I paint. I garden. I walk. I read. I allow the flow of my feelings, trusting they will lead me to peace and healing.

​One morning, stomping over the rocky bottom of the drought-dry river bed, I come across a small sandstone, mineral-etched with a dark “R”. In the ancient script of Runes, “R” signifies surrender. With uncanny precision, Nature is graciously handing me the guidance I need. Surrender!

Surrounded by forested mountains domed by a cobalt sky, I cradle this sacred stone in my palm, knowing I must surrender the self-righteous anger I’m pleasurably harboring toward someone I adore.

There is great energy in anger. Anger gets the adrenalin going. Anger can feel like an emotional high. Anger can feel like power. Anger is hard to release. Eventually, anger becomes unsustainable, physically self-harmful. Wears me out. Wears me down. Leaves me depleted, lost and sad. Sad because I don’t know how to quit.
​
In the wilderness, relieved to receive a message given so explicitly, I follow Nature’s instructions and trade the debilitating burden of my anger for an “R”-etched river rock. Placing the stone in my backpack, I turn toward home, my boots walking me briskly back to my studio to paint the “R” and the rock and the river, blessed reminders of one wilderness lesson learned: I must surrender whatever burdens my journey. 

​What lesson will I paint next? When? I’ve been months away from my easel. I miss the solitude. I miss the silence. These absences burden me. Throw me out of balance.

Look around. See our gardens. They’re making their showy October finales at our feet, relieved after long weeks of intense heat. While walking early the other morning, I rounded a corner I’ve rounded often, and there they were—marigolds!—yellows and russets and bi-colored French—big as shrubs, spilling their common beauty into the street, as though to reach the other side. I had to reverse and do the corner again, wondering why I hadn’t earlier noticed these annual garden staples behaving as though they’re a majestic collection.
 
What is it about this season of the year that makes us notice all the collecting and coalescing going on? Perhaps in summer we move so fast in so many directions, we become too preoccupied to pause, take time and observe the panoplies before us, like our very communal squirrels at artCentral.
 
Oh, my! What a squirrel collection we can claim. The population keeps expanding as though our regular residents are inviting in all their cousins to help with the acorn harvest—trimming the tender ends off the oak limbs and sprinkling our campus with the fruits of their efforts, then madly chasing each other round and round tree trunks before dashing across the drive. What energy! What joie de vivre! What a sight to see!
 
The artCentral squirrels have their autumn collection/celebration rituals, and so do we people wherever we are. Though I’ve called other places home—Little Rock, Dallas, New York City, the Ozark wilderness, and Fayetteville, Arkansas—never have I lived in a town the size of Carthage. Never have I witnessed such a strong magnetic impulse to ritually return, collect and celebrate.
 
I like that I’m seeing and experiencing all this with the eyes and the curiosity of a relative newcomer willingly awed by wonder—the wonder of families and friends gathering on Saturday morning front porches and steps and old limestone curbsides for the annual Maple Leaf Festival Parade. What a collective wonder! People sharing food and warm drink; children’s hands reaching out for tossed candies; folks young and old cheering for the waving royalty and festive floats; and everyone’s heart is throbbing to the pounding beats of high stepping and dancing bands traveling around the Square and down Grand Avenue in collective celebration of Carthage and this glorious season.
 
Turn east on Thirteenth Street and continue to artCentral. Come celebrate our collections of fine art—glorious in every season!
 

​presented by Rebecca and Bill Perry and RESTROPECTIVE by Jorge Leyva. These fine exhibits remain on view through Sunday, October 25th.

Last Friday night’s Opening was a splendid celebration honoring these three well-known artists and their exquisite offerings. Thank you! Rebecca, Bill and Jorge for giving us so many satisfying pleasures. Thank you! Tristan Royster for bringing your jazz stylings. For creating an evening of splendid autumn ambiance, Thank you! to our amazing, dedicated behind-the-scenes volunteers—Judy Goff, artCentral’s own gourmet, assisted by Pat Goff, Alex and Jackie Boyer, Cindy Chilton, Kelly Heidlage, Helen Kunze and Gail White.
 
artCentral’s twirling continues through October. Don’t miss our second session of Yoga by Candlelight, this Thursday evening, 8-10 pm. Come learn and practice the ancient art of well-being. Stacey Stiles will lead yogis, beginner and experienced, through a series of gentle stretching poses, followed by wine and tidbits in our vintage kitchen. All are welcome. Donations of $10 are invited to support artCentral’s Community Outreach Programs. For more information call 417-358-4404.
 
During this bewitching month of October, one of artCentral’s artCamp pros, the award-winning artist Sarah Serio, will be teaching at Create Your Own Halloween Tote—artCentral’s Saturday for Kids. Class space is limited. Sign up your Trick-or-Treaters today for October 24, 10am-12pm. All supplies are furnished. Each tote is $10. Send your check with your reservations to artCentral, Post Office Box 714.
 
As our Maple Leaf colors turn and twirl into memories, artCentral has much to brighten the changing season. November’s Gallery Exhibition is FALLING INTO PLACE, showcasing the art of Jim and Diana Bray. In December, artCentral’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE will feature art, artist created gifts and artist painted glass ornaments.
 
Come to artCentral’s Hyde House! Celebrate with us as we twirl toward Christmas!

did you score the Perrys? They’re a really grand, big deal.” Indeed these sister and brother artists, and their award-winning art of worldwide acclaim, are a grand, big deal.

Asking the Webb City Perrys to create an artCentral Exhibition might seem intimidating, but as with so much grand goodness that comes to artCentral, we start out by simply asking nicely—“Will you, please?” Naturally, we respond with happy delight when the answer comes back “Yes!”, so we can say thank you, thank you, thank you for gracing our gallery walls and our colorful small town with your grand art.”

​Rebecca, recognized as an “outsider artist” because she has no formal training, is an international “insider” known for the novelty and humor she gives to each of her multi-media creations, whether a sculpture or a wee piece of jewelry. As artCentral’s Curator, I think of Rebecca’s artworks as delightful “random acts of whimsy”, many infused with a decidedly French aesthetic I personally find immensely pleasing.
 
Bill, an attorney by trade, has photographed most of his life. Today he literally lives inside the grandest expression of his art—his 5,000 square foot Heavy Metal House sprawled on an eight acre wooded site—filled with his intriguing mixed media images. At artCentral we, too, have an amazing collection of Bill’s images to share. Each is alluringly mysterious, mystifying and shockingly satisfying.
 
Come see! GRAND ART is Rebecca and Bill Perry + SIBLING INSPIRATIONS at Hyde House in our SMALL TOWN with a cameo appearance by the grand Jorge Leyva.
 
GRAND ART in our SMALL TOWN can be seen the night before the Perrys’ Opening. Thursday, 7-8:30pm, visit Cherry’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery on the Square and celebrate the new works of our local legend, Andy Thomas. As one art-knowledgeable traveler commented upon discovering Cherry’s, “This Gallery should be in New York City”. Yes, folks, Cherry Babcock has created a world-class venue right here in middle America showcasing the grand art of our regional talent. Thank you, Cherry!
 
Support Grand Art in our Small Town—Powers Museum Quilt Show, October 1-31; Thursday at Cherry’s; Friday at artCentral; and Saturday on the Phelps House lawn for the Carthage Historic Preservation’s first annual Lobster Boil raising funds to preserve the grand architectural art of Carthage.
 
GRAND ART in a SMALL TOWN is Carthage!