The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
May 5 – May 27: Annual Photography Show Competition
This non-juried annual competition show is open to all photographers. Possible categories* include color photography, monotone photography, altered photography, photo collage, macro photography, etc. Awards are given for Best of Show, 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place entries in each category of both adult & youth divisions. People’s Choice is awarded by popular vote. No admission charged to see the show. Donations welcome.
Visit harlinmuseum.com or Harlin Museum of West Plains on Facebook for more information.
*categories are determined by the entries received for the competition
Set in 1957, “All Things Unsaid” is an intimate look at the journey of one married couple in the wake of great personal tragedy. Each of them, burdened by grief, resentment, and guilt watch as the rift between them slowly widens to the point they can no longer reach each other, causing a profound sense of loneliness. Divorce is taboo, carrying great social and moral consequences, and perhaps further isolation. How will this couple reconnect in the abyss and find their way through?
See All Things Unsaid – a play at the Yellow House on Facebook for details.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
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 Barbara Robinette’s works will be featured inside OzSBI’s first floor March 31 through the end of June 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, “Barbara’s watercolors are loose, colorful, and nostalgic; reminding one of times gone by.”
About the artist:
Though she minored in art, Barbara Robinette dropped out of college to go to work and learn on her own. She is a member of West Plains Ventures in Art group and is self-taught in the art of watercolor. Robinette also is a free verse poet, leaning today towards haiga art, which combines images with haiku. Daily Haiga has posted online five of her haiga, and Quill and Parchment poetry journal has featured some of her art online. Highland Park Poetry Publications has published one of her haiga in their book, The Majesty of Trees. The Haiku Foundation has scheduled some of her haiga art to be posted online in April 2023.
Remembering that one of her professors said that a painting should be “pleasing to the eye,” she enjoys playing with paint and water to see what might develop.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Robinette 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.
Robinette artwork – “Singing at the Met”
The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) has extended the Art and Words in Motion exhibit by Shane Baker through the end of May. The exhibit is available for viewing on the second floor of OzSBI during business hours, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Shane Baker, an Ozark native, was born and raised in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. As an undergraduate at Arkansas State University, Shane took art classes and explored his artistic side, but decided that teaching was his calling. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, he taught for 32 years. He became an Elementary Reading Specialist, curriculum director, college professor and education consultant. Throughout his career, Baker maintained his interest and love of art and the artistic process.
In 2010, while visiting a local furniture dealer, Baker saw a pile of corrugated cardboard. The cardboard was to be thrown out, but Baker asked if he could take the cardboard and recycle it. He took it home and began experimenting. Using some of that recycled cardboard, and other recycled items, Shane created his first mobile. During the years that followed, his technique for creating objects from cardboard, hot glue and paint has improved and he now creates items full of detail and nuance. In this exhibit, you’ll see kayaks, french fries, jester hats, fish, roses and much more.
Each mobile has a theme and they range from darker subjects like hate crimes and COVID-19 to words of endearment and even floating on the river. Some mobiles look at the lives of well-known personalities such as Picasso and Gertrude Stein. Others consider the reincarnation of diabetics, political pumpkins and even a celebration of our humble shoes.
The mobiles will be available for viewing in OzSBI’s upstairs gallery through May 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 through Friday.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
May 5 – May 27: Annual Photography Show Competition
This non-juried annual competition show is open to all photographers. Possible categories* include color photography, monotone photography, altered photography, photo collage, macro photography, etc. Awards are given for Best of Show, 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place entries in each category of both adult & youth divisions. People’s Choice is awarded by popular vote. No admission charged to see the show. Donations welcome.
Visit harlinmuseum.com or Harlin Museum of West Plains on Facebook for more information.
*categories are determined by the entries received for the competition
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours. A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
See legitspeedway.com for full schedule and details.
From Jacob Hackworth Music:
West Plains! It’s been a long time. We are excited to partner up with KC’s Sports Bistro for a summer show we hope to see you all at! We are honored to take the stage to kickoff Memorial Day weekend and most importantly we want to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
7 pm – Roman Young
8 pm – Jacob Hackworth
KC’s Memorial Weekend Kickoff w/ Jacob Hackworth Music & Roman Young on Facebook.
Dance or just enjoy the music. All ages invited. 7:00 P.M., admission is $6.00.
Set in 1957, “All Things Unsaid” is an intimate look at the journey of one married couple in the wake of great personal tragedy. Each of them, burdened by grief, resentment, and guilt watch as the rift between them slowly widens to the point they can no longer reach each other, causing a profound sense of loneliness. Divorce is taboo, carrying great social and moral consequences, and perhaps further isolation. How will this couple reconnect in the abyss and find their way through?
See All Things Unsaid – a play at the Yellow House on Facebook for details.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
Food, vendors (including glass-blowing artist) and live music – Native Souls (noon-2).
May 5 – May 27: Annual Photography Show Competition
This non-juried annual competition show is open to all photographers. Possible categories* include color photography, monotone photography, altered photography, photo collage, macro photography, etc. Awards are given for Best of Show, 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place entries in each category of both adult & youth divisions. People’s Choice is awarded by popular vote. No admission charged to see the show. Donations welcome.
Visit harlinmuseum.com or Harlin Museum of West Plains on Facebook for more information.
*categories are determined by the entries received for the competition
See legitspeedway.com for full schedule and details.
Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets here.
Trey Lewis @ Oasis II Bar & Grill- West Plains, MO Facebook event page.
Oasis 2 Bar & Grill on Facebook for more info.
Recorded with the Eagles, Dolly Parton, Bob Segar, Allman Brothers.
Set in 1957, “All Things Unsaid” is an intimate look at the journey of one married couple in the wake of great personal tragedy. Each of them, burdened by grief, resentment, and guilt watch as the rift between them slowly widens to the point they can no longer reach each other, causing a profound sense of loneliness. Divorce is taboo, carrying great social and moral consequences, and perhaps further isolation. How will this couple reconnect in the abyss and find their way through?
See All Things Unsaid – a play at the Yellow House on Facebook for details.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The City of West Plains Aquatic Center is open for the 2023 summer season. Hours of operation are noon to 5 p.m. daily with an evening swim Thursday from 5-8 p.m. The cost of admission is $5 for children ages 3-11 and $6 for ages 12 and up. Children under three are free. The Parks and Recreation Department requires that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. (The pool typically closes for the season in mid-August.)
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
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 Barbara Robinette’s works will be featured inside OzSBI’s first floor March 31 through the end of June 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, “Barbara’s watercolors are loose, colorful, and nostalgic; reminding one of times gone by.”
About the artist:
Though she minored in art, Barbara Robinette dropped out of college to go to work and learn on her own. She is a member of West Plains Ventures in Art group and is self-taught in the art of watercolor. Robinette also is a free verse poet, leaning today towards haiga art, which combines images with haiku. Daily Haiga has posted online five of her haiga, and Quill and Parchment poetry journal has featured some of her art online. Highland Park Poetry Publications has published one of her haiga in their book, The Majesty of Trees. The Haiku Foundation has scheduled some of her haiga art to be posted online in April 2023.
Remembering that one of her professors said that a painting should be “pleasing to the eye,” she enjoys playing with paint and water to see what might develop.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Robinette 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.
Robinette artwork – “Singing at the Met”
The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) has extended the Art and Words in Motion exhibit by Shane Baker through the end of May. The exhibit is available for viewing on the second floor of OzSBI during business hours, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Shane Baker, an Ozark native, was born and raised in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. As an undergraduate at Arkansas State University, Shane took art classes and explored his artistic side, but decided that teaching was his calling. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, he taught for 32 years. He became an Elementary Reading Specialist, curriculum director, college professor and education consultant. Throughout his career, Baker maintained his interest and love of art and the artistic process.
In 2010, while visiting a local furniture dealer, Baker saw a pile of corrugated cardboard. The cardboard was to be thrown out, but Baker asked if he could take the cardboard and recycle it. He took it home and began experimenting. Using some of that recycled cardboard, and other recycled items, Shane created his first mobile. During the years that followed, his technique for creating objects from cardboard, hot glue and paint has improved and he now creates items full of detail and nuance. In this exhibit, you’ll see kayaks, french fries, jester hats, fish, roses and much more.
Each mobile has a theme and they range from darker subjects like hate crimes and COVID-19 to words of endearment and even floating on the river. Some mobiles look at the lives of well-known personalities such as Picasso and Gertrude Stein. Others consider the reincarnation of diabetics, political pumpkins and even a celebration of our humble shoes.
The mobiles will be available for viewing in OzSBI’s upstairs gallery through May 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 through Friday.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The City of West Plains Aquatic Center is open for the 2023 summer season. Hours of operation are noon to 5 p.m. daily with an evening swim Thursday from 5-8 p.m. The cost of admission is $5 for children ages 3-11 and $6 for ages 12 and up. Children under three are free. The Parks and Recreation Department requires that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. (The pool typically closes for the season in mid-August.)
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade) and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo info@westplainsarts.org
Silent Auction open beginning May 17. For more information, call 417-256-4055.
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 Barbara Robinette’s works will be featured inside OzSBI’s first floor March 31 through the end of June 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, “Barbara’s watercolors are loose, colorful, and nostalgic; reminding one of times gone by.”
About the artist:
Though she minored in art, Barbara Robinette dropped out of college to go to work and learn on her own. She is a member of West Plains Ventures in Art group and is self-taught in the art of watercolor. Robinette also is a free verse poet, leaning today towards haiga art, which combines images with haiku. Daily Haiga has posted online five of her haiga, and Quill and Parchment poetry journal has featured some of her art online. Highland Park Poetry Publications has published one of her haiga in their book, The Majesty of Trees. The Haiku Foundation has scheduled some of her haiga art to be posted online in April 2023.
Remembering that one of her professors said that a painting should be “pleasing to the eye,” she enjoys playing with paint and water to see what might develop.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Robinette 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.
Robinette artwork – “Singing at the Met”
The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) has extended the Art and Words in Motion exhibit by Shane Baker through the end of May. The exhibit is available for viewing on the second floor of OzSBI during business hours, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Shane Baker, an Ozark native, was born and raised in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. As an undergraduate at Arkansas State University, Shane took art classes and explored his artistic side, but decided that teaching was his calling. After graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, he taught for 32 years. He became an Elementary Reading Specialist, curriculum director, college professor and education consultant. Throughout his career, Baker maintained his interest and love of art and the artistic process.
In 2010, while visiting a local furniture dealer, Baker saw a pile of corrugated cardboard. The cardboard was to be thrown out, but Baker asked if he could take the cardboard and recycle it. He took it home and began experimenting. Using some of that recycled cardboard, and other recycled items, Shane created his first mobile. During the years that followed, his technique for creating objects from cardboard, hot glue and paint has improved and he now creates items full of detail and nuance. In this exhibit, you’ll see kayaks, french fries, jester hats, fish, roses and much more.
Each mobile has a theme and they range from darker subjects like hate crimes and COVID-19 to words of endearment and even floating on the river. Some mobiles look at the lives of well-known personalities such as Picasso and Gertrude Stein. Others consider the reincarnation of diabetics, political pumpkins and even a celebration of our humble shoes.
The mobiles will be available for viewing in OzSBI’s upstairs gallery through May 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 through Friday.
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The City of West Plains Aquatic Center is open for the 2023 summer season. Hours of operation are noon to 5 p.m. daily with an evening swim Thursday from 5-8 p.m. The cost of admission is $5 for children ages 3-11 and $6 for ages 12 and up. Children under three are free. The Parks and Recreation Department requires that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. (The pool typically closes for the season in mid-August.)
Local indie musician.
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 Barbara Robinette’s works will be featured inside OzSBI’s first floor March 31 through the end of June 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, “Barbara’s watercolors are loose, colorful, and nostalgic; reminding one of times gone by.”
About the artist:
Though she minored in art, Barbara Robinette dropped out of college to go to work and learn on her own. She is a member of West Plains Ventures in Art group and is self-taught in the art of watercolor. Robinette also is a free verse poet, leaning today towards haiga art, which combines images with haiku. Daily Haiga has posted online five of her haiga, and Quill and Parchment poetry journal has featured some of her art online. Highland Park Poetry Publications has published one of her haiga in their book, The Majesty of Trees. The Haiku Foundation has scheduled some of her haiga art to be posted online in April 2023.
Remembering that one of her professors said that a painting should be “pleasing to the eye,” she enjoys playing with paint and water to see what might develop.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Robinette 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.
Robinette artwork – “Singing at the Met”
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.
The City of West Plains Aquatic Center is open for the 2023 summer season. Hours of operation are noon to 5 p.m. daily with an evening swim Thursday from 5-8 p.m. The cost of admission is $5 for children ages 3-11 and $6 for ages 12 and up. Children under three are free. The Parks and Recreation Department requires that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. (The pool typically closes for the season in mid-August.)
Tickets on sale, 10 a.m. February 10.
Three great days of music! 7 p.m. each evening and 2 p.m. show on Saturday. Camping available. For more information: https://hobabluegrass.wixsite.com/mysite/june-2021-festival
The Old Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival will celebrate Missouri culture Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. The annual event celebrates Ozarks music and culture. Admission to all festival events is free. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. each day, with music scheduled to begin at noon.
Old-time cooking – the stories, recipes, and dishes will be featured both days at this year’s What’s Cookin’ Stage at the Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival, along with a healthy dose of Dutch Oven cooking. This is the 18th year for the Cooking Stage. Aid’s Downtown Antiques is again sponsoring this event. This Friday’s theme is “Church Potluck,” and Saturday will feature “Dutch Oven Cooking.”
Attendees will find activities at the Cooking Stage (in the Brush Arbor on St. Louis St.) from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Demonstrations will include classic church potluck dishes, squirrel and dumplings, venison chili, and apple and blackberry cobblers…. All with samples offered at the end of the demos. And special pie competition samples will be offered on Saturday!
Saturday’s session will kick off with the 5th Annual Pie Competition. This year there will be a youth division and prize money! The youth division is open for any pie made by children 15 years old and younger. Thanks to our generous sponsor, prize money in the amounts of $30, $20, and $10 will be awarded to 1st through 3rd place youth bakers. The 1st place winner will also receive an inscribed pie plate.
The adult division will include three categories:
- fruit pies, such as apple, cherry, banana cream, key lime
- other dessert pies, such as pecan, peanut butter, chocolate, shoofly
- and savory pie, such as spinach, tomato, quiche.
Prize money in the amounts of $50, $30, and $20 will be awarded for 1st through 3rd places in each category along with an inscribed pie plate for 1st place winners. The grand prize baker will receive $100 and an inscribed pie plate!
To enter, bring your pie to the Redbud Room at the West Plains Civic Center on Saturday June 3 between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. Judging by a select group of experts begins shortly after, with awards announced (and samples offered) at the Cooking Stage at 12:45. PLEASE BE PRESENT FOR THE AWARDS!
Pies should be prepared “from scratch.” Homemade crust is preferred. Pies should be brought in non-returnable tins.
The Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival is the signature event for West Plains. The festival seeks to celebrate, preserve, pass on and nurture an appreciation of the old-time music and folk life traditions distinctive to the Ozark Highlands.
2023 Festival partners include the West Plains Council on the Arts, the City of West Plains, the Ozark Heritage Welcome Center, West Plains Civic Center, and Missouri State University-West Plains. Partial funding for this event is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Additional support has been provided by Missouri Humanities and Missouri Department of Tourism.
For more information on the festival e-mail info@westplainsarts.org, visit the website at https://www.oldtimemusic.org, or “like” the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Old.Time.Music.Festival
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 Barbara Robinette’s works will be featured inside OzSBI’s first floor March 31 through the end of June 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, “Barbara’s watercolors are loose, colorful, and nostalgic; reminding one of times gone by.”
About the artist:
Though she minored in art, Barbara Robinette dropped out of college to go to work and learn on her own. She is a member of West Plains Ventures in Art group and is self-taught in the art of watercolor. Robinette also is a free verse poet, leaning today towards haiga art, which combines images with haiku. Daily Haiga has posted online five of her haiga, and Quill and Parchment poetry journal has featured some of her art online. Highland Park Poetry Publications has published one of her haiga in their book, The Majesty of Trees. The Haiku Foundation has scheduled some of her haiga art to be posted online in April 2023.
Remembering that one of her professors said that a painting should be “pleasing to the eye,” she enjoys playing with paint and water to see what might develop.
A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Robinette 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.
Robinette artwork – “Singing at the Met”
The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Art teachers from West Plains R-7 schools will be featured March 9 through the end of June 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, “West Plains is fortunate to have art teachers that excel in drawing out their students’ creative abilities. WPCA is excited to showcase the teachers’ artwork. This is an opportunity to view what they do that inspires them to inspire their students.”
WPPL Director Shawnie Kennedy shares, “We are so excited to have the art teachers of our community displaying their work in the library. Not only are they artists, but they use their talent and love for art to inspire our youth. They are true masters!”
About the Artists:
Mary-Louise Grisham Nash – West Plains based artist/art teacher, Mary-Louise Grisham Nash has been passionate about art for the majority of her life. Originally from West Plains, Mary-Louise attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her bachelor’s in design arts, emphasis in photography, with a minor in art history. During her studies, she traveled and studied at the Santa Reparata International School for the Arts in Florence, Italy, where she was influenced and inspired by the art history, architecture, and landscapes of the region. Upon graduation, she went on to receive her Master of Arts of Teaching at Missouri State University. After earning her Masters, she returned to West Plains to start a career in Art Education at West Plains R-7 school district. She is currently in her 11th year as the middle school visual art instructor. She is passionate and inspired by student’s love and drive to learn new creative things, and also by the beautiful colors that she is surrounded by every day right here in the Ozarks.
Kathy Grigsby is a retired West Plains R-7 Art Teacher. While enjoying retirement she also teaches part time at South Fork Elementary. Kathy has painted many murals over the years for businesses and homes. Her most recent being the murals at The Truck Patch she and artist Cindy Temple collaborated with together. She also has donated many paintings including Santa’s as auction items for various fundraisers and events.
In her retirement she has found more time to be in front of her easel with opportunities to take many workshops with Regina Willard exploring painting techniques. As a result, she has carried this over to her teaching which has enlightened her instruction in the process of art. She states that “art is a process of mark making” and enjoys her students’ art more with that perspective. Kathy is married to Rick Grigsby and they have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Karen Pitts is currently in her third year of teaching art at West Plains High School and spent thirteen years teaching art at Willow Springs Middle School. She also teaches art at the Harlin Museum in West Plains and is the owner and operator of a painting party business “Treat Your Palette” teaching adult painting. Karen started her lifelong love of the arts at the early age of seven. Her first acrylic paints at the age of nine started her love for painting and have continued that love to today. Her goal after retirement is to continue teaching art, hosting painting parties, and starting an online kid’s art program. Karen has three daughters and seven grandkids and enjoys visiting family and grandkids back home in Oklahoma City.
Audrey Scott is a painter and art educator from West Plains, MO. “I have been painting since I was a child, always entranced by color and the emotional depth it is able to capture and evoke. In high school I developed a keenness for working in a more abstract approach, and that style has continued to evolve over the years. After high school, I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Minor in Art History from Missouri State University, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in galleries including Cottey College in Nevada, MO and Obelisk Home in Springfield, MO. I currently have the privilege of teaching art at West Plains High School.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, 4-6 p.m. at 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 Shawnie Kennedy Shawnie.Kennedy@westplains.gov
at the library or WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale at jhale2129@gmail.com.