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ART NOTES | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé for ArtCentralCarthage at Hyde House | on Facebook and in The Carthage Press and The Carthage Chronicle

10/28/2020

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A BITTERSWEET REFRAIN
​    On a not too long ago morning, Lasyrenn our Aussie and I were returning home from her daily training walk in Central Park. We paused beside late roses with only a few blooms remaining. On the stems where the petals had already dropped there were very large rose hips coloring up as though to mimic persimmons.
 
        Seeing those pretend persimmons brought to mind the Arkansas Ozark Highlands where this time of year persimmons are found in abundance. According to folklore, if you split open a persimmon seed the shape inside (called a cotyledon) can predict the coming weather. If the cotyledon looks like a fork, winter will be mild; if a spoon, there will be a lot of snow to shovel; and if a blade, winter will be bitingly cold and “cut like a knife.”
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ROSE in AUTUMN
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FRUIT of a PERSIMMON TREE
          A well-ripened persimmon is a soft, edible fruit that can be eaten fresh, cooked or dried.  Persimmons make delicious jams, pies, steamed puddings, bread and muffins, stuffing, curry and cookies. They are also delicious when sliced and served fresh in green salads with watercress and nuts. Some say the fruits taste like apricots.
 
        Hanging in clusters from tree limbs, bright orange persimmons call to mind another Ozark favorite--Bittersweet. The last time I wrote of bittersweet I heard from so many readers, I offer the following as a nostalgic refrain.
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AMERICAN BITTERSWEET
        The bittersweet nightshade is an American climbing plant that bears clusters of bright orange pods. The leaves have a bitter, then sweet taste, hence the name. The description first originated in the 1800’s.

       I have known bittersweet since my Arkansas childhood when, as days shortened and breezes grew brisk, I traveled with my parents from Little Rock to Eureka Springs making our annual pilgrimage for an autumn visit with our relatives. Year after year we followed two lane roads carrying us past low lying farms. When we began winding up into the colorful Ozark Highlands cattle grazed beyond four square fences strung on hillsides.
 
        Along the way as we passed a boundary generously decorated with bittersweet, my father would point out the window exclaiming, “Look! There’s lots over there. Isn’t that beautiful?” Mother would chorus, “Let’s stop and cut some to take to the folks!” We stopped and helped ourselves to the bounty free for the harvesting.
 
        As we arrived at our farmhouse destination, Daddy pulled into the front yard. From under a glowing yellow maple tree he dramatically honked our car horn. Uncle Chester flung open the screen door, waved and crossed over the wrap-around porch. When Aunt Gladys came out wiping her hands on her white apron, Mother presented her with our yearly offering of our bittersweet brimming basket.
 
        While Daddy parked by the chicken coup, my brother David and I raced to be first at the outhouse. We wanted to explore the big hay barn, but dinner aromas drew us inside where Aunt Gladys had decorated the dinner table “just so” with our vining strands of festive orange berries. Mother Nature was palpably present blessing the table before we even sat down to Uncle Chester’s grace.
                                                                                 
        Uncle Chester and Aunt Gladys have passed. Their memory-filled farmhouse is gone—burned to the ground by a lightning strike. Mother and Daddy and my brother David are all gone, too. Ah, such bittersweet memories. They return this time each year as our trees color and the air turns brisk and my husband David and I decorate our old home with autumn leaves and strands and wreaths of bittersweet and other fall berries. An autumn scented candle often burns offering up the memories of bittersweet seasons already passed.

        Like the bittersweet plant or a piece of bittersweet chocolate made with only a small amount of sugar, a bittersweet emotional feeling calls up a contrast—feelings of both happiness and nostalgic sadness, too. October is a bittersweet, sad-and-happy month. While we are saying our good-byes to the bright sunshine and warmth of summer, we have much to celebrate.
 
        Soon splendid, fund-raising Amaryllis will be holiday ready to burst into brilliant scarlet blooms. Three marvelous collections continue on exhibition at artCentral—Jason Shelfer’s SCULPTURAL SPECTACULAR; the INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | OIL PAINTINGS; and the SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser—available for your viewing, bidding and holiday shopping through December 5, at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. Weekend Gallery Hours are each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced. Face masks, social distancing and sign in are required for everyone entering Hyde House. For additional information call (417) 358-4404.
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ART NOTES | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé for ArtCentralCarthage at Hyde House | on Facebook and in The Carthage Press and The Carthage Chronicle

10/22/2020

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ART as LIFE
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​How I love open window autumn weather—to fall asleep to the tree frogs gently singing their last songs of summertime passing—to wake to the fallen leaves softly whispering beneath the paws of a neighborhood cat returning home after an evening out.

Every season has her repeating rituals. Autumn is no exception. I got Lee Radcliff’s seasonal call as I do each year when the first hints of fall begin approaching. Lee, the Publisher/Editor of the terrific SHOWmeThe Ozarks, annually features Carthage in the magazine’s October edition. Again this year she reached out to ask for ideas for art-related stories.

First to come to mind for me was artCentral’s, SCULPTURAL SPECTACULAR, created by artist and artCentral board member Jason Shelfer. This exciting outdoor installation continues on view on the Hyde House campus through December featuring provocative assemblages Jason has put together with cast-off and found upcycled objects.

Lee was ahead of my inspiration. She had already set up her staff writer Savanah Mandeville to interview Jason and to create a story with photos. Read this terrific spread on page 50 of October’s SHOWmeThe Ozarks. (Free copies are available at the Chamber of Commerce and in local businesses.) Chances are you will want to make an autumn pilgrimage to artCentral to see all nineteen creations in this exhibition at 1110 East Thirteenth Street. 

During weekend gallery hours (Fridays and Saturdays 12:00-5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced), be sure to plan a visit inside artCentral’s elegant, historic, four-square American farm home where you can view amazing art created by forty-nine artCentral artists.

The INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | Oil Paintings and the SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser are on display and available for your holiday shopping through December 5 in Hyde House, at https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/events.html and on Facebook (ArtCentralCarthage).

After reading about SCULPTURAL SPECTACULAR in SHOWmeThe Ozarks, flip over to pages 52-53, and you will find “Art as Life”—another art-centric write up—the godchild of my early autumn conversation with Lee Radcliff. As we reminisced about the part Lee’s magazine played in my husband David’s and my coming together, I told her of the chemistry behind our initial attraction and of our ongoing shared artistic passions.

David holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Institute of Art. For fifteen years he owned his own Upstart Crow Gallery in Kansas City. I have a Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, with emphasis on studio art and theater design. I also studied at the Art Students League in NYC. “Give Happiness”, a recently made artwork, is included in the October Inaugural Exhibition for the new Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix.

Both David and I now work for artCentral, I as Executive Director-Curator and David as artCentral's volunteer Prepitor (art handler): both practicing artists for many years, today we have twin studios in our home where we are collaborating on a mixed media exhibition, Signs and Wonders, to be installed at artCentral in the spring of 2022.
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​Together we are in the third year of transforming our 1890 Carthage home into a living and live-in studio/gallery alive with art—our own and that of artCentral artists and artist friends.

​​Since the beginning of the sheltering days brought about by the pandemic, creating art outdoors has been one of our best shared pleasures. This spring and summer we designed and planted a new shaded meditation garden filled with textures and colors and contours created with rescued statuary, mosses, ferns, shade-loving flowers, various ground covers, a meandering, stone-lined waterway and paths made with slabs of Carthage marble, locally sourced pavers and vintage stamped red bricks.
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As autumn winds pull the canopy from our maple trees and spread a golden, leafy quilt across our summer gardens, we love having “Art as Life” as a lasting celebration of our summer’s halcyon days just past.  Found in October’s SHOWmeTheOzarks this most recent chapter in our story is beautifully told with Lee Radcliff’s always creative approach to giving life to her editorial ideas; Kathleen Swift’s talented wordsmith ability to tell a story clearly and succinctly with flavor; and Tera Miller’s photographic gift of gaze that finds the perfect image on which to place her focus. David and I are very happy to be in the company of these talented print oriented artists and to share our “Art as Life” through them.
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ART NOTES | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé for ArtCentralCarthage at Hyde House | on Facebook and in The Carthage Press and The Carthage Chronicle

10/16/2020

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CARTHAGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARD for ARTCENTRAL
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The Carthage Community Foundation 2019 pictured here.
The Carthage Community Foundation 2020—Jeff Williams, President; Stephanie Howard, Vice President; Delores Honey, Secretary/Treasurer; Jessica Andrews Adams; Amy Cole; Andrew Jordan; Danny Lambeth; Kate Lasley; Kristi Montague; John Nicholas; Jose Palma; Eric Putnam; Bill Putnam Jr., Advisory Board Member; Stan Schmidt, Advisory Board Member; and Heather Goff Collier, Foundation Coordinator
CARTHAGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARD for ARTCENTRAL
        Following a cold snap, at high noon on a recent day that felt like a gift of Indian Summer, Betsy Flanigan, artCentral’s board president, and I sat masked and distanced—two guests among many spaced and scattered at picnic tables beneath a Memorial Park pavilion. On behalf of artCentral, Betsy and I were at this fall awards luncheon to receive for artCentral a Carthage Community Foundation grant of $2,500. This grant from the Foundation, designated to help artCentral with operational expenses as we meet the economic challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, will make a tremendous stopgap difference!
 
        Each year, spring and autumn, the Carthage Community Foundation awards grants to several non-profits working in their unique ways to make our hometown a better place for all of us. This autumn the Foundation awarded $34,075 to sixteen groups—each dollar a gift as inspiring as the brilliant leaves we see painting our town, the Maple Leaf City of America.
           Heather Collier, Foundation Coordinator, with her trademark creative acumen, met this season’s unusual circumstances by relocating the awards gathering to an outdoor setting. The weather blessed her choice with a beautiful day to welcome and recognize organizations and their respective representatives.

​Typically a Foundation grant is made for a capital issue or a one-time project. Jeff Williams, Carthage Community Foundation Board president, explained, “Historically speaking, we don’t grant money for operational purposes. This year we’re allowing operational expenses to be granted 
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Heather Goff Collier, Foundation Coordinator, and Jeff Williams, CCF Board President
because donations are down for a lot of agencies due to COVID. That is something we changed and certainly something we saw throughout the process. A lot of our local agencies needed the help this year.”

​​     The Carthage Community Foundation, with their meaningful demonstration of creative flexibility, adapted their typical giving parameters to help in the ways most needed and thus relieve the stress many non-profits are experiencing.
 
        Without the Foundation’s aid the pandemic’s increased challenges could be insurmountable. Because of the Carthage Community Foundation’s foresight and dedication to making a difference, artCentral will be better able to respond positively to the downturn caused by the pandemic and to continue to offer uplifting art and opportunities to all of our community as we support the artists that are at the heart of our mission to serve.
 
        For the Carthage Community Foundation’s important and very timely assistance, I and artCentral’s board of directors and all who believe in the importance of our hometown non-profit arts center are deeply grateful. This awarded grant is like those welcome Indian Summer gifts that come to us in the days when summer’s bounty wanes, and yet Mother Nature provides us with an amazing surge of beauty and abundance to carry us through our oncoming winter.  
 
        According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, true Indian Summer falls within a stretch of warm days that follow a spell of cold weather or a good hard frost and come before a first snowfall. By the Almanac’s official definition, this period must occur between St. Martin’s Day (November 11) and November 20.
 
        During the days of Indian Summer temperatures swing dramatically between the warm days when the atmosphere is hazy or smoky and nights that are clear and chilly. Long before November’s St. Martin’s Day, we southwest Missourians can experience one or more curious chills followed by warm weather spells that we are prone to think of as the Indian Summers of our part of the world—those times when we hustle to pull our sweaters out of storage and spread another quilt on the bed as gardens unpack their last favors and the leafy canopy above us celebrates with the splendor of an artist’s palette.
 
        In this most unusual pandemic year, with the help of the Carthage Community Foundation, artCentral is able to open the gallery doors of Hyde House with Indian Summer experiences that will warm your hearts and lift your spirits to carry you through winter into spring.
 
        Additionally assisted by the gracious underwriting of Old Missouri Bank, two marvelous collections are now on exhibition—the INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | OIL PAINTINGS and the SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser—are available for your viewing, bidding and holiday shopping through December 5, at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. Weekend Gallery Hours are each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced. Face masks, social distancing and sign in are required for everyone entering Hyde House. For additional information call (417) 358-4404.
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ART NOTES | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé for ArtCentralCarthage at Hyde House | on Facebook and in The Carthage Press and The Carthage Chronicle

10/7/2020

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A PEACEFUL, EASY EVENING     ​
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artCentral at Hyde House

​Oh, what a peaceful, easy evening at Hyde House. In the midst of a time of rather chaotic, sometimes exhausting and too often acrimonious social discourse, what a comfort and a pleasure to be in the company of two fine artists talking with appreciation for our shared passions
—the art and artists of artCentral. Such a joy to spend an evening seeing and sharing many, many soul soothing, spirit lifting and comforting works of art—all created by artCentral artists. Times like this cause me to know I am very fortunate for the privilege of serving our community through my work for the artists of artCentral. 
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​I am deeply appreciative of the gracious support of Old Missouri Bank, the underwriter for this evening and for the two marvelous collections now on exhibition—the INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | OIL PAINTINGS and the SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser.
 
This was artCentral’s first “live” outing on Facebook! I am happy to say the evening was a terrifically peaceful, easy and happy success in a setting I consider to be among the most serene in Carthage. This elegant, 1890’s foursquare American farmhouse, bequeathed by Katherine Hyde, always to be used to exhibit and promote art and artists, is a true sanctuary and a haven on any day, but especially during days when the world outside seems to grow too noisy and disarrayed for too long.

​A full moon rose high and clear over Hyde House hill on the early October evening of artCentral’s two online OPENING CELEBRATIONS for the two amazing collections installed throughout the galleries, downstairs and upstairs, too. With the moon arrived my co-hosts for the evening’s broadcast—David Greenwood-Mathé, dedicated artist and artCentral’s prepitor (art handler), and Jason Shelfer, board member and sculptor creator of the SCULPTUAL SPECTACULAR now installed in artCentral’s sculpture garden. Betsy Flanigan, artCentral’s board of directors president, was in the house, as well, to facilitate the flow of comments and requests coming via cyberspace to artCentral.
Like the the wizard behind the curtain, artCentral board member and media guru, Wendi Douglas, installed remotely in her home studio, played her crucial role as the techno magic-maker for this celebratory event. She professionally designed the graphics and choreographed and programmed the two hours. She wrote the script then patiently coached and practiced our pre-show rehearsals, so we hosts could do our very best to promote the artCentral art and artists we truly love.
 
Of course our resounding shout outs and applause go to our phenomenally talented artists who always share generously from their hearts: Ina Niday and Mary Datum, exhibition artists and all the 5x7 artCentral artist contributors: 
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WENDI DOUGLAS | artCentral Board Member and Media Guru
Sally Armstrong, Jane Ballard, Joan Banks, Andrew Batcheller, Eric Beezley, Diana Bray, Aurelia Burr, Landon Cawyer, Stephanie Cawyer, Mary Datum, April Davis-Brunner, Nancy Dymott, Cynthia Greene, Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé, David Greenwood-Mathé, Al Gritten, Cindy Head, Steve Head, Diane Heisner, Barbara Hicklin, Nina Johnston, Janice Kinman, Helen Kunze, Lori Marble, Koral Martin, Jane McCaulley, Nicole Meyer-Foresman, Connie Miller, Dustin Miller, Janice Myers, Ina Niday, Mary L. Parks, Sandra Parrill, Tyla Marie Raredon, Chris Reed, Debbie Reed, Emily Rose, Brenda Sageng, Debbie Southard, Lisa Teerlink, Linda Teeter, Andy Thomas, Dan Trogdon, Jordy Vulpine, Lora Waring and Bonnie Young.                                                                                         
David and Jason and I certainly were happy celebrating artCentral’s artists and engaging with our viewers in a meaningful, artful conversation that left us high-fiving and congratulating ourselves with “We did pretty well!” Of course there was a gaff here and there—we missed a couple of cues and we kept chatting when we were supposed to be backstage staying silent: but, hey, we are working a learning curve here. We will review the video, tweak our missteps and up our skills to be enthusiastically ready to party big time when the closing celebrations and final bidding come around on December 5th.
 
Come see for yourself what these fabulously creative souls have made. There is pocket-friendly art here for everyone! Give yourself a peaceful, easy outing filled with inspiring beauty. Visit artCentral, October 2 through December 5, in Hyde House at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. View, shop and place your Silent Auction bids. Weekend Gallery Hours are each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced. Face masks, social distancing and sign in are required for everyone entering Hyde House. 
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ART NOTES | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé for ArtCentralCarthage at Hyde House | on Facebook and in The Carthage Press and The Carthage Chronicle

10/1/2020

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WISDOM IS WATCHING OVER ARTCENTRAL
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artCentral Silent Auction and Exhibition UNDERWRITER
On Friday, October 2, 2020, a very special day of OPENING CELEBRATIONS, birds are in abundance at artCentral! The resident pair bond of hawks continues to sail high and loop back and forth over Jason Shelfer’s outdoor SCULPTURAL SPECTACULAR Exhibition and a large community of crows keep up their lively chatter, ​​while inside 
there is a plethora of colorfully painted winged ones adorning the gallery walls throughout Hyde House.

​Watching over artCentral’s curiously variegated aviary is a very wise owl perched on the foyer wall. This wise watchman of the feathered world is looking out from the handsome logo of Old Missouri Bank. Old Missouri Bank is the gracious underwriter for the two marvelous collections now on exhibition—INA NIDAY & MARY DATUM | TWO FRIENDS | OIL PAINTINGS and SMALL WORKS | GREAT WONDERS Silent Auction Fundraiser.

​​Our sincere gratitude goes out to Lonnie Heckmaster for his championing artCentral with Old Missouri Bank’s underwriting. A faithful supporter of the arts in Carthage and artCentral’s former board of directors treasurer, he has served as the market leader for Old Missouri Bank’s expansion into Carthage.

Lonnie Heckmaster, a native of Carthage, has enjoyed a vibrant and successful career spanning thirty-seven years. Before being recruited by Old Missouri Bank he served as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hometown Bancshares. Along with a great depth of knowledge in banking he holds a deeply grounded belief in the importance of the cultural well-being of our community.

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Lonnie Heckmaster, Friend to artCentral
​​How appropriate that the owl stands as a symbol for Old Missouri Bank and for Lonnie Heckmaster, artCentral’s great friend. 

​Since before recorded history owls have been attributed with wisdom. In Greek and Roman mythology, owls were associated with education, intellect and magic, perhaps because of their wide eyes, solemn expression and ability to see through darkness. The goddess Athena was believed to control wisdom and darkness. Her symbol was the owl. From the “The Iliad” and the Bible through thousands of years owls have been portrayed as sage and wise. Early Christian texts used the owl as a metaphor for Jesus, who appeared in the darkness of sin and showed humans the way to salvation.

Some Native American tribes understand the owl as a symbol of bravery and protection. In contemporary Western culture, owls are synonymous with wisdom and knowledge. The wise owl is found in childhood stories like "Winnie the Pooh" and serves as college mascots like the Temple Owls. Owls in reading spectacles are often seen on signs for libraries and bookstores. Cartoon owls wearing caps and gowns appear on graduation cards.

When I was still relatively new to southwestern Missouri, I heard tell of a particular local owl. While being courted by my now husband David, he enchanted me with the story of the Prosperity Owl, shrouded in mystery and said to be in residence on a back road between Carthage and Joplin. Fact or fiction, I could not know for certain, until sure enough one afternoon going for an evening out in Joplin, we saw this beautiful, large legendary bird sitting calmly erect and attentive on a fence post very near the old, two-story red brick schoolhouse on Prosperity Avenue. The majestic head serenely watched our approach. The wings did not ruffle or flap. The body did not rise up in flight. As we pulled over to the roadside and David turned off the engine, we watched to make sure we were not seeing an apparition. The owl’s eyes never left us—just cast a steady gaze. When we drove on, I turned to look over my shoulder. Still the Prosperity Owl sat watching, watching, watching until we made the corner, and we lost sight of one another.

I am so very happy Lonnie Heckmaster keeps artCentral in his sights. I am so thankful the graciousness of Old Missouri Bank is making possible the Silent Auction Fundraiser and Ina’s and Mary’s stunning exhibition. The underwriting of Old Missouri Bank is supporting forty-nine artCentral artists as they show and share their creations that have the power to give wings to the spirits and hearts of all of us.

Visit artCentral, October 2-December 5, and see all the birds and so much more in Hyde House at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. View, shop and place your Silent Auction bids. Weekend Gallery Hours are each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with CDC protocols practiced. Face masks, social distancing and sign in are required for everyone entering Hyde House. Please help us keep each other safe and healthy and wise as owls!
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    ​Author
    ALICE LYNN GREENWOOD-MATHÉ
    Executive Director-
    ​Curator


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