December 1, Thursday, 5-8 pm, is the Holiday Boutique Preview, Silent Auction launch and your first shopping opportunity with wine, wassail, savories and sweets.
 
December 2, Friday afternoon and evening, 3-8 pm, your shopping and Silent Auction bidding times continue with wassail and treats.
 
December 3, Saturday, 9 am - 4 pm, is morning and afternoon shopping with wassail and treats. The Silent Auction bidding concludes at 3:30 pm.
 
At Hyde House you’ll find special treasures for everyone on your shopping list, and a treat or two for you, as well, including enchanting glass mosaics by Jane McCaulley, photographic calendars and more by Koral Martin, bottles turned into one-of-a-kind art by David Matthews and Cheryl Church, upcycled fibers and jewelry by Brenda Hayes, Amanda Stone’s magical natural leaf forms as a birdbath, trays and containers, Maribeth Ward’s colorful hand-decorated eggs, original paintings by David Matthews and Dustin Miller, Sarah Serio’s and Libby Wilson’s charming holiday assemblages and wall hangings, lovely clay creations by Debbie Reed and Daria Claiborne, matted prints by Tom Jones and my own prints, cards and coasters featuring images of my original paintings including the Landmarks of Carthage.
 
Featured again this year, in addition to artCentral artist creations, are artCentral’s signature potted, elegantly bowed scarlet amaryllis, planted to bloom at the peak of the holiday festivities. Modestly priced at $25.00, each is presented in a sparkling container. Perfect for your own home, these beauties make lovely gifts for everyone on your list. Reserve several early and prepay by calling (417) 358-4404 in advance of tomorrow’s afternoon Boutique opening.
 
New to this year’s Holiday Boutique is the 4x4 Silent Auction featuring exquisite canvases created and donated by artCentral artists including Jed Bennett, Karen Brust, Larry Clingman, Josie Mai, Michael and Kristine Steddum and Lora Waring. Visit the Auction early. Select your favorites and make your initial bids. The Silent Auction will continue until 3:30 pm on Saturday, December 3rd. Last minute bids may be phoned in to (417) 358-4404.
 
All amaryllis and Silent Auction fund-raising proceeds go toward artCentral’s continuing work on behalf of art and artists in Carthage and beyond.
 
Express your love for art and artists. Shop artCentral’s Holiday Boutique!

When my beau and I go for an after-work-hours drive, we follow our instincts looking for pleasures of abundance.  Always we arrive at the perfect destination to have our searching eyes and our yearning hearts filled with satisfaction. For our viewing of last week’s Super Moon we take the back roads to park beside Lamar Lake before dusk’s offerings of cattails and lily pads, a late heron flying in low above the gently rippling water and a deckled, lacy tree line growing darker as the sky begins to lighten and announce the night’s well-publicized exhibition.

Having seen many anticipatory Super Moon photos posted to Facebook, expectations are high for a huge orb rising up above the horizon like a celestial giant. A collection of soft clouds gets in our way—loosely gathered, with gentle assertion they obscure the ascent, transforming our night into an experience so magical we’re still remembering and speaking with awe and wonder for this sacred, enchanted evensong.

​While our puppy and a chorus of sweetly chirping crickets start to stir, above the treetops and reflected into the still waters, first comes a shimmering glow outlining the multitude of vapors floating in the atmosphere. Then appear sparkling diamonds penetrating the sky’s porous scrim as a levitating amber aura defines the moon’s hidden, steady rise.

“Look!” we say each time new variations appear in the cloud formations and light refractions. “Do you see that?” we ask, as up, up climbs our cause for adoration. Waiting and watching for her full, glowing manifestation, finally we realize her hiddenness will continue no matter how long we linger.

We drive home, happy though still hoping for more lunar abundance. With stems of celebratory eggnog we wander onto the back porch, through the yard, beyond the gate and into the tree-lined pasture.

​While I perch in the old swing, suspended from an arching limb, my dear beau leaning against me, together we’re amazed as fluffy wisps, like foam, gather and separate until the heavens look like an undulating ocean dancing before our so-shy Super Moon.

​Knowing we are blessed, we ring our prayer bowl and go inside to clink our chopsticks, plucking goodness from our bowls as round and beautiful and nourishing as our beloved moon and our conversation around December 1st, 2nd and 3rd and the tremendous abundance to be found at artCentral’s Holiday Boutique. 

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Mark your calendars now for December 1, 2 and 3. Plan to visit our elegant setting filled with beauty, inspiration and pocket-friendly presents, and treat yourself to the ultimate experience in magical holiday shopping for your loved ones, friends, teachers and business associates.

December 1, Thursday, 5-8 pm, is the Holiday Boutique Preview, Silent Auction launch and your first shopping opportunity.
 
December 2, Friday afternoon and evening, 3-8 pm, your shopping and Silent Auction bidding times continue.
 
December 3, Saturday, 9 am-4 pm, is morning and afternoon shopping with the Silent Auction bidding concluding at 3:30 pm.
 
Featured again this year, in addition to artCentral artist creations, are artCentral’s signature potted and elegantly bowed scarlet amaryllis, planted to bloom at the peak of the holiday festivities. Each modestly priced amaryllis in this limited edition is presented in a sparkling container. Perfect for your own home, these beauties make lovely gifts for everyone on your list and support artCentral’s work in Carthage and beyond. Reserve several and prepay by calling (417) 358-4404 in advance of the Boutique.
 
New this year is artCentral’s Holiday Boutique Silent Auction featuring 4x4 canvases created and donated by artCentral artists. Visit the Auction early to select your favorites and make your initial bids. The Silent Auction will continue until 3:30 pm on Saturday, December 3rd. Last minute bids may be phoned in to (417) 358-4404. All fund-raising proceeds will go toward artCentral’s continuing work on behalf of art and artists.
 
Admission is free for all three Holiday Boutique days. As always, donations to artCentral are welcome and greatly appreciated.
 
Making the behind-the-scenes magic for our Holiday Boutique and for all the art-centric happenings at artCentral is our board of nine directors who work with dedication month by month  throughout the year on behalf of artCentral’s mission to support art and artists. I’m truly grateful for the unique sets of creative ideas, talents and experience generously shared by each board member.
 
I’m tremendously inspired by the support and encouragement given to me every day by Jackie Boyer, President; Brenda Sageng, Vice-President; Betsy Flanigan, Secretary; Pat Goff, Treasurer; Lonnie Heckmaster; Helen Kunze; Lee Pound; Jane Vandenberg and Gail White. When you see these imaginative magic makers out and about beyond artCentral’s green door, please join me in saying “thank you”.

​With guitarist David Matthews strumming and singing gently and a lush floral bouquet by Becky Edds adorning the vintage table, Eric and Yolly Ferrell offer beverages as Reception Impresario, Julie Anderson, presents a lavish fare by a bevy of Grace Church culinary creatives: Carolyn Cole, Fleur Clark, Kathy Conrow, Robert Denning, Nancy Dymott, Mindy Estes, Diann Ferguson, Jeannie Goolsby, Kelly Heidlage, Ruby Hoofman, Jinny and Dale Hopp, Judy Kester, Mary Kirby, Ceri Otero, Shirley Pace, Ruth Platt, Bill Stremke and Zelma Watts.

Weeks, months, years and lifetimes of creating are evident in the talent on exhibit. Painted wood carvings by Mel Anderson show his long time interest in woodworking and carving seen in his whimsical images of Santas and snowmen, tropical and fresh water fish. Colorful watercolors by Susie Bewick express her “sense of gratitude and acknowledge God's abundance to us all in the natural world”.
 
Beginning private art lessons at twelve, Pat Brown’s training is evident in her lovely portraits created in oils. Taking pictures for several years, Dennis Conrow presents his photographs on canvas and as prints showcasing the natural subjects he finds unique. Unique are the enchanting Zentangle renderings from the pens and paints of Teri Y. Diggs.
 
Acknowledging art has always been her first language, Liz Foster offers paintings and a magical, lighted shrine, too. In my own paintings and assemblage, I celebrate the inspiration I find in relationship with my artist beau, who as “Upstart Crow”, brings love and wisdom to our collaborative work.
 
The motifs in Dale Hopp’s colorful stained glass panels are windows on his youthful days spent out-of-doors. An abundance of hand formed meditation bowls, many inscribed, large and small, by Heather Grills await selection for personal devotions. Bess Lanyon’s works are primarily in pen and ink, graphite and charcoal with subtle jokes embedded. Two makers with clay, Jacque McDonald and Flynn Mountjoy, magically transform their medium with story, shape, color and glaze.
 
A world traveler, Steve Nelson, with oils skillfully paints his life experiences from seascapes to mountain tops. Stunning canvas mounted photographs by Melinda Dunaway Wilson tell of the inspiration she finds “in the wonderful architecture and natural beauty” regionally and in her European travels.
 
The wonderment of “Artists of Grace” remains on view through November 20. The public is invited. Admission is free. Donations are welcome. Gallery hour: visit www:artcentralcarthage.org or call (417) 358-4404.