BLISSED WITH GOODNESS! To experience life at artCentral—beautiful, rich and full of wonder—is to be blissed with goodness! Come see for yourself. Share in artCentral’s blissful goodness as you tour Hyde House and artCentral’s Annual Membership Exhibition, on view through July 31st, filling our galleries with astonishing regional art created by artCentral artists. At artCentral’s Annual Picnic last Friday, artists, members and guests gathered on the tree-canopied lawn to celebrate this amazing exhibition. Many preparations were devoted to the making of this magical opening evening. Over several months, sixty artists gave voice to their inspirations then delivered their creations to Hyde House. As exhibit curator, I pondered all the works, looking and listening for associations within the tantalizing variety of expressions. Discerning connections, I spent a day into the night installing the colorful visual conversations now displayed on our walls. |
PRESENTING ARTISTS
Mark Adams Jane Ballard Andrew Batcheller Debra Bentlage Micki Bicknell Steve Binam Angel Brame Diana Bray Jim Bray Karen Brust Paul Cameron Maddie Capps Daria Claiborne Larry Clingman Sandra Conrad April Davis-Brunner Linda Ellard-Brown Liz Foster Annabelle Fuhr Olivia Givens Judy Goff Sydney Hartless Cindy Head Steve Head Diane Heisner Barbara Hicklin Tom Jones Janice Kinman Melody Knowles | Helen Kunze Josie Mai Koral Martin David Matthews Jane McCaulley Jesse McCormick Dan McWilliams Colette Merrill Dustin Miller Margie Moss Ruth Potter Tyla Raredon Debbie Reed Donna Roberts Brenda Sageng Sarah Serio Don Snider Ruth Snider MaryAnn Soerries Jack Sours Joan Stattel Kristine Steddum Michael Steddum Amanda Stone Linda Teeter Lora Waring Katie Watson Merlen White Natalie Wiseman |
Final preparations for the picnic began. Hardworking Terry Beetem set out chairs and large tables, while Pat Goff rounded up and delivered extra seating. Judith Goff garnished the birdbaths with giant magnolia blossoms and prepped beverages. With the assistance of board members Jackie Boyer, Betsy Flanigan, Helen Kunze and Brenda Sageng, she added the ambiance of colorful tablecloths and spread the bar-b-que dinner. Soon members and guests arrived contributing to the festive meal with sides and desserts sharing their best culinary talents.
Soulful Step’s Taylor Jones accompanied by his guitar, sang and played his original tunes to the delight of the mesmerized diners. As dusk fell, appreciations were extended and applause given for the collective heartbeat of artCentral—artCentral’s artists—each worthy of award.
Chosen by Elizabeth Simmons and Shala Rogler, director and assistant director for the exhibition’s generous underwriter McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, Natalie Wiseman received the Underwriter Award for her painting, “Daff-O-Dills”, whimsically rendered with acrylic on masonite, pictured above.
Devon Estes, assistant professor in MSSU’s art department, selected artCentral award recipients. Gold: Andrew Batcheller for his large, poignant oil painting, “Global Warming and the Ridiculousness of Discussing the Next Ice Age”. Silver: Daria Claiborne for “Blossoms in the Rain” combining Mishima under glazes over porcelain. Bronze: Diana Bray for her scarlet dominated mixed media and acrylic painting, “…And on a Moonlit Night…”.