 Illustration by David Greenwood-Mathé | ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE As I begin my fourth January as director-curator of artCentral, “for the love of art and artists” is the promise singing in my heart—compelling me to give another year to do my very best for artCentral, for art and for artists. I’m deeply moved to live again and always from my passion, my passion that’s inspired by all that is artful. My passion grows not from doing, but from being—from living in the spaciousness of stillness and the clarity that comes from quiet. I must nurture |
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!
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!
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