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From organizers:

Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.

Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.

The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.

In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.

For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.

“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.

“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.

Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.

“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”

WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”

All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, 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

ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE

JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024

Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator.  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.

Artist Statement:

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest.  Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons.  A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.

Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting.  I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education.  College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.

I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer.  I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them.  I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air.  I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating.  Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.

I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery.  I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory.  I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale 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 Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.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. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. 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 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.

WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org

Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host their quarterly “Lunch with Art” event for the public on Monday, February 12, 2024, from noon till 1 p.m. in the Community Room at the West Plains Public Library, 750 West Broadway, West Plains. Information on upcoming arts activities will be discussed by Arts Alliance members, then local artist Tara Shahan will demonstrate the technique for creating hand-painted alcohol-ink ornaments. Each attendee will have an opportunity to create one of these unique ornaments.

Multiple colors, shades, saturations and metallics are used in the design of each ornament to create different effects: marbling, melting, crackling, pitting, swirls, etc.  Ornaments measure approximately 3″ in diameter.

WPCA board members will open the luncheon with discussions on current plans, programs available through Arts Alliance partners, and invite discussion regarding future arts endeavors for the area. Each quarterly lunch is an opportunity to open conversations with current board members and contribute to the future of the arts in West Plains.

Cost of the luncheon is $10 for WPCA members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online through the February 2024 Lunch with Art Facebook event page, by calling Paula at 417-293-2325, or via email paulasperaneo@gmail.com.   Attendance is limited, so reserve your spot early.

ARTIST BIO

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 doorhangers, 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.

From organizers:

Heart Valentines wood frame or tote bag. Make beautiful gifts for someone you love. It will be ready to give on Valentine’s Day.

All of these frames are made with napkins. You can bring your own or use one of the 50 I have. You can even make a card or earrings to match your frame. All materials are included. $35. Snacks provided. Part of the fee goes to support The Yellow House.

Call Dolores Winkler. Please call to hold your spot. Class is limited in size. Great class for friends, Mother/Daughter class. Can be used for Fathers Day also or your favorite animal you love.

Come and learn something new and have some fun. 909 844-3325.

The West Plains Photography Club currently has 34 members and meetings are at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the Missouri State University-West Plains Creative Discovery Center, 411 West Main Street, Suite 1. Everyone regardless of age or ability is invited to join the club which has no membership dues.

The purpose of the club is to share and support everyone’s passion for photography arts whether they are a beginner or have been engaged in photography for many years. Present members include some who do not even own a camera to professionals who make a living by selling their art. For more information on the club feel free to call Bob Cunningham at 417-257-8206 or Dennis Crider at 417-274-7101.

From organizers:

Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.

Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.

The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.

In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.

For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.

“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.

“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.

Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.

“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”

WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”

All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, 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

ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE

JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024

Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator.  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.

Artist Statement:

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest.  Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons.  A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.

Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting.  I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education.  College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.

I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer.  I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them.  I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air.  I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating.  Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.

I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery.  I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory.  I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale 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 Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.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. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. 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 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.

WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org

Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS

Patriotic Heart Barn Quilt Workshop on Facebook.

From organizers:

Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.

Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.

The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.

In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.

For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.

“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.

“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.

Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.

“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”

WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”

All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, 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

ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE

JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024

Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator.  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.

Artist Statement:

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest.  Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons.  A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.

Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting.  I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education.  College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.

I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer.  I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them.  I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air.  I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating.  Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.

I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery.  I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory.  I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale 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 Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.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. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. 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 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.

WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org

Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS

From organizers:

Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host an exhibit about the African American experience in the Ozarks during Black History Month in February.

Titled “African American Heritage in the Ozarks,” the traveling exhibit curated by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31 at the center inside the Garnett Library, 304 West Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.

The exhibit will highlight the voices, memories and history of African American people who call, or have called, the Ozarks home, according to organizers.

In 2021, the SHSMO received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities and Missouri Humanities for an interactive exhibit which was on display at the SHSMO Art Gallery last year. SHSMO officials also created a smaller traveling exhibit for use by other Missouri communities, organizers said.

For more information about the presentation, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.

“OZARK WOMEN” EXHIBIT TO FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOYCE MC MURTREY

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host an exhibition entitled “Ozark Women” by Mountain Grove photographer Joyce McMurtrey in the Gallery at the Center, West Plains Civic Center from February 10 through March 14, 2024. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.

“Joyce McMurtry’s work captures real people sharing their own stories and images with their own voices. It is also rooted in a sense of place. We learned this through her “King of the Ozarks” exhibit which delved into the lives of a special family from her hometown. Her treatment of “Ozark Women” promises to be equally engaging with thought-provoking nuance and depth. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate women and Women’s History Month,” says Kathleen Morrissey, President of WPCA.

Artist statement: “I finally feel like an Ozark woman.”
“I knew this place was different when I was in the 5th grade and came to visit from Columbia with my dad, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Missouri. My interest in grape growing stems from him, but my love of the Ozarks is due in large part to the women I’ve met since I moved here in 1976. Tough. Resilient. Rugged. Beautiful. These are words that describe both the Ozarks and the women who make their home here. For this project, I have chosen to photograph women who have lived in the Ozarks for at least thirty years. I believe it takes that long for life and this landscape to create an Ozark woman.

“Ever since I saw the photography of Dorothea Lange, I’ve wanted to take pictures like that. I hope I’ve come close to that with these images of Ozark women.”

WPCA will host a Meet the Artist reception Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 2-4 p.m., in the Gallery at the Center. McMurtrey says, “I’ve asked five women to join me. Each of these women participated in this project. Three will share their stories, one will share her mother’s story, and the fifth will talk about what it’s like to be a young woman working and raising a family currently in the Ozarks.”

All are invited to attend, meet the artist and speakers, 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

ART DISPLAY AT OZSBI FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF JANEY HALE

JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024

Local artist Janey Hale’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of January through the end of March 2024. The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator.  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.

Artist Statement:

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in creating. My earliest memories are of making things out of everyday objects, matchboxes became covered wagons, doll beds and treasure chest.  Going to school in the 50’s and 60’s I didn’t have formal art lessons.  A touring show of Old Master Painting was my first experience with “real” art. That show and an older high school student were the encouragement I needed to want to learn more.

Fast forward to college I majored in business because I didn’t know one could teach art much less make a living painting.  I married, had three boys, and worked various jobs that utilized my business background. When my sons were in school, I returned to college to major in art education.  College was a wonderful opportunity to experience and be exposed to artists both past and present.

I spent the next 28 years teaching high school students that art is what makes our life richer.  I was fortunate to have several gifted students along the way that I believe encouraged me as much as I did them.  I retired from teaching in 2016 and have since devoted my time to painting both in the studio and en plein air.  I still can’t imagine a time when I won’t be creating.  Art has truly made my life richer, through the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been, and of course the process of creating.

I don’t have just one thing I like to paint. Could be the sun shining through a tree behind a chicken coop or an abandoned piece of farm machinery.  I hope my works tell a story or evoke a memory.  I feel so blessed to have this gift that I hope it blesses others when they view my work.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Hale 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 Audrey Scott <audrey.scott@zizzers.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. Students from West Plains schools, along with Southfork students, will contribute to the display to be featured January 12 through mid-March 2024. 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 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Displayed works will include pieces from the classes of Tiffany Bryce, Kathy Grigsby, Mary-Louise Grisham-Nash, Karen Pitts, Audrey Scott, and Terri Tomlinson.

WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott says, “We are incredibly excited to be able to display these young artists’ work! It is inspiring to see their technical skill level and commitment to their work, as well as their fresh perspective on artmaking and their unrestrained imaginations at play.”

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, 10a.m. till noon at the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the young artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott audrey.scott@zizzers.org

Artwork by Emily Ritter, WPHS

See West Plains Playhouse on Facebook for information.