John Lennon. He was a visionary and a seeker and a shaman, too. He told us “A dream you dream alone is just a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
Over a decade ago, to my surprise, I discovered myself in Carthage, settling in a new home, unpacking my dream—my dream to share my passion for my art-making and my art. I was dreaming my dream alone until I found artCentral and was asked to create a solo exhibition. I did. I made THE ART of TEXTING—a collection of works rendered from paint and fibers and words.
I saw my art installed and seen and celebrated in Hyde House. I felt great joy, for the dream I had dreamed alone morphed into a dream dreamed in company with others. Ever since that opening night, artCentral and I have been dreaming together, making realities together. For me and for my art. For me and for so many other dreamers.
Another of my dreams, my collaborative expansive dream—SIGNS and WONDERS—a mixed media collection of 94 creations is filling all the galleries of Hyde House through May 21, 2022. Please do come see, so you and I can dream together. I will be so pleased to dream with you!
Weekend Gallery Hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12:00-5:00 p.m. I will be at Hyde House most every Friday, eager to welcome you. Members of artCentral’s Board of Directors and artCentral member volunteers will serve as Saturday gallery docents to greet you.
For more information visit artCentral’s website or Facebook page, email [email protected] or call me at (417) 358-4404.
A dreamed-together-reality does not happen overnight or with the wave of a wand. SIGNS and WONDERS was four years in the dreaming and in the making—four years of Sunday mornings spent collecting inspirations, followed by Sunday afternoons devoted to studio hours doing as an artist does.
When time for the Opening Reception arrived, dreaming together with my board of directors created the exhibition’s magical reality. My heart is full of gratitude for Maddie Capps, board secretary, the evening’s professional photographer; Betsy Flanigan, board president, and Wendi Douglas who together set a table with Parisian delights including an array of cheeses that Kalee Hinspeter arranged as Schreiber Foods’ donation; Lori Marble who kept the sales flowing smoothly; Jackie Boyer with her engaging gift for welcoming guests; Jason Shelfer in his role as bicycling master of media distribution; and Doug Osborn, house sommelier and donor of festive bubbly. How sweet to have Bren Flanigan taking his turn at greeting and filling glasses while good friends Lori and David Bigley upped the cheer and lent helping hands wherever needed.
Seeing art patrons choose selections to enhance their collections and hearing their stories around their choices added delicious depth and meaning for me, the artist. I loved Doug Osborn telling me why he chose my painted photo tableau of layered gingko leaves to add to his works of other Carthage artists—the seasonally themed body of art he is building for his PALMS Massage and Day Spa. Doug says, “I was drawn to this piece because I especially love seeing the gold contrasts that the gingko gives to the autumn color changes of the maple trees on the Square.”
Come to artCentral. Come see! Come tell me your story around a SIGN or WONDER that speaks to you.
Come! Let us make a reality of our dreaming together.
