the midst of saying “good-bye” to two long-serving artist members: Helen Kunze and Brenda Sageng, both gifted painters. Each has made significant contributions to artCentral’s growth and vitality. With tremendous appreciation we wish them well, as we send them on to their art-full adventures ahead.
New to our board are two practicing artists bringing individual business expertise along with their artistic orientations. Both are professional fine arts photographers.

You’ve probably seen Jane Ballard’s striking images on exhibit in Photo Spiva. She’s currently collaborating with me as we put together, COLORS of AUTUMN, the August-September exhibition at artCentral featuring the works of the Four State Photography Enthusiasts. Jane and her husband, Bobby, own The Country Caboose Wedding Chapel and Railroad Museum on Prosperity Road in Joplin, where you can indulge your love of trains plus say marriage vows, if getting hitched is on your agenda. We’re delighted to have Jane “coming on board” with us!

Doug Osborn, a native Carthaginian, is taking his board seat, too. Working with Doug on our Carthage Art Walk committee has been a fascinating pleasure. He’s definitely a can-do kind of guy, whether lining up bands for the Art Walk season or serving up his mom’s mouth-watering cookies on Art Walk nights. After many years in industrial background, Doug’s encore career as a massage therapist finds him as the owner and a practitioner at The Palms Massage and Day Spa on the historic Carthage square. You’ll see lovely pieces of his stunning photography here. Welcome Doug!

Making magic with artCentral’s board of directors is one of the best perks of my job as director-curator. Their passions for art and artCentral and their hard-working dedication keep me inspired. I send out my heartfelt “thank you” to Jackie Boyer, president; Pat Goff, treasurer; Betsy Flanigan, secretary; Lonnie Heckmaster; Lee Pound; Jane Van Den Berg; and Gail White. You are simply the best as we do our dance together especially in this spring season of hyper-creating! You keep my heels and my keyboard clicking every day as I flow through our to-do list!

With the layout, copy and printing all done, the first quarter newsletter has gone out to members’ mailboxes and is available for pick up in area venues. To great acclaim, our second show of the season, Josie Mai’s EAT ART exhibition is on the walls of Hyde House. Registrations are coming in for Josie’s Collage Workshop, $15, Saturday, April 14, 10:30-12, and her Cooking Class and Meal, $40, Saturday, May 12 at 12 noon. Spaces are limited, so make your reservation today at (417) 358-4404 or artcentral@artcentralcarthage.org.

Plans for 2018 Carthage Art Walks are ramping up to begin with “Seasons of the Courthouse”, Friday, April 27.

Meanwhile I’m vigorously keyboard tap, tap, tapping and reaching out to our area supporters as I write grants requesting donated funds for artCentral’s eighteenth artCamp. This magical two weeks encourages youth, ages 8-14, in the exploration of creative ideas; in experimentation with a variety of media and materials; and in experiencing the joy of self-expression in a safe, supportive environment free of criticism. While artCamp exposes students to principals and methodologies of fine art modalities, the atmosphere is one of openness, creative possibility and the magic of fun, fun, fun.

This summer’s artCamp will be about finding magic in the Legends of artCentral like that of “The Little People” who reportedly have come from down-under. They’re said to live in the well house behind Hyde House and come out at night to play croquet and walk their magical songline on the backyard lawn. They’ll make excellent subjects for young creative imaginations playing in all kinds of media!

What medium of magic is David carrying? Fresh from the heart and home of our friend, Lora, in one hand he brings forth a potted orchid, the stem gracefully curved with a plethora of alabaster blooms—in the other a strand of tiny, delicate Moroccan lights. Both will surely add to the magic already vibrating in our old house!

turned out to be gifted in their own culinary endeavors and have spouses who are the same.

These days I live with a celebrity chef—my husband, David. At least he’s a celebrity to me. He’s our personal chef, as well. When our conversations veer from art and family and fashion, they always settle on food and choosing what we’ll enjoy for future meals. When those meal times arrive, watching David in the kitchen is like seeing the performance of a fancy dancer.

Thankfully we both adore veggies. My current favorites are David’s kale sautéed to crispy and his caramelized onions. We especially love pairing our various homegrown veggies with a bit of fish or a cheesy omelet made with eggs laid by our four fine hens.

David’s a cookie monster, and if I don’t exercise caution I can become one, too. I have a weakness for his iron skillet fried sweet potatoes and whole wheat tortilla chips. Under my influence he’s grown to appreciate the fine indulgence known as Nutella on flaky croissants.

Over the years David’s worked in a lot of kitchens and has pretty much gotten rave reviews everywhere he’s been from San Diego to northwest Arkansas to Kansas City to Joplin. Perhaps the title of celebrity chef is a bit of a stretch, unless you count his cooking stint as chef to the big brass when he was shipboard during his Navy service sailing on the high seas around the globe.

Cooking exclusively now in our home we call Paradise, David always gets five stars from me for our breakfasts in bed carried upstairs on trays and the work lunches he packs for each us and our winter dinners before the fire or now on the front porch as spring beckons us outdoors. David’s thoughtful, artful presentations add extra visual and palatable aesthetic pleasure to even his most simple preparation.

We’re approaching our first anniversary. In this year I’ve hardly handled a pot, though in our division of labor I do most of the dishwasher loading and unloading. I’m good at organizing, so I can fit in a very compact, energy conserving load.

On my own I brew an excellent pot of tea. I know my way around a microwave and can make a mean grilled cheese sand (slather on the mayo), but in my husband’s talented, capable company I really don’t need to mess with the cooktop or oven. These days I much prefer to be an extremely appreciative audience.

In recent weeks, as preparations have been underway at artCentral for Josie Mai’s solo exhibition, EAT ART: Hand-Rubbed Collages, David and I have more and more become an appreciative audience for Josie. She’s done her work to get ready for the magical life she’s living. We greatly admire her reverence for food, her terrific artistic talent and her excellent time management skills as she does the creative dance of relationship and art making while fulfilling her multi-dimensional day job as Executive Director of Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin.

As artCentral’s celebrity chef, Josie’s passion for artful eating has brought her to us! She’s a true phenom. A woman wonder! Her EAT ART body of work on the walls of Hyde House declares: “Josie has arrived!”
Originally from Roeland Park, Kansas, in the Kansas City area, Josie earned a Bachelor’s in Art Education from the University of Kansas and a Master’s of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in NYC. She taught art K-12 in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri. She was an Associate Professor of Art at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, and Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg.

In addition to teaching visual art, Josie teaches cooking lessons from her kitchen studio. At artCentral she’ll offer a workshop and a class during her EAT ART exhibition: a Collage Workshop ($15)*, Saturday, April 14th, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and a Cooking Class and Meal ($40)*, Saturday, May 12th at noon. *Spaces are limited. Reserve your place early: (417)358-4404.

See Josie’s EAT ART exhibition during artCentral’s weekend gallery hours through May 20th: Friday and Saturdays, noon to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays, 1:00-5:00 p.m., or by appointment at (417) 358-4404.

Also see www.josiemai.com; Josie Mai: Studio on Facebook; and josiemaistudio on Instagram. Reach her at josie.josiemai@gmail.com.