Thank you for helping artCentral fulfill our mission to uplift art and artists that Carthage and our community may continue to grow culturally wealthy and shining vibrantly.

​All of Hyde House will be glowing the first weekend in December as our festooned, green doors of hospitality are opened wide to welcome you to artCentral’s first annual Holiday Boutique—Dec 3, 4 and 5. Preparations are well underway and gaining momentum every day.
 
Thirty-two artCentral artists—Deb Bentlage, Angel Brame, Diana Bray, Linda Brown, Karen Brust, Jude Champagne, Cheryl Church, Daria Claiborne, Tricia Courtney, April Davis, Sallie Divine, Liz Foster, Annabelle Fuhr, Olivia Givens, Alice Lynn Greenwood, Kim Guthrie, Brenda Hayes, Cindy Head, Steve Head, Michele Holliday, Kristin Huke, Sarah Huntley, Tom Jones, Melody Knowles, Helen Kunze, Koral Martin, Rebecca Perry, Salissa Robinson, Sara Serio, Joan Stattel, Amanda Stone; Dan Trogdon—are busy in their studios adding final touches to their plethora of art, ornaments and artful gifts, priced $5 to $50 for your shopping delight and pleasure.
 
The Boutique committee members— Jackie Boyer, Cindy Chilton, Becky Edds, Betsy Flanigan, Judy Goff, Helen Kunze, Jane VanDenBerg, Gail White—are putting up decorations, gathering wassail ingredients and stirring up delectables. They’re also nurturing beautifully potted and bowed crimson fund-raising Amaryllis, available for $25. All proceeds go to artCentral’s work on behalf of art and artists.
 
Please mark your calendars, bring your gift lists and help artCentral support art and artists as they shed their light for all of us.
 
 “Namaste”  (NAH-məs-tay), and again I say “Namaste”  (NAH-məs-tay).

What would our lives be without Art to give us beauty, to show us truth, to salve our souls, to bring joy to our hearts and stimulation to our minds?

Can you imagine our beloved hometown without the richness art adds to our lives? The art of nature in all our beautiful seasons; the art of our historic architecture that Carthage Historic Preservation works faithfully to protect; the artful music presented by Carthage Musical Devotees; the artful stagings of Stone's Throw Dinner Theatre; and the art and artifacts of Carthage founders and makers seen at the Powers and Civil War Museums?
 
Can you imagine Carthage without art opportunities available downtown? The regional Art and Artists showcased by local venues including Antiquarium, Cherry’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery and Koral Martin’s KOKA Art Gallery—all supporting artists and offering a plethora of art for Carthaginians and for visitors to our Square.
 
Can you imagine our beloved hometown without the art programs in our schools presented by Art Feeds and the ever-growing monthly Art Walks, so aptly nurtured by Wendi Douglas and the Carthage Visitors Bureau?
 
Can you imagine Carthage without the Art and Artists of artCentral where emerging to world-class art is exhibited, experienced and enjoyed year round at Openings and Exhibitions, Workshops and Classes, Events and Outreach Programs, Satellite Galleries and artCamp for Kids?
 
Can you imagine our beloved hometown without our Art Stars?  Including legendary Jerry Ellis, who participates in artCentral’s “In Between Exhibitions” program while honored as the catalogue featured artist among fifty-five Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society the artists selected for a major exhibition at the Springfield Museum of Art (November 20-March 6); stars like famous Andy Thomas who lives down the road and has his prints and postcards in our Boutique; stars like Jim Bray who’s currently exhibiting his “Vanishing Landscapes” series in artCentral’s FALLING INTO PLACE Exhibition that he shares with his wife Diana Bray; stars like Lowell Davis who will exhibit with his daughter April in 2017; and stars like the venerable, 97-year-old, Edward Lee of China, Taiwan, Canada and Seattle who will bring us his EAST MEETS WEST Exhibition in October of 2016.
 
At artCentral we believe with Katherine Hyde—Art and Artists Make a Difference. Come see at artCentral’s Holiday Boutique!

Surely many of you know the experience of walking into a gathering where everyone seems to know everyone else and you know no one and deeply sense the discomfort of feeling unconnected. For a severe case of self-uncertainty, like mine on this first outing to artCentral, I’ve learned that self-nurture and nourishment are the quickest, most effective remedies. Thankfully, at artCentral, reassuring nurture and nourishment are always present in abundance.
 
Three years ago I ventured inside Hyde House and found my own painting beautifully displayed in the good company of many admirable artCentral artist-made works. Moving through the galleries, I was soulfully nurtured as I took note of the Award recipients and nodded in agreeable response. Having found my bearings, I stepped tableside to fill a plate and seek a seat amidst the sea of strangers.
 
Fatefully, I sat beside Diana. I congratulated her on receiving an Award for her painting. A pleasant conversation followed. Introductions were made to nearby others. Meaningful moments were spent returning indoors together to look at the Exhibition, while we spoke of our individual artistic aspirations and offered encouragement to one another.

underwritten by HOMETOWN BANK. The public is invited. Admission is free. Donations are welcomed. Information: 417-358-4404.

A wise friend tells me, “Relationships are the sandpaper of our lives. They burnish us into something better. They polish us into Beauty.”  This is true of art-making, too. Creating smooths the rough edges of an inspiration and allows an impulse to shine.
 
Diana and Jim, following their unique artistic inclinations, have created individual bodies of expression that glow with the integrity of their dedications. As you explore this Exhibition, you witness the FALLING INTO PLACE of two artistic visions individually lived and gracefully twined in the Beauty that is marriage.

​Beauty makes my heart beat. At night, wherever I am, I go to bed with Beauty. I rise with Beauty in the morning. I look for Beauty around every corner. Beauty is always there waiting. Sometimes when my mind is elsewhere, I’m startled by Beauty’s unexpected appearance as random surprises in the ordinary seen through yearning eyes.

I recently called Mike Burken. He and his fine crew take care of the campus at Hyde House. We always touch base before an Opening Reception to coordinate the timing of their outdoor preparations. I told Mike the leaves are covering the lawns in amazing abundance, to which he replied, “Do you want us to come gather them up now?” “No, please wait,” I responded, “I love seeing them spread like a textured quilt beneath the shedding trees. Let them stay until just before the Opening.” Mike agreed.
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where will we find the satisfaction of Beauty, especially as the cold sets in? No worries. Beauty will yet and again be everywhere, cradled in winter’s sacred outdoor stillness and in the effervescent warmth of creativity within artCentral’s Hyde House.
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Come celebrate and support the Beauty, Artists and Art of our remarkable community at our Hyde House HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE—December 3, 4 and 5—offering artists-created art, gifts and ornaments for every beautiful person on your shopping list.  
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