​artCentral, our hometown arts center in elegant Hyde House, is honored to receive the support of our immediate and extended community in ways that truly matter!
 
artCentral is especially honored and truly grateful to receive the support of our local Carthage Community Foundation (CCF) in affiliation with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO).

This grant is the equivalent of a life safer extended into the ocean of uncertainty that has defined the past year for artCentral and many other non-profits.

​The generous, life safer CCF grant means that artCentral will continue to employ the leadership and guidance of our directorial staff; that pressing operational obligations can be fulfilled and that the reinstatement of full programming can proceed successfully.
 
This CCF grant means that artCentral can continue to give to our community vibrant outreach art like the painted Maple Leaf Parade Route water hydrants that celebrate Carthage as the Maple Leaf City of America. This CCF grant will help support art like the free-to-the-public Sculptural Spectacular that lifted our hearts and souls to look up and carry on through the past long winter. This CCF grant will help support the spring and summer Screen-Free Saturday artCamps that nurture the creativity of our youth and provide income for their art instructors. The CCF grant will help support a full year of exhibition opportunities in Hyde House and in artCentral’s two Carthage outreach Satellite Galleries that gather in and share the creations of our local and regional artists. This CCF grant will help support dozens of hardworking artists by giving them encouragement and possibilities for realized income to hang on after times have been tough.
 
Please come to Hyde House and see what artCentral is able to do with the support of the $2,500.00 granted this spring by the Carthage Community Foundation. Please come visit artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition showcasing forty regional artists displaying their awe-inspiring talents. View how they make their art and express their passions to give meaning to our lives and to make our world a better and more beautiful place for all of us even in uncertain times.
 
The Exhibition opens at noon on Friday, June 4, 2021, and will continue through July 17. Weekend Gallery Hours during the Membership Exhibition are Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00-5:00 p.m. and other times by appointments made at (417) 358-4404.
       
Also made possible by the Carthage Community Foundation’s $2,500.00 grant is the rotation into artCentral’s two Satellite Galleries of paintings from the most recent Hyde House exhibition. Exciting artworks from Philip Ledbetter’s PAINT in MOTION exhibition are now available for viewing and purchase during business hours at The Atrium Art Gallery at the Sirloin Stockade, 1027 West Central Avenue, and in the Foyer Gallery at the Carthage Public Library, 612 South Garrison Avenue, in Carthage.
 
artCentral is deeply grateful to our Carthage Community Foundation (CCF) in affiliation with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for this spring grant that will help us to fulfill our mission to promote, exhibit, teach and foster the appreciation of fine arts in our community.

​For weeks my artist husband David talked about the image he wanted to paint as his entry for this year’s ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION. This is not unusual. We talk about art alot—art in general, art that inspires us, artCentral art, the art of others, our own art. The topic of art is inexhaustible between us.
 
Knowing ourselves to be practicing artists who are highly sensitive people (HSP’s) we are each comfortable with an HSP trait we both share—that is we tend to do a great deal of “processing” both in our interior lives and outwardly in our conversations.  This “processing” trait is especially evident as we approach a new work of art. We are individually prone to think long and hard before we actually go to our studios for the hands-on making of a fresh creation.
 
What will we paint or build or assemble? How will we approach a new work? Will our initial inspiration sufficiently catalyze us over that midway hump we are sure to encounter and then carry us through to completion? Is our original concept sufficiently formed to begin or is our “processing” still too wishy-washy to give us a clear beginning that will lead us to a positive outcome? Will our new idea be best expressed on a 2D picture plane or in three dimensions? What materials will we want to use? Do we have what we need? Do we have time enough to fully develop and execute our chosen ambition, or will our day jobs place too many time restraints on our ability to finish our undertaking and meet an anticipated deadline? So much to consider—so best to start early.
 
David did start early with a line drawing in a birthday gift sketchbook from our west coast family. Actually his painting in this year’s ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION probably began more than four years ago on that very first night we stood beneath a canopy of stars outside his double-wide in Lamar, Missouri, and rang his brass Tibetan singing bowl as we lifted up our evening thanksgivings and requests. David’s bowl (first acquired by a trade of his art) has become ours to see every day resting in our bedroom on a Chinese-red temple table with one slightly wonky, spindly leg. Every morning we begin our day ringing our bowl then turning up our special clay gift cups to receive the blessings the day will bring. Every night we ring our bowl then turn down our gift cups to invite a night of sweet and restful repose.
 
The image of our bowl is emblazoned in both our minds. The tactile feel of the bowl and cups are physical sensations we will carry with us in our spirits always. Perhaps some day one or both of us will feel compelled to make art to honor our cups. For now David has chosen to honor the image of our bowl.
 
“Share Ring” is the title David has given to his MEMBERSHIP bowl painting. He told me “I knew what I wanted the painting to look like, but I didn’t know why. I saw the image in my mind’s eye before I saw the meaning and gained understanding.” As the painting developed over time the significance became more apparent; however, he was so caught up in the “processing” and making of “Share Ring”, he did not comprehend the full interpretation of his creation until I asked him to give me words to describe the painting. His unconscious intentions were revealed and came to the surface with clarity when he spoke his description to me:
 
“The central image is our prayer bowl—seen as two halves brought together as we are every day, sharing a middle and forming a pod. The blossoming pod opens out as though flowering.

The two halves are two equal parts each with individuality coming from a common center containing compressed energy that opens and is released out into the universe. In this way we are the same: we start out each day with a concentration of energy between us, then we individually carry out this energy into our workday worlds.

​‘Share Ring’ is about sharing and giving in equal parts—one side not more dominant than the other. Each bowl is slightly unique in character though originating from the same nucleus—from the same origin but different.” 
 
Beyond being a beautiful depiction of one of our shared spiritual practices, David’s “Share Ring” represents the collective magic of the community of the member artists who comprise the heartbeat—the energetic center—of artCentral. Come and see what I mean. Come see how artCentral’s 2021 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION showcases the ringing of many artists living and loving and sharing their singular lives in a magnificent communal expression.
 
The ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION opens at noon on Friday, June 4, 2021. The PICNIC and AWARDS will be in the evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Reservations for the catered picnic dinner, $10 per guest, may be made at (417) 358-4404 and artcentral@artcentralcarthage.org. 

“What Makes a House a Home” is the title for my entry in artCentral’s 2021 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION which will open June 4, 2021. A mixed media assemblage of my photographic images enhanced here and there with acrylic and framed by a found, roughly constructed, primitive wooden box. “Home” was originally made and saved—set aside for my husband David’s and my collaborative SIGNS & WONDERS EXHIBITION that is on artCentral’s calendar for the 2022 holiday season.

My “Home” does not want to wait to be shared and is demanding a gallery outing now, perhaps because these days home and homemaking are very much on my heart and mind as David and I approach the fourth anniversary of our marriage following our many years spent as solitaires.

Fatefully brought together by artCentral, our home away from home, each of us is very aware we do not have time to waste as together we work the learning curve created by the wedding of our two separate souls, our distinct personalities and our unique artistic inner lives.

Oh how blissfully precious were those early finding and falling in love months: David’s discovering my photo in Show Me the Ozarks magazine’s February Valentine issue; our first real time meeting at Josie Mai’s art party where I was signing up new artCentral members (David joined!); our emergency first Caboose wedding officiated by photographer/former artCentral board member Jane Ballard and witnessed by then artCentral board member Gail White and artCentral’s Outstanding Volunteer Lora Waring; finding and purchasing, with Gail White’s skillful guidance, our 1890’s home we lovingly call Paradise; celebrating our “real” wedding in the loft of Jan Stukey’s vintage Avila barn and David’s singing “Unchained Melody” (whoa, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time) at artCentral’s Annual Membership Picnic four years ago.

Today we have come full circle four times—growing together and on our own with each revolution. After more than fifty years of committed drinking, for four years David has chosen and kept his promise of sobriety. I have lost my beloved brother and only sibling with David at my side to compassionately support my mourning. To David’s dowry of his ancient feline, Ding, (now 23) and feisty Whoodle, Chiquita, we have added our feathered flock of hens for whom David has built the Chickie Palace decorated with twinkling lights and Tibetan prayer flags waving high above. Our newest family member, our amazing Aussie Lasyrenn, found us by way of a poster on the door of the Midwest Ag Supply.

At artCentral we have deepened artist friendships and made many, many new ones. We have celebrated lives and shared in saying final good-byes to some of our local art and artist heroes, as well as guest exhibitor, centenarian Edward Lee, of Seattle and Ottawa.

At artCentral we have touched up and tidied Hyde House again and again, weeded weeds and hauled off recycles. We have worked at Art Walks and promoted artCentral in every way we can imagine. David continues to encourage me every time there seems to be more than I can accomplish. I continue to thank him profusely for each and every time he steps in and takes on another task that is more than I can handle.
David and I each dearly love working at artCentral—I as your Executive Director-Curator, David as your Prepitor (art handler) Extraordinaire. Mostly we love being at artCentral as creatives—members of artCentral’s community of practicing artists. Very soon we will feel privileged once again to display our own art with the art of the many, many gifted artCentral member artists showcased in for our ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

My membership entry “What makes a House a Home” begs the same question for all of us: What does make a house a home? Whether you are on your own or daily linked with another someone, I believe a home is made when there is at least one extra chair. At artCentral we have many! One is always waiting for you. Please do come and sit a spell and feel at home at Hyde House!

The Philip Ledbetter: PAINT in MOTION exhibition continues at Hyde House through May 15!
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The ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP EXHIBITION opens at noon on Friday, June 14, 2021. The PICNIC and AWARDS will be in the evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Reservations for the catered picnic dinner, $10 per guest, may be made at (417) 358-4404 and artcentral@artcentralcarthage.org.

How we relate to our family, friends, co-workers and the public—all these interactions have required adjustments to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy and happy. Treasured traditions have necessitated modifications.

A treasured tradition of artCentral, our hometown non-profit arts center, has been the sponsoring of the Artist of the Year Award given at the annual January banquet of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.

As with many events of the past year, the Chamber had to cancel their annual banquet in January. Under the creative leadership of Mark Elliff, President and CEO, the Chamber felt that continuing the awards tradition was important, even without the traditional banquet. The decision was made to put a spin on tradition. In lieu of the traditional banquet, a video broadcasting of the awards presentation took place this May at MSSU Crowley Auditorium. MSSU guidelines followed CDC protocols during the rehearsal and as the video event was broadcast live on Facebook and LinkedIn.

As Executive Director-Curator of artCentral, I have the great privilege of celebrating the outstanding artists of Carthage and southwest Missouri, especially those chosen as Artists of the Year and presented with the annual award.

Last year’s 2019 Artist of the Year, nationally recognized oil painter Dan McWilliams, had the honor of selecting the 2020 Artist of the Year. For this year’s video broadcast, at Dan’s request and upon his behalf, I was delighted to present Dan’s original oil painting, Last Dance, given as his award to artCentral member artist, April Davis Brunner, in recognition of April’s great talents and her continuing contributions to the artistic life of Carthage and our neighbors. Dan’s painted award is a luminous rendering of April’s daughter and her band, in the tradition of her family’s creativity, playing on an outdoor stage beneath a twinkling starry night.

​April grew up in Texas to become a sculptor turned oil painter. She created her earliest bronze when she was five. Encouraged by her father, Lowell Davis, to pursue an art career, April has done just this—adapting gracefully to the many changes life has offered her, harnessing her talents and working with determination and dedication she continues to find joy and satisfaction creating in a wide range of media as she celebrates her love of nature and the images that inspire her outdoors.

In the spring of 2017, April and her dad filled the galleries of Hyde House with their “Dad and Daughter: Dynamic Duo” exhibition showcasing their whimsical, magical, beautiful and poignant multimedia artworks.
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April’s awards include: Best of Show-Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition and Exhibition; First Places in the St. Avips Art Auction, Joplin Art Festival and Cherry’s Plein Air Paint Out; and awards in many more competitive exhibitions. As an actively engaged member of southwest Missouri’s arts community, she is a founder of Local Color Gallery in Joplin and a much loved instructor at artCentral’s artCamp for Youth.

As her very personal spin on tradition, Artist of the Year April Davis Brunner presently pours her creative passions into her magical home on Old Highway 71 near Saginaw. Her property was first settled in 1842 by Joplin’s founder, John Cox. His name is carved into a bluff above Cox Spring which was used for water stops and encampments by the Butterfield Stagecoach Line in the late 1800s.

Today in addition to spending hours in her studio, April teaches art and hosts guest teachers for classes in April’s Art House. She also hosts an annual Art by the Spring gathering of artists who show and sell their work.

​Congratulations to April Davis Brunner, 2020 Artist of the Year who has a true gift for putting a spin on tradition!