​Set for the Tuesday following our traditional Thursday of Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday is a global, once-a-year opportunity to support the organizations and causes you love…like artCentral. Please support artCentral and the artists of our community. Give4ART and artCentral on #Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2019. 

​While the Louvre, the Met, the National Gallery and Crystal Bridges claim deep and broad sources for funding, the sustainability of artCentral as our hometown, non-profit arts center is built on the memberships and donations of our local community—folks just like you. Your generosity makes artCentral possible.
 
Give Give4ART on #Giving Tuesdayand…

Please mark your calendar today for #Giving Tuesday. On December 3 go to artCentral’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/ArtcentralCarthage) and click on the blue DONATE button. Easily, securely make your donation. When matched by Facebook your donation is worth two times as much!
 
Beginning at 7:00 a.m. CST on #Giving Tuesday, Facebook will match donations on a first-come, first served basis until $7 million are matched.
 
The allotted $7 million dollars sounds like a huge fund, but those dollars will be distributed globally to all eligible nonprofit organizations. There are many, many causes like artCentral hoping to receive a piece of Facebook’s $7 million pie.
 
Set your alarm for 6:50 a.m. Be ready early to click DONATE. Double your money! Your contribution made early in the day, has the best chance of being matched for the benefit of artCentral. Of course you can give later, too.
 
Thank you for every gift you give! Whether you donate $5 or $400, every dollar you give makes a difference, especially when your gift is doubled. Please help artCentral raise our goal of $2,000.00 for Give4ART #Giving Tuesday. With your help $2,000.00 will double into $4,000.00 for the benefit of art and artists!
 
Facebook covers all processing fees, so 100% of all funds donated to artCentral go directly to artCentral’s support.
 
artCentral is a nonprofit organization with the mission to promote, exhibit, teach and foster the appreciation of fine arts in our community. Visit www.artcentralcarthage.org to learn more.
 
Just after #Giving Tuesday artCentral’s green door of hospitality will open for the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE where you can see and enjoy the benefits of being an artCentral supporter of talented artists who offer their creations at Hyde House.
 
December 5th, Thursday, 5-8 p.m.—HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE preview, shopping and SILENT AUCTION launch.
December 6th, Friday evening, 5-8 p.m.—Shopping and SILENT AUCTION bidding times continue.
December 7th, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.—Morning and afternoon shopping with the SILENT AUCTION bidding concluding at 3:00 p.m.
 
For more information please call (417) 358-4404.

​In this season when we pause to give gratitude I am thankful for art—the beauty of art and the comfort of art; the passion and the inspiration of art; the power and the challenge of art. I am thankful I wake into each new day to enjoy sharing art with my artist husband, David, my arty family, my art-loving friends and the artists and patrons of artCentral.
 
I am thankful art makes my world go round. I live and breathe art. I dream of art. I make art. I celebrate art. I work for my love of art and artists. I am thankful for the privilege of serving as Executive Director-Curator of artCentral, our hometown non-profit arts center.

​I am thankful for artCentral’s rotating exhibitions throughout each year that showcase local, regional and even international art and artists.  I am thankful for artCentral’s seasonal HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE where we all can practice thanksgiving by shopping locally, supporting artists and choosing art for our holiday gift-giving.
 
Please mark your calendar for December 5, 6 and 7 and come to artCentral’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE in festively decorated Hyde House at 1110 East Thirteenth Street. Admission is free for all three days.
 
You’ll find Hyde House full of amazing pocket friendly art created for you by many of our regions most talented artists including Linda Brown (Sgraffito clay giftables), Alexandra Burnside (whimsical pillows), April Davis-Brunner (paintings, wind chimes, mugs and coasters), Teri Diggs (garden art), Jerry Ellis (framed prints), Judith Fowler (angel journals and pillows),  Kristin Gerard (jewelry), Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé (prints and cards), Becky Golubski (paintings, mugs and pillows), Brenda Hayes (fiber creations), Helen Kunze (paintings), Koral Martin (porcelain, wood and medal ornaments), Jane McCaulley (glass ornaments), Mary Parks (cutting boards, coasters, small paintings), Marty Ann Petersen (whimsical ornaments), Priscilla Pettie(jewelry) and Dana Reed (Owl and Willow artisan candles).

When you shop at artCentral’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE, you will make a difference in the cultural life of our community by supporting these talented artists.
 
December 5th, Thursday, 5-8 pm—HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE preview, shopping and SILENT AUCTION launch.

December 6th, Friday evening, 5-8 pm—shopping and SILENT AUCTION bidding times continue.

December 7th, Saturday, 10 am-4 pm—morning and afternoon shopping with the SILENT AUCTION bidding concluding at 3:00 pm.
 
Featured again this year, in addition to artCentral artist creations, are artCentral’s signature fundraising, modestly priced Amaryllis in chic, vintage-styled galvanized planters ($25 for a single and $30 for two bulbs). Perfect for your own home, these limited edition beauties, planted to bloom at the peak of the holiday festivities, make lovely gifts for everyone on your list. Reserve several and prepay by calling (417) 358-4404 in advance of the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE.
 
Give yourself the gift of HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE shopping, Amaryllis selecting and SILENT AUCTION bidding all for the love of art and artists!
 
I am thankful as I anticipate your visit during this season of Thanksgiving, celebrating and gifting! 
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contributors, for all Silent Auction proceeds raised by these artists will go toward artCentral’s work and programming on behalf of art and artists throughout southwest Missouri.

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to select fine art and support the arts and artists. Bid (starting as low as $5), purchase and take home one or more of these truly amazing artworks from the hands of artCentral’s awesomely talented artists—our marvelous constellation that includes international art stars, regional luminaries and emerging artists just beginning to twinkle. Each of these artists is shining at their very best through their SILENT AUCTION gems.

Even mega star Andy Thomas is making the time to contribute a SILENT AUCTION treasure. What is he painting this year? I’m eager to discover! Three years ago his donated canvas depicted the passion of a rising up stallion. The next Auction his canvas brought us the image of the jolliest Santa I’ve ever seen. Last year his richly rendered "Owl on a Snowy Day" garnered a stunning take home bid. For each of his small works the bidding has been vigorous, and artCentral has been made sustainably stronger by the dollars Andy brought in to support our work.

Thank you! goes out to all our artCentral artists who are stepping up to make this year’s SILENT AUCTION the best ever. Joplin artist rock stars Andrew Batcheller, Karolee Blanchard, April Davis-Brunner, Jesse McCormick, Connie Miller, Margie Moss, Jo Mueller, Debbie Reed and Linda Teeter and the ever popular Cheryl Church, Jerry Ellis, Sarah Huntley, Tom Jones, Helen Kunze and Lora Waring of Carthage are contributing, as well as newly emerging artCentral members Aurelia Burr, Nancy Dymott and Bonnie Young. Members of artCentral’s board of directors, Jane Ballard and Jason Shelfer, are again signed up to share their talents. JRAC president Emily Rose is adding hers, too. Of course both my husband David and I will have our own small works among the others.

Lora Waring | Debbie Reed | Karolee Blanchard | Jesse McCormic

Bonnie Young | Nancy Dymott | Alice Lynn Greenwood-Math​é

Many more SILENT AUCTION contributing artCentral member artists and friends are still putting the finishing touches on their canvas creations.

This year’s 5x7 SILENT AUCTION onsite bidding begins at Hyde House at 5:00 pm Thursday, December 5th at the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE Preview. Bidding closes at 3:00 pm, Saturday December 7th.
Treat yourself to the ultimate experience in happy holiday shopping for your loved ones, friends, teachers and business associates. Mark your calendars now for December 5, 6 and 7. Admission is free for all three HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE days.

Plan to visit artCentral’s elegant, enchanting historic Hyde House filled with beauty, inspiration and one-of-a-kind 5x7 canvases and pocket-friendly presents.

• December 5th, Thursday, 5-8 pm, is the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE Preview, SILENT AUCTION launch and your first shopping opportunity.
• December 6th, Friday evening, 5-8 pm, your shopping and SILENT AUCTION bidding times continue.
• December 7th, Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, is morning and afternoon shopping with the SILENT AUCTION bidding concluding at 3:00 pm.

Classic cookbooks will be available for $5.00.

Featured again this year, in addition to artCentral artist creations, are artCentral’s signature fundraising Amaryllis as solos and duets in chic, vintage-styled galvanized planters modestly priced ($25 for a single and $30 for two bulbs). Perfect for your own home, these limited edition beauties, planted to bloom at the peak of the holiday festivities, make lovely gifts for everyone on your list and support artCentral’s work on behalf of art and artists in Carthage and beyond. Reserve several and prepay by calling (417) 358-4404 in advance of the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE.
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Mark your calendars now for December 5, 6 and 7 and give yourself a delightful HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE time spent shopping, delectable sampling, Amaryllis selecting and SILENT AUCTION bidding all for the love of art and artists!

Those of you who meditate are likely to know the practice of choosing a simple, calming mantra to help you focus and relax as you still and clear your busy mind. Perhaps you like to use a singular object or an image to anchor your wandering attention. My husband, David, finds looking to a gently flickering candle flame leads him into an interior place where thinking is silenced and a sense of well-being expands and prevails.

I invite you to just such a place. Follow the gently twinkling lights to Hyde House on the Hill. There you will find paintings to carry you into lovely dimensions where the beauty of our natural world will beckon you and surround you and center you like a mantra that will settle and comfort even the most restless spirit.

​​Come see Jodie Sutton’s ENCAUSTIC AUTUMN LANDSCAPES. Be settled. Be soothed. Maybe find a gift for yourself or another, then you’ll be ready for the holiday pace that’s picking up already.

In times past—before big box venues and frantic Black Friday online trafficking—holidays seemed distinctive. End-of-summer Labor Day brought back-to-school. Pause. Halloween brought pumpkin cutting and costumed trick-or-treaters meandering through their hoods. Pause. Turkeys decorated classroom bulletin boards and family tables. Pause. Christmas gift shopping got started and a few lights were strung on rooftops; store windows were decorated and the big tree went up on the courthouse lawn; churches around town set up scenes of the Nativity with mangers awaiting the arrival of their babies; bell ringers stood beside kettles on the square; carols were sung and the babies arrived in their mangers along with Santa and his presents; and wrappings were cleared. Pause. New Year’s Eve parties and a welcome day off work. Pause. Winter slowly unwinding into spring.

Today many of us live without pauses, always planning, always looking months ahead with seasons and celebrations constantly bumping into each other and overlapping a lot. Many of our mostly benign environments can get super agitated. About the time Lowe’s finished installing the scary, gigantic Halloween blowups, they started displaying lighted faux Christmas trees just across the aisle. Our very sensitive Australian Shepherd, in training as a therapy puppy and usually a fan of practicing good behavior at puppy-friendly Lowe’s, gets overstimulated now before she ever walks through Lowe’s front door. I’m amazed we all don’t go bonkers. Our world is a fast-forward one. Like living in New York City, you have to jump into the pace lest you get run over or left behind.

artCentral is no exception. In early October David, our artCentral prepitor (art handler), and I carried the Hyde House holiday decorations down from the attic, and Board president Betsy Flanigan and I had the exterior bedecked with greenery and red bows before the wee ghosties and ghoulies paraded down Grand Avenue. When the question arose of setting up the Christmas tree, my dear husband adamantly declared, “Really? Halloween’s not even over!”
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We have many other preparations to make before setting up the tree. I promise we’ll be finished completing our last tasks and be happily ready to greet you when you come through our vibrant green door for artCentral’s beautiful HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE!

When did I start celebrating the holidays with scarlet Amaryllis? So long ago I can’t remember. I had them in University Park in Dallas and in NYC walkups in Chelsea and Greenwich Village and Carroll Gardens; in my remote wilderness rental beside the Little Buffalo River and as the resident artist/gardener on a large private property on top of Mount Sequoyah in the Ozark Highlands of Fayetteville, Arkansas. I had them in my wee Forest Street Cottage when I first came to Carthage, and now David and I share them in our big, old house we love to call Paradise.

The dramatic beauty of scarlet Amaryllis will fill and brighten any home, modest or grand, with winter radiance and good cheer. I can’t imagine the holidays without them! Thankfully, artCentral’s Holiday Boutique Fundraiser (December 5, 6 and 7, 2019) is again offering robust and stunning scarlet Amaryllis bulbs cultivated to bloom through the holidays. They’re presented this year as solos and duets in chic, vintage-styled galvanized planters modestly priced ($25 for a single and $30 for two bulbs) ready for decorating homes and gift giving for your family and friends and business colleagues, too. You’ll want to purchase several. This year’s edition is limited, so put your order in soon to (417) 358-4404 or artcentral@artcentralcarthage.org. All proceeds are dedicated to artCentral’s work on behalf of the art and artists that enrich the cultural life of Carthage and our neighboring communities.
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The genus name “Amaryllis” (Αμαρυλλίς) comes from the Greek word “amarysso”—an ancient female name that means “sparkling” or “to sparkle”. Greek mythology tells us that Amaryllis was a shepherdess who loved Alteo, a strong and handsome shepherd. He had a passion for flowers.

Many flowers and plants are believed to be symbolic. Looking into the symbolism of the Amaryllis we learn this flower signifies pastoral poetry. Also the Amaryllis is a flower of determination and exquisite beauty, as well as pride.

During the 18th century, Amaryllis bulbs were labeled as lilies, which may explain some of the common names in use today. The Amaryllis in South Africa is the March lily; this flower in the United Kingdom is the belladonna lily or the Jersey lily; in Italy the Amaryllis is called the Madonna lily. The Portuguese name for the Amaryllis means “St. Joseph’s Staff” in reference to the legend that the staff of St. Joseph burst into bloom as a sign of his selection as the spouse of the Virgin Mary.

Make your festive holidays relaxed and easy. Order your artCentral Amaryllis early. Shop local and stretch your gift budget with unique artist-made selections created by the sixteen featured artists participating in artCentral’s Holiday Boutique. Patronize the 5x7 Silent Auction showcasing the canvas creations of more than four dozen artCentral artists. Support artCentral—our community’s only non-profit Arts Center.
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Before we begin our seasonal twirl, be sure to pause and give yourself pre-holidays treat! Visit Jodie Sutton’s ENCAUSTIC AUTUMN LANDSCAPES—continuing on view at Hyde House through November 17, 2019. Gallery Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The display of these 112 stunning paintings made with hot wax is generously underwritten by Sirloin Stockade. For more information call (417) 358-4404.