Waverly House Gifts and Gallery will show off a juried work show with an opening reception — featuring live music — Friday, Nov. 11, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
The show is titled “Lasting Impressions” and it features work from 17 local artists. Johnny Strickler’s jazz guitar playing will set the mood for the reception. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Supported Theatre Experience for Young People of All Abilities at Springfield Little Theatre.
Chico Seay won the Best of Show Award for his raku vessel “Untitled.” The Theme Award went to “Fruit Merchant in Florence,” by Emmie Seaman. Juror’s Choice Awards went to Barbara Vicenti (“Woven Antler Bowl”), Dee Giles (“In the Moment,” acrylic) and Sherri Davis (“Summer Sprinkles,” pastel).
The event is free and open to the public. “Lasting Impressions” continues through Dec. 17.
Winter focus exhibitions open at Springfield Art Museum
Three new focus exhibitions open Nov. 26 at the Springfield Art Museum.
Focus exhibitions are pulled from the museum’s permanent collection of more than 10,000 objects. The goal is to create a deeper understanding and connection with selected artists, artistic media, genres or art periods.
The first focus exhibition is the work of Rodney Frew, a longtime local artist and art educator. He taught printmaking, drawing and painting at Missouri State University for 34 years. A printmaker, Frew exhibited his work often at the Springfield Art Museum and appeared in national and international venues.
This exhibition features a broad range of Frew’s work.
“I’ve never been enamored of the pretty,” Frew was quoted as saying. “Cake icing has no appeal to me. Regardless of what subject or medium I’m working with; I try to get beyond the surface.”
‘Swap Meet' features the work of local artist Frieda Logan
Frieda Logan is the focus of “Swap Meet,” the second exhibition at the Springfield Art Museum. Logan attended Springfield Senior High, now Central High School, and took art classes from Roberta Stoneman Baker. Logan completed a fine arts degree at the Kansas City Art Institute and went on to a successful career in Kansas City. There she created commercial illustrations for Macy’s Department Store and other businesses.
Logan, a painter, and her husband retired to Springfield. She was active in Springfield’s local art community. She participated in the Springfield Visual Arts Alliance and the annual Watercolor USA exhibition and also served on the Visual Arts committee for Springfield Public Schools.
“This exhibition includes paintings gifted to the museum in 2004 by Logan, featuring heartfelt renderings of daily life in the American Midwest during the 1980s,” a press release said.
‘Lyrical Abstraction' shows off work of American Lyrical Abstractionists
“Lyrical Abstraction” is the third new exhibition opening at the Springfield Art Museum. It features the worlds of several American Lyrical Abstractionists.
“American Lyrical Abstraction developed as an art movement in the 1960s and ’70s led by a group of artists including Dan Christensen, Larry Poons, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Natkin, and Sam Francis,” a press release said. “These artists sought to expand the idea of abstract painting and to reassert the importance of the formal elements of line and color.
“Dubbed ‘lyrical abstractionists,’ these artists made work characterized by loose gestural brushstrokes, acrylic staining, an emphasis on rich color, monumental scale, occasional imagery, and a return to a physical and direct sensory experience of painting.”
This exhibit features work by lyrical abstract artists including Poons, Natkin, Francis, Marlene Mueller, Sharon Jesik and others.
The Springfield Art Museum is open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday an 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
