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Nov
16
Sat
“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 16 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Weekly Dance with live music by Country Express Band @ West Plains Senior Center
Nov 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Check the Country Express Band Facebook page for cost and other details, including potential cancellations due to weather, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances.

From Country Express: Two step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Electric Slide, Charleston, Foot Boogie, River Waltz, Sweetheart, Around the Room, Tennessee Waltz, Neon Moon Cha Cha, and many more. Or just come listen to some good ole country music. Old country, new country, southern rock music. No alcohol allowed. Family fun for all ages.

 

Nov
17
Sun
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 17 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 17 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Nov
18
Mon
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 18 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 18 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 18 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

Lunch with Art ~ Rocky Long, MSU-WP Director of Music, hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library Community Room
Nov 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) will host their quarterly “Lunch with Art event for the public on Monday, November 18, from noon till 1 p.m. in the Community Room at the West Plains Public Library, 750 West Broadway. Information on upcoming arts activities will be discussed by Arts Alliance members, then local music educator Rocky Long will bring along with him some of his students to perform and display what he has been working on for his new program with Missouri State University – West Plains (MSU-WP).

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

MSU-WP has recently named Rocky as their first Director of Music beginning in July 2024. Rocky is tasked with leading the initiative to create a Music Program on the West Plains campus for the first time in its history. In the efforts to create this program, Rocky has established the University/Community Concert Band and a Jazz Ensemble for performing arts on campusas well as a Pep Band to support the endeavors of student athletes and other campus activities. Along with his efforts in building the bands, Rocky will teach Music Appreciation, History, and Theory courses.

Prior to working for MSU-WP, he dedicated 20 years as the West Plains R-VII Schools Band Director, starting the position in 2004. Rocky has always had a commitment to excellence and has shown such with consistent superior ratings and his bands earning First Division ratings every year. This has led his students to perform at renowned venues, Walt Disney World, Broadway, and the Lincoln and World War II Memorials in Washington, D.C. Thanks to all of the contributions he has made, Rocky has been recognized multiple times, including being named one of “50 Directors that Make A Difference” by School Band & Orchestra magazine in 2014 and the Educator of the Year award from the West Plains Chamber of Commerce in 2016.  

Rocky is the proud father of Addison Long and is married to Dr. Jenny Long, psychologist and owner of Midwest Counseling and Assessment. The Long’s live in West Plains, Missouri with their dogs Zoe and Cordelia Bernadette. 

 

Nov
19
Tue
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 19 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 19 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 19 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

“The First American” presentation by Carol Silvey @ Ozark Heritage Research Center
Nov 19 @ 6:00 pm

Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host a presentation about “The First Americans” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the OHRC. The center is inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains.

Carol Silvey, emeritus professor of history at MSU-WP, will discuss the history of the “first” Americans, how they reached the continent approximately 12,000 B.C. She will delve into their language groups and how it developed as it spread across the land. She also will discuss the Native Americans of the 1700s and 1800s and their impact on what became the United States of America.

More about Silvey

Silvey joined the university staff on Sept. 1, 1968, as a history instructor. She remained in the classroom until August 1994 when her nine-month faculty appointment changed to a 12-month administrative appointment upon being named director of development for the local campus.

While a faculty member, she was promoted to assistant professor of history in August 1979 and associate professor of history in August 1988.

In April 2017, she was appointed to a six-year term on the Missouri State University Board of Governors. During that time she served as both vice chairman and chairman of the board.

In October 2012, she became the first staff member from MSU-WP selected for the MSU Wall of Fame. The award recognizes and honors employees who have excelled at Missouri State and significantly contributed to the success and positive collegiate experience of students.

Silvey received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Southwest Missouri State College, now Missouri State University, in 1964 and her masterʼs degree in education from the University of Missouri in 1968. She also has done post-graduate work at the University of Missouri.

The presentation is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.

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

West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsal @ Boys & Girls Club
Nov 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, West Plains Boys and Girls Club. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686

Nov
20
Wed
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 20 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 20 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 20 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

Nov
21
Thu
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 21 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 21 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 21 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 21 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Presentation by Frank Martin, former editor & publisher of the West Plains Daily Quill @ Historic Lincoln School
Nov 21 @ 5:30 pm

From organizers:

We are honored to announce that the Historic Lincoln School will be hosting a presentation  featuring the esteemed Frank L. Martin III, former editor, publisher, and president of the West Plains Daily Quill! Join us for an engaging “Fireside Chat” on November 21, 5:30 p.m.

Frank’s profound contributions to local journalism have shaped our community’s narrative, and his insights into the evolution of West Plains are sure to inspire. This is a unique opportunity to delve into his personal journey, hear reflections on significant local issues, and explore the role of “difference makers” in our community.

Free and open to the public. Don’t miss this chance to engage with a local legend! Please RSVP by email at LincolnSchool65775@gmail.com or via Facebook Messenger @Lincoln School Project.
Let’s celebrate the power of local journalism and the connections that bind our community together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Nov
22
Fri
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 22 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 22 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 22 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 22 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Get ready for our Fall book sale at the West Plains Public Library!
•Pre-Sale is Thursday evening starting at 4pm. Donation of $10 is required to shop pre-sale for non friends members.

*Interested in becoming a member? Your $10 donation will buy you a lunch at your first meeting!
We will have tons of books for all ages and genres of interest.
Sale will go as follows:
• Thursday November 21st pre-sale 4-6pm with $10 donation or free for current active Friends members.
• Friday November 22nd Public sale 9am-6pm
 •Saturday November 23rd Public sale 9am-1pm.
Get a picture of your pet with The Grinch @ All Pet & Equine Supply
Nov 22 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Free to participate. Bring your cell phone for the picture.

 

“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 22 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Whiskey & Bourbon Fest presented by Community Foundation of the Ozarks @ Historic Post Office
Nov 22 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

For tickets and additional information, visit the Community Foundation of West Plains website here.

Nov
23
Sat
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 23 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Art at the Library ~ Artist Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 23 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. 

  

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 23 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Get ready for our Fall book sale at the West Plains Public Library!
•Pre-Sale is Thursday evening starting at 4pm. Donation of $10 is required to shop pre-sale for non friends members.

*Interested in becoming a member? Your $10 donation will buy you a lunch at your first meeting!
We will have tons of books for all ages and genres of interest.
Sale will go as follows:
• Thursday November 21st pre-sale 4-6pm with $10 donation or free for current active Friends members.
• Friday November 22nd Public sale 9am-6pm
 •Saturday November 23rd Public sale 9am-1pm.
Get a picture of your pet with The Grinch @ All Pet & Equine Supply
Nov 23 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Free to participate. Bring your cell phone for the picture.

 

“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 23 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Nutcracker presented by Impact Dance Complex @ West Plains Civic Center
Nov 23 @ 3:00 pm

From organizers: Experience this timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on stage on November 23rd & 24th. Allow us to transport you through this enchanting story through music, dance and holiday magic. Presale tickets are available now at our studio or by calling 417.280.6992.

The Nutcracker presented by Impact Dance Complex @ West Plains Civic Center
Nov 23 @ 7:00 pm

From organizers: Experience this timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on stage on November 23rd & 24th. Allow us to transport you through this enchanting story through music, dance and holiday magic. Presale tickets are available now at our studio or by calling 417.280.6992.

Weekly Dance with live music by Country Express Band @ West Plains Senior Center
Nov 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Check the Country Express Band Facebook page for cost and other details, including potential cancellations due to weather, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances.

From Country Express: Two step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Electric Slide, Charleston, Foot Boogie, River Waltz, Sweetheart, Around the Room, Tennessee Waltz, Neon Moon Cha Cha, and many more. Or just come listen to some good ole country music. Old country, new country, southern rock music. No alcohol allowed. Family fun for all ages.

 

Live Music ~ Thundershine at “Rock for Tots” (admission 1 new toy) @ Elks Lodge
Nov 23 @ 8:00 pm – Dec 10 @ 11:55 pm

Featuring live music by Thundershine. Admission is one new toy. Please come support the kids and support live music!

Nov
24
Sun
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 24 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

“Our Ozarks in Art” Multimedia Show @ Harlin Museum
Nov 24 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Nutcracker presented by Impact Dance Complex @ West Plains Civic Center
Nov 24 @ 3:00 pm

From organizers: Experience this timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on stage on November 23rd & 24th. Allow us to transport you through this enchanting story through music, dance and holiday magic. Presale tickets are available now at our studio or by calling 417.280.6992.

Nov
25
Mon
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 25 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 25 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 25 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

Nov
26
Tue
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 26 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 26 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 26 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org 

West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsal @ Boys & Girls Club
Nov 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, West Plains Boys and Girls Club. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686

Nov
27
Wed
Masked Singer Competition sign up through December 6 ~ Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser @ Rubydoo's Vintage Events Center
Nov 27 all-day

To sign up or for more information, call 417-204-2582, email director@bgcwp.com, visit the website bgcwp.com, see the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater West Plains Area or Masked Sing Masquerade event on Facebook.

Lee Copen Art Show hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ Ozarks Small Business Incubator
Nov 27 @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork will be featured on OzSBI’s first floor from the beginning of October through the end of December, 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.

Lee Ann Copen writes, “I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer.  Painting is absolutely my most favorite thing to do. I have been painting all my life and painting is simply how I like to spend my time. For me painting is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”

Growing up in South Africa and Chile, Lee was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks, she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw.  Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and realistic landscape painting. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors. She is also known for her color pencil drawings of birds. Her art can be viewed on her website and numerous regional galleries.

A Meet-the-Artist event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2-4 p.m. in OzSBI’s lobby at 408 Washington Ave. in West Plains. The public is invited to attend to meet Copen 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.

Art at the Library ~ Kelli Albin hosted by West Plains Council on the Arts @ West Plains Public Library
Nov 27 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) will partner to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Photography and artwork from area artist Kelli Albin will be featured October through the end of December 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during their open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

  

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, ‘Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover, and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate. We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.” 

 

Kelli Albin was born in 1965 in West Plains, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1984, and then graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1987 with a Commercial Art degree. She returned to her hometown of West Plains and earned a teaching certification in Art and Special Reading and her Master of Science in Elementary Education. She also studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography. 

 

Albin recently retired from Dora School after teaching art for 30 years. She has photographs published in “Ozarks Magazine”, “The Ozark Mountaineer”, and in the book “Axe, Mule, Fire”, by her brother C. D. Albin. She has also written and illustrated five children’s books of her own. She enjoys reading, photography, drawing, and painting in her spare time. When not busy, she enjoys the snuggles of her feline companions. A friend once gave her a sign that says, “My therapist has paws and whiskers”. That is truth. 

 

“My artistic tastes are diverse, but all have a common theme. I recreate what I love. Many times my subjects are vintage objects. I find them peaceful and comforting – a reminder of stolen moments. By the same token, my cats often find themselves serving as models. Whatever my subject, it reflects my heart, my joy, my praise to the one who gave me being. When I use the talents given me, my art/my life, become a form of worship.” 

  

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, October 4, 3:00-4:00 PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, 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 Dianna Locke <Dianna.Locke@westplains.gov> at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org