Open Air Art Show, July 17th

The Arts Council of Barton County will host a Free Open Air Art Show, featuring the work of a variety of local fine and folk artists, photographers, sculptors, handcrafted jewelry makers and more, to be held in conjunction with the 2010 Missouri State Chili Cook-off in Lamar, Missouri. This event will benefit the Rebuilding Fund for St Mary's Catholic Church, which was tragically destroyed by fire in 2009.

When: Saturday, July 17th, 2010, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Where: Under the Moore Pavilion, 103 East 10th St., Lamar Missouri. The Moore Pavilion is one block east of the historic Lamar town square.

How Much?: This event is FREE, but donations to the St. Mary's Catholic Church Rebuilding Fund will be gratefully accepted.

Contact: For more info about the Art Show, call Chris @ 417-681-0199. For info on the Missouri State Chili Cook-off, call Dixie @ 417-682-5432. For more info on the St. Mary's Catholic Church Rebuilding Fund, go here.

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CONFIRMED ARTISTS, SO FAR...

(Many More to Come - check back frequently!!!)
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Carolyn Dunsing, of Peaceacre

Chandler Curtis

Pam Allen

Jessica Edwards, of Jessica Edwards Photography

Joyce Cody

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ATTENTION ARTISTS/PHOTOGRPAHERS!

Would you like to particpate in The Arts Council of Barton County Free Open Air Art Show? Call Chris @ 417-681-0199 ASAP. Time is short, and slots are filling up fast! Thanks!

Recent Paintings

Took time over the winter to play around with some paint and pastels. I had a lot of fun with it. As you can tell, my mood was all over the place, so there's no theme to be found amidst these recent entries. All but the first and last paintings are done in oils. I love working with oils. I'm not a photographer, though, so these paintings look a lot better in real life than they do on this website.

This is an example of why you need to be careful when you re-use old canvases. Notice the raised areas showing through - it gives the painting a creepier edge than I was going for. But all in all, I 've had mostly a positive experience re-using canvases from thrift shops and yard sales. But I always feel kind of funky painting over somebody else's work - of course the universe will get even with me when somebody someday gessos mine to make room for their own inspiration...

Back to acrylics! And with a little bit of gold leaf, too. I plan on making a whole series based on this "monks cat" - I painted this one right after "Mr. Lonely" above, so it was nice to get back to something lighthearted and fun.

"Making Christmas Ornaments from Natural Materials"

I will be teaching a class on "Making Christmas Ornaments from Natural Materials" on Saturday, December 12th, from 11:00 to Noon, at the Peaceacre studio located above the Arts Council builing at 206 West 10th St., just west of the Lamar Square. I think this will be a lot of fun for the kids. It's not some big, heavy art class - it's all about glitter, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, paints and markers and having a good time. I grew these mini gourds and they just screamed to be made into Christmas ornaments! So that's how I got the idea. My kids had a really good time creating the ornaments you see in the pictures below. Also, since we don't want to leave out our little animal friends, everyone will make a "birdfood bangle" out of a popcorn ball to hang on a tree outside, as well. So everyone will leave the classroom with one ornament for the Christmas tree indoors, and one for a tree in the great outdoors, too! Who could ask for more? And it's FREE! Adavance registration is required, so if you would like for your child to attend, please email me at Peaceacre@Ymail.com.

Don't forget the photography class coming in January! It looks like the date will be the 28th, in the morning. We'll post more on this class later. Stay tuned!

Peaceacre Meets the Arts Council

When I moved Peaceacre, the business, into the Arts Council building on the Square, I moved my personal art studio as well. Can you believe this all used to all be crammed into my tiny little dining room at home! Art is important, You have to find space for it, in a room somewhere, and in your life, in your day. Your art can be painting, photography, dance, poetry - anything. Just never let it go. Pursue it. Make it happen. Art is not a country club activity - it's the grass roots, real life work of people like you and me, laboring in the trenches of the imagination to create something from the heart and mind and muse. No art school required, at least in my book.
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That little tirade out of the way... Let me tell you about our involvement in the Arts Council of Barton County. I'm an artist, my husband is a poet and a writer, my kids are artists, my friends are mostly artists, too. You are, too, if you're looking at this website, I'll wager. Art matters. So we joined the Arts Council to see if we could make a difference and bring art to life in Barton County. We've got some exciting ideas for classes, events and groups this winter, so watch this space for "coming soon" announcements.
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A few things we have planned include:
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• I'll be teaching a kid's class on making Christmas ornaments from natural materials. The class should roll out in early December.
  

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• In January, Gayla Miller will be teaching a photography class for the 12 to 17 year old crowd.
  

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• In February, watch for "How to Tell a Story," presented by my husband the poet, a class aimed at the teen/young adult crowd.

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Plus lots more, to be developed. If you have any ideas, or if you would be interested in teaching a FREE arts class, email me at Peaceacre@Ymail.com. This is a volunteer organization and effort, and nobody is getting paid... We just want to bring the arts to everyone... period! Come on everybody, it winter - there's no excuse! Let's get together, have some fun, and inspire each other a little!