Thank You! to all the artists who have filled artCentral’s Hyde House galleries with a splendid array of thematic riffs on KALEIDOSCOPE. In this season-opening exhibition, many artists have contributed their best in their familiar, go-to mediUM, others have explored in entirely new directions. The diversity in this collective treasure chest is astonishing.
Through March 13, 2021, treat yourself to a spirit-lifting afternoon art outing in artCentral’s beautifully elegant Hyde House at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. Weekend Gallery Hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00-5:00 p.m.
The Missouri Arts Council has certified artCentral as an ArtSafe Space. For all who enter Hyde House, CDC protocols are followed: masking, contact tracing, social distancing and hand sanitizing. Thank you for helping our artCentral community keep our staff and volunteers and artists and guests safe and healthy.
Thank You! to all who joined in the KALEIDOSCOPE evening Opening Celebration on Facebook. Thank you for supporting artCentral, artCentral artists and members of the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition (JRAC).
A very special Thank You! to artCentral’s awesomely talented board member/techno guru/digital choreographer Wendi Murdock who created and directed the exciting online Celebration magic. Thank You!, too, to my art-savvy co-hosts and exhibiting artists: David Greenwood-Mathé, artCentral’s Prepitor extraordinaire, and Andrew Batcheller, JRAC board member, for sharing in our celebratory repartee featuring each exhibiting artist.
Thank You! to KALEIDOSCOPE’s gracious underwriters: The Palms Massage and Day Spa and Cherry’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery. Your support for artCentral and the arts in our community is a tremendous gift!
Thank You! to the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition for our valuable alliance that continues to enhance the cultural life of southwest Missouri and far beyond. JRAC is a not-for-profit group founded in 2010. JRAC’s mission is to promote, strengthen and advocate for the visual arts and artists, art enthusiasts and patrons of the visual arts and to network visual artists to more effectively engage in cultural, economic and educational artistic activity within the Joplin region. Many Carthage artists are active members of JRAC.
Thank you! JRAC for inviting Juror John Smittle who traveled from Columbus, Kansas, to select the exhibition’s Award Winners. Arriving eager and early on a sunny winter afternoon, John first made a walk-through initial viewing of all the artworks in the downstairs and upstairs galleries. Next he composed a list of the art that most caught his attention as he considered Impact of Presentation, Composition of Elements, Technical Achievement and Reflection of Exhibition Theme. After much contemplation and written comments for each, John gave me his choices to receive ribbons and cash awards for first, second, third and honorable mention places plus two artworks he chose for special recognition.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Jim Bray, “Aliens” for “an abundance of motion and chaos surrounded by dark somber hues that pull the viewer in to be explosively hurled outward.”
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: David Greenwood-Mathé, “Crowleidoscope” for “a dark yet exciting painting with great contrast of color and lots of motion tied together with circular motifs.”
HONORABLE MENTION: Andrew Batcheller, “The Vestigial Fires in Love’s Vault” for “incredible technical skills and bold colors surrounding the somber central subject set against a nice use of perspective.”
THIRD PLACE: Jane McCaulley, “Tulips and Lace” for a clean and precise fused glass composition moving out from the center with pieces that extend beyond the circular edge.”
SECOND PLACE: Eric Beezley, “You Are Here” for “a pleasingly diverse surface with strikingly bold contrasts of color that cause the viewer to feel instantly drawn into the canvas.”
FIRST PLACE: Melody Knowles, “Protecting My Personal Space” for “a very thought provoking narrative work with a plethora of story-telling symbolism told with pleasing color choices.”
To all the award winners artCentral offers hearty “Congratulations!” and to all exhibiting JRAC artists artCentral offers heartfelt gratitude for your contributions that make this exhibition a superlative season opener!
All artCentral’s members, patrons and first time guests are enthusiastically urged to come see the entire KALEIDOSCOPE collection. Experience the wealth of imagination, the joie de vivre and the color up-close and personal. View the artworks selected as outstanding, choose favorites of your own and make arrangements to purchase one or more to take home. For more information contact artCentral by phone (417) 358-4404 or email: [email protected].
