​and nourish my passion. I must live each day and always in stillness and in quiet. I do. This is how I best serve all you art lovers and artCentral.

One of my favorite times in every day comes after dinner with David, my husband. Our furries and feathers are fed. The table is cleared. The kitchen is tidied. We segue to our living room.
​
David kneels to light the logs he’s artfully arranged in our fireplace. He strikes a match and extends it to the kindling he’s carefully placed. A tiny flame catches. Gently, gently, as I watch, David blows that wee glow and voilà! our evening fire begins to dance, filling our space with warmth and flickering light.

Ding our ancient cat curls before the flames. Chiquita, our Wheaten terrier poodle, nestles into a corner of the draped love seat she claims as her own. As I settle into the soft cushions of my reading chair, David brings our new Aussie, Lasyrenn, and hands her into my arms. I’m blissed as David relaxes beside us.

Last night before we reached for our novels, we savored precious moments of sweet quietness in small tasks. While David mended Lasyrenn’s toy (before more stuffing could escape), I caressed and massaged her and brushed her teeth. (Dr. Grundy says we must to keep her healthy!)

Lasyrenn is growing so fast and getting so lengthy she no longer fits neatly in my lap. Her lanky working dog limbs hang over everywhere—this way and that—while I pretend she’s still a fluff ball of a tiny puppy. No matter her size, I love her and our furries and feathers with all my being, like I love David and art and artists and artCentral, too.

In our delicious stillness I sit. In quietness I clear my mind, and I ponder artCentral’s new year before us.

A song David’s been singing echoes in my head with the Beatles poignantly reminding me:

“There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung…
Nothing you can make that can't be made.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love.
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.”

“For the love of art and artists” is always my abiding vision to make of artCentral a place of spacious graciousness. A place where all can come to be surrounded and inspired by the truth and meaning and beauty that art gives to our everyday lives. A place to stop and rest a spell. A place to be nourished in our resting. A place to restore our souls and mend our spirits. With the support of our art-loving, hard-working board of directors, artCentral is all of this!

February 2nd’s Opening Reception for “Art Speaks!” will welcome exceptionally fine creations by the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition on display into March. With spring, April and May bring “Eat Art” featuring the remarkable hand-rubbed collages of Josie Mai, accomplished artist, culinary wizard and director of Spiva Art Center in Joplin. Josie will offer a creative cuisine workshop taught in artCentral’s vintage kitchen, then artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition and Picnic will take place in June with the exhibit continuing through July.

artCamp 2018 is scheduled for two full weeks of all-day classes, July 9-13 and July 16-20. “The Colors of Autumn” presented by members of the Four State Photography Enthusiasts will open August 31st followed by October’s “The Art of Quilting”, artCentral’s national juried exhibition of art quilts from around the country. artCentral’s fourth annual Holiday Boutique unfolds the weekend November transitions into December promising a splendidly decorated Hyde House filled with more than ever artist-created gift selections.

artCentral’s 2018 calendar promises to offer art that is quiet and still, exuberant and edgy and always, always uniquely inspiring. Won’t you come and be a part of our family and our community in our lovely home? An abundance of amazing art is waiting for your pleasure.

“All you need is love, all you need is love!” For the coming year at artCentral you’ll find all the love you need!

Shimmering brightness pours through our undraped windows washing over the bedroom ceiling and the walls. The light flows through the hall and down the stairs as though to fill the whole house with magic, while outside a midnight snow transforms the neighborhood into a blanketed wonderland complete with holiday lights twinkling from porches and rooftops and front yard installations.
 
I often say we live in a storybook village. Looking out our bedroom window I know for sure this is true. We live in a town full of light and magic. artCentral in historic Hyde House on the hill offers some of the best.
 
artCentral was officially organized in Carthage in 1986 as a nonprofit organization with a mission “to promote, exhibit, teach and foster the appreciation of fine art in our community”. Historic Hyde House was built in the 1890’s as a four-square, two-story farmhouse overlooking a vast greenhouse and acres of richly producing orchards. Katherine Hyde, born in 1912, was an amateur artist.
 
With her passing in 1989, Miss Hyde bequeathed Hyde House to the Carthage community with provisions the property would be used only for artistic and not for profit endeavor. Year after year, with hard work and passion the board of directors, members, artists and volunteers at artCentral continue to celebrate Katherine Hyde’s vision for the love and art and artists.
 
2017 was a splendid year for artCentral to celebrate. I do.
 
Last January, Bill Sutter was named the Carthage Chamber of Commerce Artist-of-the-Year sponsored by artCentral. At February’s exhibition of JRAC’s “Love Languages”, artCentral member artists received top honors. My husband David and I were the cover story in the February “Show Me the Ozarks” which which told of our artCentral meeting. Our nuptials were celebrated at the Annual Membership Exhibition Picnic when donations were received for artCentral’s new Greenwood-Mathé Fund for artCentral Art and Artists.
 
Over the year, for the Carthage Press, I submitted fifty-two Art Notes columns with David’s accompanying illustrations. Stacey Stiles led several evening workshops of Yoga by Candlelight for adults and children, too. artCentral provided the photo location for a JMag photo spread by artCentral artist Amanda Stone featuring the enchanting upcycle fiber art of Brenda Sears Hayes. Art Walks spring, summer and fall found artCentral with art and music as guests of Doug Osborn at The Palms on Main.
 
 March galleries featured the beautiful watercolors of Susie Bewick in “Ordinary Wonders”, and April brought “Dad & Daughter: Dynamic Duo filling Hyde House with the accomplished art of Lowell Davis and April Davis Brunner.
 
Partnering with the Carthage Community Foundation substantial donations were raised for artCentral’s sustaining fund and a $2,500 grant was received for artCamp. Sixty-two aspiring young artists, nine instructors and nine interns participated in artCamp in July. In partnership with CWE&P, sixteen artCentral artists painted twenty-one Maple Leaf themed fire hydrants along the parade route.
 
With the generous support of Chuck Pauly and the curatorial skills of Sally Armstrong and Miriam Putnam, “The Beauty Of Betsy Pauly" was on view in August and September. Michael Steddum brought his remarkable canine portraits in watercolor and oil for the autumn exhibition: “unleashed! Dog Show”. artCentral’s third annual Holiday Boutique with an expanded 4x4 Silent Auction provided a splendid denouement for this very full year.
 
“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in,” sings Leonard Cohen. These transition days from 2017 to 2018 are artCentral’s crack in time. Our new year will bring more and more art flowing into our community through artCentral.
 
That’s how the light gets in!
 

ART ON THE SQUARE – KOKA ART GALLERY
Albert Einstein tells us, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Echoing Einstein’s wisdom, internationally renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz observes “Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy—your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself.”            

​Walking into Koral Martin’s KOKA Art Gallery at 409 South Main Street in Carthage, you see these wise words come to life as you’re surrounded by her nature photography—rendered large and hanging on her walls as original photographs, prints and giclées (high resolution digital inkjet prints) and reproduced small on household items like cutting boards, coasters and mugs scattered over shelves and table tops throughout her eclectic gallery.

Koral as artist, photographer and owner of KOKA, like Einstein and Liebovitz, has been dancing with nature and understanding many things since she was a small girl. Growing up in Kentucky she is introduced early to the varying elements of nature as she and her brother venture into the deep woods on camping adventures with their parents.
 
Carrying a boxy Brownie camera or an “upscale” Instamatic, Koral photographs whatever catches her eye. Back home, appropriating her mother’s utility room for a darkroom, she magically transforms her pictures into prints. Her tools today, including her infrared camera favored for black and white shots, are rather more sophisticated, but her out-in-nature and back-to-the-darkroom process are uncannily the same repeated season after season.
 
Koral’s art-oriented childhood home environment was a constant encouragement for her young artistic explorations. This legacy remains with her and inspires her still—holding places of pride in her gallery today. I’m impressed as she tells me of the skilled pen and ink drawings left to her by her grandfather and shows me the bold watercolors rendered by the brushes of her architect father. Ten years ago when she asked her creative father to help her name her gallery he coined KOKA by blending her two given names—KO for Koral and KA for Kathleen.
 
KOKA gallery is as unique as the name. Outside beneath the art-nouveau-influenced gallery sign designed by Koral, you’re welcomed by colorful renderings of paintings and photographs applied like building blocks to the exterior wall. They represent the works of the approximately twenty-five artists presently in Koral’s stable of art-makers. The interior is laid out like a labyrinth encouraging guests to wander through and focus on the work of one or two artists at a time.
 
During Carthage Friday night Art Walks on the downtown square, April-September, 5:30-9:00 pm, KOKA fills up fast with patrons enthusiastically turning out to see and purchase art while they visit with Koral and artists as well as with family and friends. During the evening you’re invited to sample libations and delectable hors d’oeuvres and to participate in hands-on art projects.
 
Participating in Art Walks is one of many ways Koral contributes to the artistic life of our community. She continues to serve on the Art Walk Committee as she completes her term on the advisory committee of the Carthage Visitors Bureau.
 
In addition to creating and marketing her photographic art, Koral provides fine art and digital services such as logo development, ads for businesses, signs and business cards and the reproduction of artists’ work. Two years ago when my graphics were selected as the official Maple Leaf art, Koral helped me with some details too complex for my digital skills. When I completed a recent portrait of my precious granddaughter, Sophie, I loved the painting so much I didn’t want to give the original to her parents. Seeking out Koral’s expertise I was able to have quality reproductions made for me and my best friend, Sophie’s surrogate grandmother.
 
Asked to name her own favorite photographic subjects, Koral places suspension bridges and waterfalls at the top of her list. She also enjoys photographing macro images of insects and flowers such as those that can be seen on the walls of Mercy hospital here in Carthage.
 
In spite of her full and fast-paced professional life, Koral and her husband, author Dan Martin, venture west on a camping and photographic excursion at least once a year, bringing home stunning photographic memories of their journey and the good times spent in Colorado with their two adult sons.
 
Back in Carthage, Koral’s favorite hangout for early morning socializing is Mother Road Coffee. If you miss her there, you can find her at KOKA. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9 am-5:30 pm, Saturday, 9 am-1 pm and other times by appointment.

For months walking to and fro my wee cottage I yearn to find a little coffee shop—the bistro type I frequented while living in New York City, the kind that seems to be on every other corner when I visit my son and daughter-in-law in Seattle filled with an amazing number of boutique coffee venues including the original home of Starbucks.
 
Dreaming daily of the Carthage coffee shop amenity that seems to be missing, I’m left with my unrequited yearning.
 
Apparently others in town share my dreaming and yearning for a special coffee setting. In fact, while I wander Kara and Ed Hardesty, transplants from Tacoma, are actually creating their own dream—a special coffee setting in the heart of our community. My coffee shop dream comes true, the day I find Mother Road Coffee on the square!
 
Ed’s and Kara’s days in Tacoma were full of cherished friendships and meaningful occupations. Kara worked professionally as a warranty administrator for an automobile company. Ed served twenty-nine years in the fire department. When he retired as a captain, their thoughts of moving to the Midwest became reality. With family in Springfield and Wichita they were well familiar with this area and the attractive cost-of-living. From previous visits they knew and loved Carthage already, and so they came and have been making our town better ever since.
 
Ed and Kara have never stopped visioning since the spring 2013 opening of their Mother Road Coffee doors in the old Murray-Duncan Drug Store—the three story building known as the town’s first sky scraper.  Now they’re on the brink of bringing to life their boldest Carthage vision yet. They’re expanding MRC into the building next door (most recently occupied by Farmers Insurance) and adding the Village Square Boutique which is still in the conceptual stage.
 
Sitting at MRC with Kara and a perfectly made extra dry cappuccino, I ask her about the catalyst for their plans. “We’re growing.” Kara responds. “We want to add more seating space to continue to serve our customers in a comfortable setting during busy times.”
                                                                                                                                                            
To visit MRC today is to step back into a vintage vibe where you’ll enjoy the best cup of hand-crafted coffee the present can offer. The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly. You don’t have to know coffee jargon to enjoy something new and satisfying.
 
Ed and Kara have created the warm and cozy feel of an old home library. The softly lit mocha-hued interior includes the original tiny octagonal floor tiles (found under red shag carpet!) and walls decorated with historical photos and coffee-centric sayings. Near the entrance is a gigantic world map strewn with map tacks placed by Route 66 travelers from ninety-eight countries around the world. Their comments in the guest book are spot-on. “Best coffee since Sydney! Best cup of coffee in the states. Splendid people! What a find! Superb. Awesome! Great coffee, even greater staff!”  
 
Besides creating their state-of-the-art coffee shop and contributing their time and resources to many philanthropic endeavors, through Mother Road Coffee Ed and Kara are avid supporters of our arts community.
 
Their seasonally changing window decorations are always inspiringly artful. At downtown Art Walks they feature guest artists and stay open late to accommodate the after-hours art walkers. They lend their support to artCentral with an ongoing mini window display at sidewalk’s edge. For purchase on MRC’s shelves they offer gift items created by local artists as well as artCentral’s fundraising vintage cook book and thoughtfully selected books by local authors. They display intimate, rotating art exhibitions.
 
When I became director/curator of artCentral I inherited the delightful privilege of curating and installing art on MRC’s gallery walls. Recent exhibits have featured the art of my husband, David Greenwood-Mathé, preceded by an installation of selected works from artCentral’s annual Membership Exhibition. Personally and on behalf of my board of directors I thank Ed and Kara for this exhibition opportunity. While I pack up my hammer and nails to accommodate the MRC expansion, Cherry’s Art Emporium has already placed beautiful winter themed works by our beloved Carthage artists Jerry Ellis and Andy Thomas.
  
As Kara and I conclude our time over coffee, Kara muses, “The very best part of Mother Road Coffee is the people we meet. Not just internationals but hometown people we’d never meet or know without the coffee shop.”
 
Thanks to Mother Road coffee’s satisfaction of my coffee shop yearning, I’ve come to appreciate Ed and Kara as two visionary shop keepers who always aspire to excellence in all they do. I know that, no matter how big they grow Mother Road Coffee, in their artful coffee shop I’ll always be able to find the very best little cappuccino anywhere between NYC and Seattle!

Always shining bright, and offering assistance before I can even ask, David Greenwood-Mathé—my beloved husband, artist, former gallery owner and artCentral’s illustrious prepitor (“worker person”)—always knows just what to do and how. All for the cause of art, he greets guests lookin’-extra-good in his new metro-sexual haircut (à la Eric Haun) while he sports the “oops!” evidence of his dedication. (We spent our last “date night” in the ER with David receiving eight stitches to close his hand wound acquired while installing Boutique banners.)
 
With the two of us continuing to make Boutique preparations, volunteer extraordinaire, Lora Waring, stamps and folds and labels the invitations and newsletters announcing our Boutique. Then she goes shopping for an abundance of gift bags and wrappings she donates for our shoppers to take home filled with treasures. Then she creates and donates an amazing collection of cookies that delight each guest who walks through our green door. Every non-profit needs at least one Lora!
 
artCentral is blessed with an abundance of equally passionate volunteer stars—each working for the love of art and artists, each making unique contributions to enrich the cultural life of our hometown!
 
When I ask volunteers, three board members and Judy Goff, to share their love for our Holiday Boutique, they generously agree!
 
Jackie Boyer: “One of the best parts about the Holiday Boutique is working with like-minded people who have fun getting the work done.  Back in October when we started putting together all the bits and pieces, the multiplicity of tasks seemed rather daunting, but we put on our "do" hats and got busy. Successfully creating a beautiful event, the most challenging part is choosing for my family members among the great gift ideas.  I like so many I see! I marvel at the artists’ talents! While just looking is a pleasure, minding my budget is easy for each artist presents pocket friendly selections. Those on my gift list who receive an amaryllis have something to brag about all year.”
 
Betsy Flanigan: “artCentral’s Holiday Boutique is a much anticipated holiday highlight for me. I enjoy collaborating with our dedicated group of volunteers who spend many hours planning and creating the event.  I’m very rewarded seeing the hard work result in a beautifully decorated Hyde House filled with lovely items to gift to others—or to keep for yourself.  Equally rewarding is knowing that funds raised will help artCentral continue its mission to promote the love of art in our community.”
 
Judy Goff:  “What do I like most about artCentral's Holiday Boutique?  Oh, the "most" is hard to narrow down because it's a little of this, a little of that—enjoying so many varied creations by very talented artists; visiting with those (in-a-good-mood people) who happily arrive looking for that item that speaks to them or is a perfect gift for someone else; watching shoppers enjoy getting the early Christmas spirit; seeing the silent auction excitement of people bidding on quality paintings in hopes they can add something new to their art collection or perhaps start their first collection;  being incredibly proud of all the talent in the Carthage community and their willingness to contribute works to benefit the outreach programming of artCentral. What do I like most about the Boutique? Actually, I like a whole lot of this and a whole lot of that!”
 
Jane Vandenberg: “Hanging the first garland always puts me in the holiday spirit.  When the Christmas tree is up and goes all sparkly with lights and ribbon, I can almost hear Hyde House say ‘thank you’. Our Holiday Boutique is a fund raiser necessity and so much more.  We get to showcase our beautiful home and talented artists as we offer unique holiday shopping to our community.  Working at the Boutique I get to greet old friends and meet new ones.  Seeing the originality of the art generously donated by our artist members for our fund raising Silent Auction is exciting and inspiring.  In the end, the Holiday Boutique makes the shoppers happy, offers the artists a charming selling venue and our programming coffers breathe a sigh of relief. It is a special privilege to be a small part of the large process of producing the Holiday Boutique. I’m always a little sad when the garlands and lights are put away and Hyde House must wait for the blossoms of spring and her new wardrobe.”
 
To all artCentral’s Holiday Boutique volunteers I offer a bouquet of “Thank Yous” for shining in artCentral’s brilliant firmament: Maddie Capps, Carolyn Cole, Pat Goff, Piper Feurt, Ann Huckstep, Helen Kunze, Olivia Pierce, Miriam Putnam, Emily Rose, Brenda Sageng, Allan Vandenberg, Wendy Verbeek, Corinne Waggoner, Paula Ware and  Gail White. To our underwriter, HOMETOWN BANK, and to our supporters Bela Flora Nurseries, Carthage Chamber of Commerce and Fair Acres Family YMCA we say “Thank You” for your parts in making possible artCentral’s beautiful Holiday Boutique!