THE GIFTS OF WORKING WEEKENDS Working weekends goes with being artCentral’s DirectorCurator. One recent weekend was particularly lively for May’s “Emerging Artists” exhibition. Our vibrant green door was set swinging by coming and going visitors—each and every one a gift. With their CHS graduates, far flung families gathered and arrived to climb the stairs to the Sandy Higgins Members Gallery where they admired the Award Winners in the Helen S. Boylan Foundation CHS Art and Writing Contest. |
I set out the water bowl for our first warm weather canine visitor when Dave Matthews, a newly returning artCentral artist member, companioned by Chiquita, dropped in to donate cones for the kiln. After touring the exhibits and house, Dave tested the swing and we had an art-full chat on the porch, while a perfect spring breeze whispered.
With Dave and Chi departing for lunch in Joplin, I found myself holding the gift of a butter cookie tin, carefully lined with paper towels and filled with eggs from Dave’s hens. A farm fresh omelet went instantly to the top of my dinner menu!
Refocusing on waiting office work, I was back at the computer putting the finishing touches to our second quarter Newsletter, when Maddie appeared with her friend Erin.
Erin missed Maddie’s opening, being pre-committed for the evening with a CHS band activity, so Maddie treated her to an artist-guided tour while I continued at the keyboard. Their tour completed, as we said our good-byes I found yet another sweet gift in my hands.
Last year Maddie and I had bonded over weeding, when we were out tidying the Great Wall garden with interns Emma Pound and Katie Watson. Maddie spoke of learning gardening under the tutelage of her grandmother. We talked about favorite flowers and herbs. Maddie mentioned and offered a start from her family’s prolific stand of lamb’s ears, which are a longtime love of mine with their charming, fuzzy silver-green leaves and long stemmed lavender blossoms. That promised lamb’s ear start was the second Sunday afternoon gift I held, which at this writing is already nestled into my cottage garden and settling |
There are always gifts received and given at artCentral. Weekends and week days, too. I’m happy to offer to you the extended gift of “Emerging Artists, remaining on Hyde House walls through June 5th. Your viewing gift is by appointment at (417) 358-4404.