HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
FAUX STAINED GLASS SEASONAL BARN QUILT WORKSHOP OFFERED IN SEPTEMBER
(These classes typically fill up fast. Preregistration is required.)
Create a faux stained-glass seasonal barn quilt design at this workshop in September, West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host the workshop, conducted by local artist Tara Shahan, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center (Dogwood 1&2), 110 St. Louis St. in West Plains. Cost for the workshop is $45, all supplies included.
Create the elegant beauty of classic stained glass using a picture frame, instant faux lead line and gallery glass paint. Your stained-glass quilt block will be beautiful in a window, on a wall, or mantle. Measures 12”x 12” and ready to hang. Select one of five available designs at time of reservation – designs are available to view on the WPCA Facebook event page “Seasonal Stained-Glass Quilt Block”.
Coordinator Tara Shahan was raised in a small town in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio until about the age of 12 when her family moved to Missouri. Her upbringing included being a member of 4-H, where most of her projects consisted of food, sewing and crafts taught by her mother, a 4-H leader. Tara won ribbons for her work at local and state fairs. Her love of arts and crafts continued throughout her adult life and now she teaches workshops in the local area including north-central Arkansas. Her art includes acrylic painting on canvas and wood as well as other craft projects such as door hangers, wreaths, faux stained glass and glass etching to name a few. Tara now lives in West Plains and has conducted local art and craft workshops for the West Plains Council on the Arts for about 5 years.
Space is limited. Reserve your spot through the Eventbrite page “Seasonal Stained-Glass Quilt Block” or call Paula at 417-293-2325.
From organizers: Known for playing on the Smokey and the Bandit soundtrack, ya’ll love him! We are excited to have him back singing and playing banjo and keyboard.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
Photo by Carr Ward.
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE “WATERCOLOR CREATIONS” OF JUDY NORTON
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Local artist Judy Norton’s exhibit “Watercolor Creations” will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Judy Norton is a prolific painter of landscape, still life, and things found in nature. Whether from life or her imagination she brings a freshness to her work. A must-see show!”
Artist statement:
“Art has always been a big part in my life. It was always my favorite subject as a child, and I guess it still is. I started painting with oil but went quickly to watercolor because it was easier to transport. When my late husband was in the hospital at Little Rock with esophageal cancer, I painted a picture for every doctor and nurse that worked with him. I always joked I could have an art gallery in Little Rock for all the paintings I gave away and some day I’d be famous!
Later after he passed I met and married Tom, and he and I bought a winter place in an RV park in Texas. It was then I started a watercolor art class and got serious about painting. During COVID I had an art Zoom class five days a week with my students. It’s no wonder I have over 400 paintings in my possession. The Ozark Café restaurant was nice enough to let me hang some in their place.
I still paint twice a week now – once with the Ventures in Art group meeting at the First Christian Church on Tuesdays at 9:30, and then on Zoom on Friday mornings with my Texas students. I look forward to my showing at OzSBI and hope some of you come to view my “Watercolor Creations.”
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Norton and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
Come out mid-week and join us with Dave who has a new book of poetry out titled, Bypass. From 7-8 pm, Dave will sell & sign books, hang out, and probably drink a Landlocked. From 8-9 pm, Dave will read poems. And there is talk of musical accompaniment. Hope to see you! Supporting local arts every chance we can at Wages Brewing!
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
Photo by Carr Ward.
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE “WATERCOLOR CREATIONS” OF JUDY NORTON
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Local artist Judy Norton’s exhibit “Watercolor Creations” will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Judy Norton is a prolific painter of landscape, still life, and things found in nature. Whether from life or her imagination she brings a freshness to her work. A must-see show!”
Artist statement:
“Art has always been a big part in my life. It was always my favorite subject as a child, and I guess it still is. I started painting with oil but went quickly to watercolor because it was easier to transport. When my late husband was in the hospital at Little Rock with esophageal cancer, I painted a picture for every doctor and nurse that worked with him. I always joked I could have an art gallery in Little Rock for all the paintings I gave away and some day I’d be famous!
Later after he passed I met and married Tom, and he and I bought a winter place in an RV park in Texas. It was then I started a watercolor art class and got serious about painting. During COVID I had an art Zoom class five days a week with my students. It’s no wonder I have over 400 paintings in my possession. The Ozark Café restaurant was nice enough to let me hang some in their place.
I still paint twice a week now – once with the Ventures in Art group meeting at the First Christian Church on Tuesdays at 9:30, and then on Zoom on Friday mornings with my Texas students. I look forward to my showing at OzSBI and hope some of you come to view my “Watercolor Creations.”
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Norton and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO will be hosting its 2023 Ozarks-Themed Multimedia Art Show, Our Ozarks In Art, and is calling for artist submissions from throughout the region.
This multimedia show is designed to showcase the works of all types of artists. Categories may include but are not limited to:
– PAINTINGS (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, etc.)
– DRAWINGS (pastels, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, colored pencil, etc.)
– SCULPTURE (wood, clay, ceramic, metal, paper mâché, etc.)
– PHOTOGRAPHY (nature, landscape, astrophotography, pet photography, macro, aerial, drone photography, architecture, portrait, still life, black & white, abstract, etc.)
– PAPERCRAFT (collage, quilling, etc.)
– MIXED MEDIA (any combination of 2 or more mediums)
– MODELS (kits, original design, etc.)
Entries will need to meet the established guidelines for acceptance into the show, which can be found on the museum’s website harlinmuseum.com. The show’s final categories and any prizes to be awarded will be determined by the actual entries received.
Entry dates for submissions will be Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2. Entries will be taken both days, between the hours of 12-4 pm each day, at the Harlin Museum, which is located at 405 Worcester. The show will be on display to the public in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, beginning September 8 and running through October 1.
Entry fees are $5 per entry, with a cost break at five entries; for $20.00, you’ll get four entries, plus one for free.
Entries will be evaluated for artistic quality, integrity, technique, and presentation, as well as how skillfully they represent the Ozarks by artistically conveying this year’s theme, Ozark Landmarks.
Those who are interested in entering the competition can find entry guidelines and other pertinent information on the museum’s website by clicking here on GUIDELINES or by stopping in at the museum and grabbing one of the flyers that are available in the museum’s lobby. Entry forms for submissions may be filled out ahead of time online by clicking HERE. Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at info@harlinmuseum.com or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801.
Registration required. Visit treatyourpalette.com for more information.
The Avenue Theatre presents the classic comedy “Harvey.” Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mary Chase, the story revolves around Elwood P. Dowd and his peculiar best friend, Harvey – an imagery, oversized rabbit.
Buy tickets here.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
Photo by Carr Ward.
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE “WATERCOLOR CREATIONS” OF JUDY NORTON
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Local artist Judy Norton’s exhibit “Watercolor Creations” will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Judy Norton is a prolific painter of landscape, still life, and things found in nature. Whether from life or her imagination she brings a freshness to her work. A must-see show!”
Artist statement:
“Art has always been a big part in my life. It was always my favorite subject as a child, and I guess it still is. I started painting with oil but went quickly to watercolor because it was easier to transport. When my late husband was in the hospital at Little Rock with esophageal cancer, I painted a picture for every doctor and nurse that worked with him. I always joked I could have an art gallery in Little Rock for all the paintings I gave away and some day I’d be famous!
Later after he passed I met and married Tom, and he and I bought a winter place in an RV park in Texas. It was then I started a watercolor art class and got serious about painting. During COVID I had an art Zoom class five days a week with my students. It’s no wonder I have over 400 paintings in my possession. The Ozark Café restaurant was nice enough to let me hang some in their place.
I still paint twice a week now – once with the Ventures in Art group meeting at the First Christian Church on Tuesdays at 9:30, and then on Zoom on Friday mornings with my Texas students. I look forward to my showing at OzSBI and hope some of you come to view my “Watercolor Creations.”
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Norton and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO will be hosting its 2023 Ozarks-Themed Multimedia Art Show, Our Ozarks In Art, and is calling for artist submissions from throughout the region.
This multimedia show is designed to showcase the works of all types of artists. Categories may include but are not limited to:
– PAINTINGS (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, etc.)
– DRAWINGS (pastels, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, colored pencil, etc.)
– SCULPTURE (wood, clay, ceramic, metal, paper mâché, etc.)
– PHOTOGRAPHY (nature, landscape, astrophotography, pet photography, macro, aerial, drone photography, architecture, portrait, still life, black & white, abstract, etc.)
– PAPERCRAFT (collage, quilling, etc.)
– MIXED MEDIA (any combination of 2 or more mediums)
– MODELS (kits, original design, etc.)
Entries will need to meet the established guidelines for acceptance into the show, which can be found on the museum’s website harlinmuseum.com. The show’s final categories and any prizes to be awarded will be determined by the actual entries received.
Entry dates for submissions will be Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2. Entries will be taken both days, between the hours of 12-4 pm each day, at the Harlin Museum, which is located at 405 Worcester. The show will be on display to the public in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, beginning September 8 and running through October 1.
Entry fees are $5 per entry, with a cost break at five entries; for $20.00, you’ll get four entries, plus one for free.
Entries will be evaluated for artistic quality, integrity, technique, and presentation, as well as how skillfully they represent the Ozarks by artistically conveying this year’s theme, Ozark Landmarks.
Those who are interested in entering the competition can find entry guidelines and other pertinent information on the museum’s website by clicking here on GUIDELINES or by stopping in at the museum and grabbing one of the flyers that are available in the museum’s lobby. Entry forms for submissions may be filled out ahead of time online by clicking HERE. Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at info@harlinmuseum.com or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801.
See legitspeedway.com for full schedule and details.
March 24th – Women of Rock
April 21st – Jazz/Lounge Night
May 19th – 1980s Vice Night
June 16th – 1990s Grunge/Alternative Night
July 7th – Country/Southern Rock Night
July 21st – 45 RPMs Night
August 18th – Ha Ha Tonka Night
September 15th – 60s/70s Classic Rock Night
October 20th – Spooky Music Night
November 17th – Indie Pop/Rock Night
Country Express typically plays at the senior center every Friday night. Please call ahead, (417) 256-4055, for details and to make sure they will be there.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
The American Legion hosts a breakfast on the third Saturday of every month as a fundraiser. All you can eat and lots of options at a bargain price!
HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
For information, call Craig Jordan, 417-293-9495. To register for tournament, call golf course, 417-256-9824.
MTB Bike Group Ride @ JMB Park (off HWY BB, across from West Plains Municipal Golf Course) 9 am ride start time. Be sure to arrive a little early to unload, check your bike, stage your gear for the ride and greet new and old friends.
We want everyone to LOVE biking as much as we do! This is a no-drop group ride, meaning we will ride at the pace of the group for the first lap. All ages welcome. Those who would like to ride additional laps can call a fast loop (or whatever pace they want to set) and whoever wants to join, joins in. You can take a break and hop back in when you are ready. Those that skip a loop may choose to join in a bike game on the parking lot
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/mountain-bike-group-ride-at-wi/838286917795065/
Resource fair, prizes, breakout sessions, food trucks.
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO will be hosting its 2023 Ozarks-Themed Multimedia Art Show, Our Ozarks In Art, and is calling for artist submissions from throughout the region.
This multimedia show is designed to showcase the works of all types of artists. Categories may include but are not limited to:
– PAINTINGS (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, etc.)
– DRAWINGS (pastels, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, colored pencil, etc.)
– SCULPTURE (wood, clay, ceramic, metal, paper mâché, etc.)
– PHOTOGRAPHY (nature, landscape, astrophotography, pet photography, macro, aerial, drone photography, architecture, portrait, still life, black & white, abstract, etc.)
– PAPERCRAFT (collage, quilling, etc.)
– MIXED MEDIA (any combination of 2 or more mediums)
– MODELS (kits, original design, etc.)
Entries will need to meet the established guidelines for acceptance into the show, which can be found on the museum’s website harlinmuseum.com. The show’s final categories and any prizes to be awarded will be determined by the actual entries received.
Entry dates for submissions will be Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2. Entries will be taken both days, between the hours of 12-4 pm each day, at the Harlin Museum, which is located at 405 Worcester. The show will be on display to the public in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, beginning September 8 and running through October 1.
Entry fees are $5 per entry, with a cost break at five entries; for $20.00, you’ll get four entries, plus one for free.
Entries will be evaluated for artistic quality, integrity, technique, and presentation, as well as how skillfully they represent the Ozarks by artistically conveying this year’s theme, Ozark Landmarks.
Those who are interested in entering the competition can find entry guidelines and other pertinent information on the museum’s website by clicking here on GUIDELINES or by stopping in at the museum and grabbing one of the flyers that are available in the museum’s lobby. Entry forms for submissions may be filled out ahead of time online by clicking HERE. Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at info@harlinmuseum.com or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801.
See legitspeedway.com for full schedule and details.
From organizers: Comedy night part 2 at the Yellow House Community Arts Center. Featuring the very funny Giovanha Calvetti and team of comedians out of Springfield. Don’t miss this one or the joke is on you.
Doors at 6 p.m. Show at 9 p.m. The Party from the South Tour. Tickets here.
Duo performing originals, outlaw country rock and covers.
The Avenue Theatre presents the classic comedy “Harvey.” Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mary Chase, the story revolves around Elwood P. Dowd and his peculiar best friend, Harvey – an imagery, oversized rabbit.
Buy tickets here.
Daniel Martin has quickly become one of the most sought-after performers in the nation. His high-energy performances are a thrilling fusion of incredible sleight of hand and playful sleight of mind that have been breaking attendance records at theaters and universities worldwide. He has been awarded Best Variety Artist, Best Male Performer, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. In addition, he was recognized in the College Market as the highest rated/ best reviewed touring artist two years in a row.
His award-winning magic has been seen on the BBC, NETFLIX, CBS, NBC, Discovery & hosting his breakout hit travel show Tricks & Travels. Daniel is hailed by his peers as one of the most creative performers working, with some of the biggest names in entertainment frequently choosing him to consult on their TV projects such as the hit shows Scam School, Magic for Humans and Big Trick Energy.
Tickets here.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) has issued a call for submissions for their juried exhibits “Deck the Halls” as well as the exhibit to be displayed during the 2024 eclipse celebration in West Plains. WPCA will host “Deck the Halls” from November 18 through December 16, 2023; and the eclipse exhibit March 30 through May 4, 2024, in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center. Both exhibits are open to 2D and 3D artists.
“Deck the Halls” is the opportunity for you to showcase what your holiday celebration means to you. Fall and winter holidays are wonderful times for decorating and creating memories. This is a call for artists to share their memories through their work. Deadline for entries is October 15, 2023.
The eclipse exhibit will feature “all things above” – artwork created during or representing an eclipse, night skies, or other skyward representations to help celebrate during the Party in the Path West Plains Eclipse Celebration April 5-8, 2024. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2024.
Area artists and makers are encouraged to email photos of up to five (5) proposed works to info@westplainsart.org by the deadlines to be considered.
Guidelines:
- 2-D and 3-D pieces accepted
- 16”x20” maximum size of 2-D works, unless waiver granted
- All media accepted – paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking, pottery, gourd art, etc.
- Subject matter to fit the theme.
- 2-D Pieces must be framed and/or ready to hang
The exhibits are co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition titled “King of the Ozarks” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from September 1 through October 20, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Like her photographs, Joyce McMurtrey has deep roots in the Missouri Ozarks. A native of Columbia, MO, Joyce has spent the past four decades in Wright County. Together with her husband, Joyce farmed 75 acres of grapes near Mountain Grove. After the birth of her daughter in 1986, Joyce bought a camera. What began as an attempt to capture her family’s life on the farm grew into a passion that can be seen in her powerful portraits of the people and places she calls home.
“King of the Ozarks” began from Joyce’s curiosity to discover more details about an almost mythical person, H. King Davis, and a wish to meet her neighbors. Over four years, the project evolved into a collection of portraits and profiles from interviews Joyce conducted with this multi-generational African American family who’ve farmed in southern Missouri since the Homestead Act.
“Joyce McMurtrey’s work is not about history. She is a keen observer of people and the places where they lived as neighbors and family. In order to share family stories, you must first be a part of one. Joyce’s work, ‘King of the Ozarks: Family Stories’ takes you along the roads where legacies are created and asks us to join in the journey,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.
WPCA will host the Opening Reception for the Ozarks Studies Symposium on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. The “King of the Ozarks” exhibit will be featured. All are invited to attend, meet the artist, and discuss her work. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the West Plains Civic Center and West Plains Council on the Arts, with partial funding provided by Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
Photo courtesy of Joyce McMurtrey
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO will be hosting its 2023 Ozarks-Themed Multimedia Art Show, Our Ozarks In Art, and is calling for artist submissions from throughout the region.
This multimedia show is designed to showcase the works of all types of artists. Categories may include but are not limited to:
– PAINTINGS (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, etc.)
– DRAWINGS (pastels, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, colored pencil, etc.)
– SCULPTURE (wood, clay, ceramic, metal, paper mâché, etc.)
– PHOTOGRAPHY (nature, landscape, astrophotography, pet photography, macro, aerial, drone photography, architecture, portrait, still life, black & white, abstract, etc.)
– PAPERCRAFT (collage, quilling, etc.)
– MIXED MEDIA (any combination of 2 or more mediums)
– MODELS (kits, original design, etc.)
Entries will need to meet the established guidelines for acceptance into the show, which can be found on the museum’s website harlinmuseum.com. The show’s final categories and any prizes to be awarded will be determined by the actual entries received.
Entry dates for submissions will be Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2. Entries will be taken both days, between the hours of 12-4 pm each day, at the Harlin Museum, which is located at 405 Worcester. The show will be on display to the public in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, beginning September 8 and running through October 1.
Entry fees are $5 per entry, with a cost break at five entries; for $20.00, you’ll get four entries, plus one for free.
Entries will be evaluated for artistic quality, integrity, technique, and presentation, as well as how skillfully they represent the Ozarks by artistically conveying this year’s theme, Ozark Landmarks.
Those who are interested in entering the competition can find entry guidelines and other pertinent information on the museum’s website by clicking here on GUIDELINES or by stopping in at the museum and grabbing one of the flyers that are available in the museum’s lobby. Entry forms for submissions may be filled out ahead of time online by clicking HERE. Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at info@harlinmuseum.com or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801.
– by Carr Ward
Photo by Carr Ward.
The Avenue Theatre presents the classic comedy “Harvey.” Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mary Chase, the story revolves around Elwood P. Dowd and his peculiar best friend, Harvey – an imagery, oversized rabbit.
Buy tickets here.
Photo by Carr Ward.
ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE “WATERCOLOR CREATIONS” OF JUDY NORTON
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Local artist Judy Norton’s exhibit “Watercolor Creations” will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI’s business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale describes the works, “Judy Norton is a prolific painter of landscape, still life, and things found in nature. Whether from life or her imagination she brings a freshness to her work. A must-see show!”
Artist statement:
“Art has always been a big part in my life. It was always my favorite subject as a child, and I guess it still is. I started painting with oil but went quickly to watercolor because it was easier to transport. When my late husband was in the hospital at Little Rock with esophageal cancer, I painted a picture for every doctor and nurse that worked with him. I always joked I could have an art gallery in Little Rock for all the paintings I gave away and some day I’d be famous!
Later after he passed I met and married Tom, and he and I bought a winter place in an RV park in Texas. It was then I started a watercolor art class and got serious about painting. During COVID I had an art Zoom class five days a week with my students. It’s no wonder I have over 400 paintings in my possession. The Ozark Café restaurant was nice enough to let me hang some in their place.
I still paint twice a week now – once with the Ventures in Art group meeting at the First Christian Church on Tuesdays at 9:30, and then on Zoom on Friday mornings with my Texas students. I look forward to my showing at OzSBI and hope some of you come to view my “Watercolor Creations.”
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Norton and view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Madison Sutterfield madisonsutterfield@ozsbi.com at OzSBI or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
HONEST IMAGINATIONS DAY HABILITATION ARTWORK
TO BE FEATURED AT WEST PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023
WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed June 30 through the end of September 2023. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale says, “Honest Imaginations members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”
TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.
Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.
Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:
- Acknowledging and developing gifts
- Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
- Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
- Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.
The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. We also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to build friendships through that process.
“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.
To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at info@tjsh.co
WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.