 April Davis-Brunner - BEST in SHOW - "Krazy Koi" | GRAND ART in a SMALL TOWN What a night! What an amazing night! At the opening reception for “Arti Gras” once again the awesomely gifted artists of the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition (JRAC) proved that artCentral knows how to attract and exhibit grand art in our beloved small town. Every single artwork currently on the Hyde House gallery walls makes me want to do a little tap dance, twirl around and burst into song. And to think, all this is here to delight our hearts and satisfy our senses—yours and mine and anyone’s and everyone’s who is fortunate enough to come through artCentral’s welcoming green doors! |
We send out an appreciative “Thank You!” to Juror Judith Fowler, Professor Emeritus, Missouri State University, for spending an afternoon doing the tough work of selecting the award recipients in this extraordinary exhibition. She brought admirable credentials and qualitifications to her job at artCentral.
Judith taught in higher education for more than forty years, retiring from teaching and beginning full time studio work in 2014. She formerly was Art Education Coordinator and Studio Professor at Missouri State University in Springfield, where she taught Drawing, Art Education, and Watercolor. For 20 years (1970-1990) while raising four children, Judith taught Printmaking and Drawing at MSSU in Joplin. When they began higher education studies at various locations, Judith began teaching in Springfield at DRURY and MSU.
Judith and her husband Jon Fowler operate a Barn Studio and Cottage in Carthage called Rocky Hill, where they have two horses and an odd assortment of barn cats. They also maintain a large pottery studio and painting workshop at their family home in Joplin. Judith recently published a hardbound illustrated journal and is working on a second book featuring twenty egg tempera paintings.
As a professor in art education at MSU, Judith traveled all over the country giving presentations for NAEA (National Art Education Association), including overseas presentations for InSEA (International Society for Education in Art) in Australia and other countries. Judith has worked at the Santa Raparata printmaking workshop in Florence, Italy; has traveled to Paris and England several times; and has visited the Scandinavian countries with her husband Jon. During her long studio art and teaching career, Judith has juried many professional and amateur art competitions throughout the Midwest Region. What a privilege to have Judith Fowler add naming “Arti Gras” winners to her curriculum vitae.
JRAC artists and their works chosen to receive recognition included:
Honorable Mentions:
Jim Bray – “Bourbon Street”, a jazzy 2D large, painterly mixed media collage including portraits in miniature.
Diana Bray – “Arty Gras”, a 2D bluesy mixed media collage with vivid splashes of complementary colors.
Steve Head – “Calico & Concrete”, a 2D photograph with a plethora of textures and a sleek black cat.
Jane McCaulley – “Tree of Life”, a 3D standing glass work enriched with brilliant green.
Connie Miller – “Fiesta Siesta”, a 2D acrylic painting boasting a potted plant and a potted cat in eye-popping
colors.
Michael Steddum – “Old Fence Row”, an intimate 2D oil with a dog on the hunt, a pheasant on the rise and grass you can almost hear whispering in a breeze.
Third Place recognitions went to:
Steve Doerr – “Shield of Faith”, a 3D turned wood and inlaid wall mount inspired by the scripture of
Ephesians 6:16.
Margie Moss – “Redbud”, a 2D oil in vibrant, expressionistic pinks dancing over a vivid blue sky on a square canvas.
Second Place selections included:
David Greenwood-Mathé – “Later”, a 3D installation comprised of a ukulele adorned washboard and a side
chair, both colorfully painted, with a pair of two-tone alligator shoes placed beneath.
Jodie Sutton – “Broken Halos”, a quiet 2D cloudscape rendered in layers of encaustic adeptly applied.
First Place awards with ribbons and cash envelopes went to:
Melody Knowles – “Road Warrior” – a 3D male and female figure of clay and found wood and metals with a headdress of juju including slender, spiraled wires and tiny light bulbs.
Andrew Batcheller – “The Tender Raven that Toils in Her Heart” – a large (50”x”38”) 2D oil on linen exquisitely painted with the artist’s meticulous attention to detail and surprise.
Best of Show was recognized with an award of a ribbon and a cash envelope presented to:
April Davis-Brunner – “Krazy Koi”, inspired by the artist’s visits to the waters of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, her joyful, larger-than-life 2D oil painting is brimful with brightly shimmering, undulating koi fishes appearing to swim right off the picture’s plane.
Oh, what a splendid “Arti Gras” opening night! What perfectly placed awards for grand art in our small town!
Come see for yourself through March 17, 2019 during weekend gallery hours: Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
You’ll be inspired! You’ll be pleased! Your heart and your life will be more joy filled!
Judith taught in higher education for more than forty years, retiring from teaching and beginning full time studio work in 2014. She formerly was Art Education Coordinator and Studio Professor at Missouri State University in Springfield, where she taught Drawing, Art Education, and Watercolor. For 20 years (1970-1990) while raising four children, Judith taught Printmaking and Drawing at MSSU in Joplin. When they began higher education studies at various locations, Judith began teaching in Springfield at DRURY and MSU.
Judith and her husband Jon Fowler operate a Barn Studio and Cottage in Carthage called Rocky Hill, where they have two horses and an odd assortment of barn cats. They also maintain a large pottery studio and painting workshop at their family home in Joplin. Judith recently published a hardbound illustrated journal and is working on a second book featuring twenty egg tempera paintings.
As a professor in art education at MSU, Judith traveled all over the country giving presentations for NAEA (National Art Education Association), including overseas presentations for InSEA (International Society for Education in Art) in Australia and other countries. Judith has worked at the Santa Raparata printmaking workshop in Florence, Italy; has traveled to Paris and England several times; and has visited the Scandinavian countries with her husband Jon. During her long studio art and teaching career, Judith has juried many professional and amateur art competitions throughout the Midwest Region. What a privilege to have Judith Fowler add naming “Arti Gras” winners to her curriculum vitae.
JRAC artists and their works chosen to receive recognition included:
Honorable Mentions:
Jim Bray – “Bourbon Street”, a jazzy 2D large, painterly mixed media collage including portraits in miniature.
Diana Bray – “Arty Gras”, a 2D bluesy mixed media collage with vivid splashes of complementary colors.
Steve Head – “Calico & Concrete”, a 2D photograph with a plethora of textures and a sleek black cat.
Jane McCaulley – “Tree of Life”, a 3D standing glass work enriched with brilliant green.
Connie Miller – “Fiesta Siesta”, a 2D acrylic painting boasting a potted plant and a potted cat in eye-popping
colors.
Michael Steddum – “Old Fence Row”, an intimate 2D oil with a dog on the hunt, a pheasant on the rise and grass you can almost hear whispering in a breeze.
Third Place recognitions went to:
Steve Doerr – “Shield of Faith”, a 3D turned wood and inlaid wall mount inspired by the scripture of
Ephesians 6:16.
Margie Moss – “Redbud”, a 2D oil in vibrant, expressionistic pinks dancing over a vivid blue sky on a square canvas.
Second Place selections included:
David Greenwood-Mathé – “Later”, a 3D installation comprised of a ukulele adorned washboard and a side
chair, both colorfully painted, with a pair of two-tone alligator shoes placed beneath.
Jodie Sutton – “Broken Halos”, a quiet 2D cloudscape rendered in layers of encaustic adeptly applied.
First Place awards with ribbons and cash envelopes went to:
Melody Knowles – “Road Warrior” – a 3D male and female figure of clay and found wood and metals with a headdress of juju including slender, spiraled wires and tiny light bulbs.
Andrew Batcheller – “The Tender Raven that Toils in Her Heart” – a large (50”x”38”) 2D oil on linen exquisitely painted with the artist’s meticulous attention to detail and surprise.
Best of Show was recognized with an award of a ribbon and a cash envelope presented to:
April Davis-Brunner – “Krazy Koi”, inspired by the artist’s visits to the waters of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, her joyful, larger-than-life 2D oil painting is brimful with brightly shimmering, undulating koi fishes appearing to swim right off the picture’s plane.
Oh, what a splendid “Arti Gras” opening night! What perfectly placed awards for grand art in our small town!
Come see for yourself through March 17, 2019 during weekend gallery hours: Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
You’ll be inspired! You’ll be pleased! Your heart and your life will be more joy filled!
 Andrew Batcheller - FIRST PLACE 2D - "The Tender Raven That Toils in Her Heart" |  Melody Jessen Knowles - FIRST PLACE 3D - "Road Warrior" |
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