Best of Missouri Hands Exhibit Returns to WWU

7/29/2011 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

An exhibition of juried artwork, featuring the Best of Missouri Hands artists, will return to William Woods University, Aug. 25 through Sept. 18. A “meet the artists” reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18.
 
The sixth annual “Celebrating Creativity” show will be held in the Mildred M. Cox Gallery, located in WWU’s Gladys Woods Kemper Center for the Arts. It is this year’s Natalie Collins Acker Memorial Exhibit, an annual event named for a 1932 WWU alumna who was a generous supporter of the arts at William Woods.
 
The Best of Missouri Hands was founded in 1989 as the Missouri Artisans Association, a nonprofit corporation “dedicated to the development and recognition of Missouri arts and artisans through education, interaction and encouragement.”
 
The exhibition at WWU includes a cross-section of the current state of Missouri’s arts and fine crafts from members of Best of Missouri Hands. It contains paintings and drawings, photographs, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and mixed media.
 
The juror, Ellen Klamon of St. Louis, Mo., has been the exhibition chair for this show for the past five years, taking it from its inception to its present incarnation. Klamon is a juried member of the Best of Missouri Hands in two categories: jewelry and drawing. She has been making and selling jewelry since she was about 12, and the jewelry she makes today contains a playful botanical theme.
  
Klamon has a BFA in printmaking from Maryville University and several years of post-graduate work in metalsmithing.  Her jewelry, prints and drawings can be found in galleries, shops and fine craft fairs throughout the country.
                                                           
The Cox Gallery is open to the public Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 573-592-4245.                          
                                                          
 
CUTLINES:
“Embraced,” jewelry by Randy Wright of Joplin, Mo.
“Flavor of Fragrant Food,” digital painting by Jan Coffman of Columbia, Mo.
“The Dance,” oil by Renee Nilges of Linn, Mo.