While hammers are tap-tap-tapping and saws are hum-hum-humming, my keyboard is click-click-clicking, as I enter the artCamper registrations arriving each day. Teacher Orientation has just happened with the delivery of inspiring samples of class projects. Intern Emma Pound helped inventory supplies. My shopping list is ready. Excitement is running high as forty fabulous classes take shape including…

“Exploring Clay” with Tom Jones uses a variety of techniques to design and hand-build objects like an original Hawaiian style Tiki pot.
 
“Color Explosion Abstract Painting” with Anne-Marie Gailey creates exciting color arrangements incorporating balance, space, value and composition.
 
With Sarah Serio, “Printmaking” explores monoprints, seriagraphy and block printing to make note cards, frameable prints and a usable tote bag, too!
 
“Needle-Felting” (ages 10-14) with Tiffany Kunkler uses the needle felting method, felting tools and colorful fibers to create a mini-felted owl or creature.
 
In three “Glass Art” classes (ages 10-14) with Jane McCaulley, campers use special tools to cut and assemble colorful glass to make magnets, sun-catchers and holiday ornaments.
 
During “Watercolor Painting Nature” with Tom Jones, paper is wetted, then splashed with colors which blend to create hummingbirds, goldfish and flowers.
 
In “Learn and Perform Magic Tricks”, professional magician Landon Stark teaches campers how to use everyday objects to create and perform artistic tricks.
 
Using facial images chosen by campers, in “Draw Portraits like a Pro” Sandra Conrad takes her class through easy steps to draw well-proportioned portraits using pencils.
 
In “Make and Fill a Sketchbook” Sandra guides campers who create a hardcover and fill sketchbook pages with favorite phrases, sketches, artists, songs and more.
 
Campers make personal steampunk accessories using cardboard, duct tape, paint and found objects in “Steampunk Hats and Goggles” with Tom Jones.
 
In “Shaving Cream Creations” with Alexandra Burnside campers make artistic abstracts using shaving cream and acrylics for marbling and blending colorful creations.
 
With April Davis-Brunner, campers make “Fantastic Flower Pots” and, in two acrylic-on-canvas painting classes, learn to sketch and paint butterflies, birds and forest animals.
 
Creativity blooms in “3D Blossoms and Flower Paintings” with Sam Lewis as artCampers create oversized floral images made with paper and paints.
 
With Deb Bentlage, ages 10-14 will use their laptops and tablets to make digital photobooks and collages.
 
For more fabulous classes read next week’s “Art Notes”. Check out the entire two week artCamp curriculum online at: http://www.artcentralcarthage.org/artcamp-2016.html and register your artCampers pronto to make artful memories that will last a lifetime!
 
 
 
 
 

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Together our fourteen 2016 artCamp teachers have decades of experience and dedication mentoring aspiring young artists. All are highly qualified, enthusiastic and love kids.
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Photographer and author of digital books, Deb Bentlage, teaches in southwest Missouri while renovating her home on old family farmland.
 
Alexandra Burnside has been teaching elementary art at Fairview Elementary for three years. She serves on the Board of Directors for Art Feeds.
 
Award-winning professional artist and a painter on the Great Wall, Cheryl Church-Saving has taught art at Carthage High School and artCamp for a number of years.
 
Sandra Conrad achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts on a full merit scholarship at MSSU. She was recently featured in a solo artCentral exhibition titled “Winged Women”.
 
As an accomplished, exhibiting painter and experienced teacher in oil and acrylic, April Davis-Brunner is well known in and around Carthage.
 
Teri Y Diggs has taught kids’ art classes in her home studio for the past few years, offering instruction in painting, Zentangle, crafts and jewelry.
 
Anne-Marie Gailey, a longtime participant as an artCamp educator, has experience teaching in high school and elementary art programs and at Spiva.
 
A CHS Summa Cum Laude graduate, talented artist Kahlie Jones worked for many summers as an artCamp aide before becoming a teacher.
 
Tom Jones, an accomplished and prolific artist in many media, holds both Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Art Education. He teaches art at CHS.
 
Tiffany Kunkler taught art majors in her graduate program at the U of Iowa. At Joplin’s RSVPaint, she teaches beginners and advanced painters.
 
Recently retired as a public school art teacher, Sam Lewis, continues to guide young artists in many local venues including Spiva and The Nature Center.
 
Jane McCaulley taught elementary art for thirty-five years in Indiana before moving to Missouri. Today she teaches glass classes at Spiva and the Bella Vista Village Art Club.
 
Teacher Sarah Serio is a nationally exhibiting printmaker and serves on the Neosho Arts Council Board of Directors. She’s  exhibited in NYC, LA, Chicago and Miami.
 
Landon Stark—artist-performer-host of Famed Comedy Nights-international award-winning comedian-magician—delights in sharing his secrets with young students.
 
For artCamp registration information call (417) 358-4404. Forty different classes are offered in diverse media. Two artCamper exhibitions are scheduled. Through the generosity of community donors, scholarships are available with teacher recommendations.
 
artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition remains on view at Hyde House through Sunday, July 31st. 

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Mid-week the board of directors appeared for their exhibition preview and our monthly meeting with lunch catered by the many-gifted Judith Goff, who has a painting in the exhibit. As board members departed, exhibition jurors made award selections. After creating recognitions, I placed them by each chosen artwork.
 
Final preparations for the picnic began. Hardworking Terry Beetem set out chairs and large tables, while Pat Goff rounded up and delivered extra seating. Judith Goff garnished the birdbaths with giant magnolia blossoms and prepped beverages. With the assistance of board members Jackie Boyer, Betsy Flanigan, Helen Kunze and Brenda Sageng, she added the ambiance of colorful tablecloths and spread the bar-b-que dinner. Soon members and guests arrived contributing to the festive meal with sides and desserts sharing their best culinary talents.
 
Soulful Step’s Taylor Jones accompanied by his guitar, sang and played his original tunes to the delight of the mesmerized diners. As dusk fell, appreciations were extended and applause given for the collective heartbeat of artCentral—artCentral’s artists—each worthy of award.

Chosen by Elizabeth Simmons and Shala Rogler, director and assistant director for the exhibition’s generous underwriter McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, Natalie Wiseman received the Underwriter Award for her painting, “Daff-O-Dills”, whimsically rendered with acrylic on masonite, pictured above.

Devon Estes, assistant professor in MSSU’s art department, selected artCentral award recipients. Gold: Andrew Batcheller for his large, poignant oil painting, “Global Warming and the Ridiculousness of Discussing the Next Ice Age”. Silver: Daria Claiborne for “Blossoms in the Rain” combining Mishima under glazes over porcelain. Bronze: Diana Bray for her scarlet dominated mixed media and acrylic painting, “…And on a Moonlit Night…”.

​As the evening concluded and the kitchen was tidied, the manpower of Bren Flanigan, Pat Goff, John Sageng and Michael Steddum stored tables and chairs to wait for the blissful goodness of artCentral’s next big event­--artCamp! (July 18-29, ages 8-14)

Green is life-giving vitality and newness. Green is hospitality and graciousness. Green is elegant and ordinary.

​artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition (June 10 – July 31), on view throughout artCentral’s Hyde House downstairs and upstairs galleries, opens this Friday with artCentral’s Annual Picnic, 6 to 8 pm. Please join us. Everyone is  welcome! For your five dollar donation, enjoy a bar-b-que  entrée with sides of beans and potatoes. Members will enhance the menu with their favorite accompaniments and desserts. Original music for your al fresco evening will be provided by Soulful Step’s Taylor Jones.
 
Five dozen participating artCentral artists include Mark Adams, Jane Ballard, Andrew Batcheller, Debra Bentlage, Micki Bicknell, Steve Binam, Angel Brame, Diana Bray, Jim Bray, Karen Brust, Paul Cameron, Maddie Capps, Cheryl Church, Daria Claiborne, Larry Clingman, Sandra Conrad, April Davis-Brunner, Linda Ellard-Brown, Liz Foster, Annabelle Fuhr, Olivia Givens, Sydney Hartless, Cindy Head, Steve Head, Diane Heisner, Barbara Hicklin, Kristin Huke, Tom Jones, Janice Kinman, Melody Knowles, Helen Kunze, Josie Mai, Koral Martin, David Matthews, Jane McCaulley, Jesse McCormick, Dan McWilliams, Colette Merrill, Dustin Miller, Margie Moss, Ruth Potter, Tyla Raredon, Debbie Reed, Donna Roberts, Brenda Sageng, Sarah Serio, Don Snider, Ruth Snider, MaryAnn Soerries, Jack Sours, Joan Stattel, Kristine Steddum, Michael Steddum, Amanda Stone, Linda Teeter, Lora Waring, Katie Watson, Merlen White and Natalie Wiseman.  
 
The Underwriter Award winner will be selected by Elizabeth Simmons and Shala Rogler, Director and Assistant Director for the exhibition’s generous underwriter McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation. Devon Estes, MFA in design and MSSU Art Department Assistant Professor, will select Gold, Silver and Bronze recipients.
 
In recognition of their extraordinary talents and their gifts for vitality, four of artCentral’s accomplished artists will take home envelopes filled with crisp green currency!