Spiva Center for the Arts to Open Four New Exhibitions in October

JOPLIN, MO. — The George A. Spiva Center for the Arts will open four new exhibitions Oct. 24, showcasing regional artists, emerging painters, and the work of acclaimed Missouri artist Andy Thomas.

The exhibitions will run through December, with opening receptions scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. The reception is free for Spiva members and exhibiting artists.

The fall lineup includes the 79th Joy Spiva Cragin Membership Show, "Andy Thomas: The Artful Journey," "JRAC: Liminal Spaces & Thresholds" and "Fresh Perspectives," each offering a different look at art, storytelling and creative expression.

"We're excited for all of those," said Paige Mock, Spiva's marketing and impact strategist. "It's fun to be able to bring Andy Thomas back and have this incredible show with work from years past, recent ones, and much older ones. It's really cool to see."

The 79th Joy Spiva Cragin Membership Show, presented by Liberty, will run Oct. 24 through Dec. 18. One of the center's original exhibitions, the annual showcase celebrates the work of more than 100 area artists working in mediums such as ceramics, watercolor, wood, oil painting, metal, photography and mixed media. Awards will be presented for two-dimensional and three-dimensional work in both adult and youth categories.

Mock said the membership show is a favorite because of the variety of work submitted each year.

"You just have no clue what's going to show up when drop-off happens," Mock said. "We just love to see all this unexpected work."

The exhibition has no set theme or medium, allowing members to share work that reflects their individual interests and artistic approaches.

Another highlight is "Andy Thomas: The Artful Journey," presented by Sharon and Lance Beshore and Leggett & Platt, with the opening reception sponsored by Dot Willcoxon. Running Oct. 24 through Dec. 31, the exhibition features paintings by Thomas, a Carthage-based artist known for his narrative approach to Western art, American history, wildlife and everyday life.

Known as "The Storyteller," Thomas has spent more than three decades building a nationally recognized career through paintings that emphasize movement, emotion and historical detail. His work includes scenes from the American West and Civil War, as well as wildlife encounters and family gatherings.

Thomas was among the original members inducted into the C.M. Russell Museum's Skull Society of Artists in 2013. His work is represented in collections at institutions including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the Gilcrease Museum and the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. His paintings can also be found at regional institutions, including the Civil War Museum in Carthage and the History Museum on the Square in Springfield.

Mock said the exhibition includes works from different periods of Thomas' career and a range of artistic mediums, including pen and ink, watercolor and oil painting.

"He's just an amazing storyteller," Mock said, noting that visitors will see both epic battle scenes and historical pieces.

The center will also host an artist talk with Thomas from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. The program will give visitors an opportunity to hear directly from the artist about his career and the ideas behind the exhibition. A suggested donation of $10 will support the center's programming.

The talk is part of Spiva's Second Sundays at Spiva initiative, during which the galleries are open from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Joplin Regional Artists Coalition will present "JRAC: Liminal Spaces & Thresholds," sponsored by Southwest Missouri Bank. The exhibition, running Oct. 24 through Dec. 18, explores the idea of thresholds as both physical spaces and psychological transitions.

The works consider passageways, borders, waiting rooms and the uncertain moments between one stage of life and another. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the spaces that connect destinations and the transitions that shape personal experience.

Mock said the coalition returns each year with a new collective theme that connects its members' individual works.

Rounding out the fall lineup is "Fresh Perspectives," a group exhibition featuring nine painters who graduated from Missouri Southern State University's Department of Art & Design within the past three years. The exhibition runs Oct. 24 through Dec. 19 and highlights the approaches, materials and ideas of emerging local artists as they begin their careers.

The participating artists are Leigh Bass, Skye Bredeson, Allyson Day, Makenna Helms, Joi Houston, Ian Lawson, Aspen Read, Makenzie Sjöqvist-Siler and Skyler Spence.

Mock said the exhibition offers an opportunity to see a new generation of artists develop their styles and explore different mediums.

The Spiva Center for the Arts is located inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at 212 W. Seventh St. in Joplin. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.spivaarts.org or call 417-623-0183