Just a few days ago an amazing new collection of art was delivered to Hyde House. Respectfully masked and practicing social distancing, one by one fifty artCentral member artists carried their artworks through artCentral’s vibrant green door. David, my husband and artCentral’s Prepitor (art handler), and I were thrilled by the diversity and the quality of the treasures that were put into our hands—treasures including sculptures that are both delicate and bold; finely stitched textile; poured as well as cut glass; surprising and edgy photography; paintings—some intimate and others expansive; exquisitely detailed drawing; and exotic jewelry, too!
Recognizing this collection is exceptional, David and I wanted to make this installation our best ever. For four evenings, after David returned from his day job, we headed over to the gallery to work late. Getting Hyde House ready for your visits we prepped walls and swept floors and polished window panes. Mostly we considered and discussed and stood back to view possible arrangements and combinations as we hung art to create conversations of texture and color and harmony. The results are very pleasing. You must come see for yourself!
Each time I leave Hyde House and return I am filled with warm feelings of satisfaction and pride for artCentral’s 2020 Annual Membership Exhibition is elegant and provocative, inspiring and fun, beautiful and revelatory, quiet and well-spoken and filled with positive energy—all made and brought to us by the great talents that live and move among us. We are blessed to be in the company of these remarkable creative spirits:
Jane Ballard, Joan Banks, Andrew W. Batcheller, Eric Beezley, Karolee Blanchard, Diana Bray, Jim Bray, Maddie Capps, Landon Cawyer and Stephanie Cawyer;
April Davis-Brunner, Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé, David Greenwood-Mathé, Al Gritten, Carol Hammerbacher, Cindy Head, Steve Head, Barbara Hicklin, Nina Johnston and Janice Kinman;
Helen Kunze, Philip Ledbetter, Christina Lorenzen, Lori Marble, Koral Martin, Jesse McCormick, Dan McWilliams, Nicole Meyer-Foresman, Connie Miller and Dianne Miller;
Dustin Miller, Jim Miller, Margie Moss, Janice Myers, Mary L. Parks, Sandra Parrill, Tyla Raredon, Debbie Reed, Rich Reed and Donna Roberts;
Emily Rose, Brenda M. Sageng, Debbie Southard, Kerry Sturgis, Linda Teeter, Dan Trogdon, Jordy Vulpine, Elizabeth Wallsmith, Lora Waring and Bonnie Young.
Two distinguished Jurors have stepped up to the difficult tasks of selecting recipients to receive cash awards for the outstanding works of art. The Underwriter Award will be given by Beth Simmons, Director of the McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, patron of artists, an avid collector of art and a longtime supporter of artCentral.
Reita Walker Miller of Little Rock, Arkansas, will name recipients of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. Reita is a member of American Watercolor Society, New York; National Watercolor Society, California; Watercolor USA Honor Society, Missouri; and Mid-Southern Watercolorists, Arkansas. A painter for over forty years, her work is in over three hundred private, corporate and museum collections including the Arkansas Arts Center, Springfield Arts Museum (Missouri), Arts and Science Museum (Pine Bluff, Arkansas), Hendrix College and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital permanent collection.
You may virtually preview and review all the artworks in the exhibit by visiting artCentral’s website at https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/2020-annual-membership-exhibition-21-aug-19-sep.html. Also, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/ArtcentralCarthage/photos/?ref=page_internal you will find the entire exhibit’s fine art showcased in a photo album.
This Annual Membership Exhibition will be open and waiting for your real-time visit beginning at noon on Friday, August 21, 2020, at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage. The exhibition continues August 21 through September 19 with Weekend Gallery Hours each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
I will be at Hyde House to greet you every Friday. Volunteer gallery docents will be present on Saturdays. We are all eager to welcome you to artCentral and to assist you in any way we can to enjoy artCentral’s home in elegant, historic Hyde House as you discover the outstanding art on display here. CDC protocols are practiced at artcentral. Face masks and social distancing are required for everyone entering Hyde House. Please help us keep each other safe and healthy!
All artworks in the Membership Exhibition are available for purchase beginning at noon, Friday, August 21. Please support artCentral’s Member Artists! Make your choice and secure your selection by contacting me, Alice Lynn Greenwood-Mathé, Exhibition Curator, at (417) 358-4404 or [email protected].
