Members' Summer Show 2023

On display in the betty and art robins group gallery at the columbia art league

June 13, 2023 - July 20,2023

Reception: Friday, June 23, 2023 6-8 PM

CAL is proud to be a local non-profit that’s been a part of the mid-Missouri art scene since 1959. Our Members’ Shows are exciting opportunities for CAL Members to display their art, and for our community to get to know our vibrant artist members. There is no theme, instead, this is an opportunity to show our community what we’ve been working on recently. Members’ shows are not juried, awards will be given out at the reception.

Congratulations to the Members' Summer Show ribbon winners!  Thank you to our judge, Joe Johnson, for careful consideration when awarding these accolades.  

1st place: Cheryl Hardy, And Just Like That

2nd place: Ira Papick, Condiment Table

3rd place: Kimberly Edwards, Interstate Nocturne  #1

Honorable Mentions

Alisha Morton, Ruby Throated Hummingbird 

Peggy Hurly, Beyond Strength

Ashlee Fuhr Selburg & John Selburg

Garden Party

On Display in the South Gallery at the Columbia Art League

June 13, 2023 - July 8, 2023

Ashlee Fuhr Selburg

Artist Statement

The natural world is the bedrock of my work, though it is the whimsical spirit of that world that I am interested in, and my drawings serve to represent that spirit.

Artist Bio

Ashlee Fuhr Selburg was born and raised in Southwest Missouri where she grew up skipping rocks, chasing fireflies, and exhausting any Beatrix Potter books she could get her hands on. Ashlee decided as a little girl that she would like to draw for the rest of her life, and consequently earned her BFA from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is married to another artist and they are the proud parents of a three-year-old little boy. Ashlee still believes that she would like to draw for the rest of her life.

JOhn Selburg

Artist Bio

John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA in Drawing, Sculpture, and Graphic Design from Bradley University (2006), and an MFA from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2009). He is Associate Professor of Studio Art and Gallery Director at William Woods University in addition to his studio practice and international exhibits. 

Martin Pope

On display in Central Bank of Boone County

May 22 - July 14, 2023

Artist Statement

I bought some paints during the 2020 lockdown, intending to teach myself to paint representational art.  I had written and drawn a comic strip for a while and had done some illustration work, and I thought maybe I could add painting to my marketable skill set.  But apparently, I was not actually interested in that, because the paints did nothing for a year except make me feel guilty.  

Then one day I decided to experiment with putting colors and shapes anywhere I wanted.  The result felt uniquely liberating.  All the visual art I had done up until that point was about achieving a specific aim. This was different.  This was the first time that I was attempting truly improvisational visual work.  I was astonished at how liberating it felt.  And how compelling.  

I generally pick some colors to work with before I start painting and that is the full extent of my preparation.  I don't plan anything compositional at all.  When I pick up a brush and fill it with color, I don't know what I'm going to do with it.  My only editorial rule has been to obey the impulse before I judge it.  In this way, the work is more akin to my previous work in the theatre. I'm concerned with the purity of improvisation and the truth of the moment.  Above all else, I try, in the context of this art, not to curate the experience, but allow it to happen as it will.  If a painting winds up looking agreeably pleasant or pretty, I'm happy about that, but it isn't the aim.  I'd rather have an ugly painting, honestly arrived at, than a beautiful one labored over in order to impress.

Artist Bio

Martin grew up in Columbia Missouri.  He started writing and producing plays when he was seventeen. During his senior year in high school, he directed his first play, “Life on the 6:55” at the University of Missouri.  He studied theatre at Truman State University, where he also learned to play guitar and was the songwriter and frontman for several local rock and roll bands.  

After college, Martin spent ten years in Hollywood, acting in numerous plays and low-budget movies.  He played the ghost of the week on the TV show “Haunted” and wrote for season two of Cartoon Network’s “Class of 3000.” While writing and directing plays for the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, Martin was approached by Dashiell Hammett’s family and contracted to write and direct the first theatrical adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon” ever produced.  

After returning to Missouri, Martin wrote and drew the webcomic “Vorto the Pirate.”

Martin began experimenting with nonobjective painting just after the covid lockdown and has exhibited at Teller's Gallery and Bar, Dogmaster Distillery, The American Club Association, The Barred Owl, The Dandy Lion Cafe, and MKLush Salon.  

Fun for All at Art in the Park

Art in the Park kicks off summer the first weekend in June at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia. Our two-day Art festival is a colorful, vibrant, and fun event that highlights artists from across the country. We celebrate and support artists and art lovers while gathering with our friends and family of all ages. 

Set in beautiful Stephens Lake Park, attendees can visit the artists’ village filled with approximately 100 artists who set up booths with handmade jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, paintings, drawings, pastel, fibers, photography, and more. Pop into a booth and have a chat with one of our artists and learn more about what they make. If you decide to bring home a memory in physical form or buy gifts for loved ones, either way you are supporting an artist in their craft and business. 

Visit our Makers’ Market under the big tent, to find 20+ artists who are getting the feel of exhibiting their handmade wares at a large festival. And then move towards our Veterans + Rising Artist Pavilion which showcases artworks made by those who have served in the US Military as well as our up-and-coming artists currently enrolled in high school or undergraduate studies.

Our Kids’ Activity Area is an experiential fun fest with kiddos contributing to large art projects as well as making a little something to bring home with them. We encourage our youngest guests to take a walk through our Young Collector’s Tent to get a one-on-one tour of the artwork that our artists make. Each artist donates a couple of pieces of art to sell for $5. Kids can then buy a piece of art and go meet the artist in their tent. The artists love to meet their little patrons and kids get to choose something on their own that they love. 

Art in the Park has been an institution in Columbia for 65 years, but we keep it innovative by infusing it with different components every year. For example, we are growing our interactive art installations at Art in the Park to show a different aspect of art making and participation in the arts. This brings color and vibrancy to the trees and pavilions as well as colorful backgrounds for photos while you walk around the festival. 

Art in the Park started in the first year of the Columbia Art League (CAL), in 1959. It began as a place where artists could display work while patrons would be able to interact with the artists. To this day this festival remains an integral piece of CAL's mission, promoting the appreciation of art as well as the creation of art; this is also the largest venue for CAL to engage the community with the arts.  

We believe that the Arts are essential to human development, that lives are transformed through the Arts, and that we find connection to others through the Arts, which helps give meaning to our lives. Click here for more information on volunteering: https://columbiaartleague.org/artinthepark/volunteers.

Tom Schulte

On display in our South Gallery

May 9 - June 10 2023

Artist Statement
I am currently painting with oils over copper relief. I work from photo images which I carve and rout into commercial rubber flooring. I then burnish copper foil into adhesive over the relief carving. I then patina the copper to get the desired color and effect. The copper is then sealed with clear lacquer, then I paint oil glazes over the sealed copper relief. Simply put I am oil painting over copper.
I like many am drawn to the landscape. I grew up in rural Missouri and after an absence of twenty-four years lived in Washington, Utah, and California. I returned to Missouri over twenty years ago and now I find myself still compelled to create art in the images of the things I see here. My work is a simplification, an interpretation if you will. My first degree was in Sculpture and like a sculptor I like the relief of the work combined with the texture of the patina on the copper. There is a certain unpredictability about the process that combines in my work that adds beauty and abstraction. I like the way that I feel in my heart of hearts when in nature I come upon something that reminds me that I am in the presence of something beyond my ability to make or even understand entirely. If I can invoke that fleeting feeling that comes, then I feel that I have succeeded.

Artist Bio
I gained my BFA from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and a MFA from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. My work is in private collections and public commissions.
I currently have artwork in collections across the US and Canada. I have public work at The University of Missouri Rolla, Honold Library, The Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City Missouri, and The Kilpatrick Building, Jefferson City Missouri. My work also hangs in the Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City Utah.

Touch

On display in the Betty and Art Robins Group Gallery

May 2 - June 8

Reception: May 12, 6 - 8 pm (free and open to the public)

Texture can show up in artworks via medium, technique, subject matter, movement, perspective, and more. We work with people every day to NOT touch artwork in the gallery but we challenge you to make work that invites the viewer to reach out and touch. As always, artists get to choose what to make… SO! Will your work elicit the forbidden touch? Will you allow the viewer to touch your work? Or will you make your work enticing but NOT allow visitors to touch? You get to choose! 

Touch is a juried show open to all artists 16+ years old, all media welcome.

Thank you to juror Laura Ursprung Nerling, for careful consideration when creating this show.

Juror Statement

Touch refers to many aspects of art from its medium—the actual physicality and texture of an object, to the concept—the idea of touching, not touching, or the visual illusion of texture. In jurying Touch, I sought to bring the potential breadth of that long-taught formal element to a broader and more inclusive definition. I looked for images and objects that implied texture through technique, and thus represented an illusion to the idea of touch; or for artworks that invited the viewer to touch, to feel, and experience the physicality of texture; but I also wanted to incorporate artworks that explored the concept of what touch means, whether by inviting you to make your own mark through touch or prohibiting you from experiencing the physicalness of the object itself; and lastly, I was intrigued by objects and artworks that played with shifts in texture—thereby forcing the viewer to acknowledge the impact texture can have on the desire to feel.

Congratulations to all of the ribbon winners!

1st place: Maggie Jackman, "Tufted Lemons" & "Tufted Peaches"

2nd place: Richard Hoeppner, "Puzzle Car" & "Puzzle Truck"

3rd place: Erik Slatinsky, "One Cheek Meditation Seat"

Honorable mentions:

Michelle Marcum, "Fur Framed Zebracorn" & "Fur Framed Cheetacorn"

Diana Hallett, "Sequoia"

Andrew Ludwig, "Pitcher" & "Jar"

Alisha Morton, "Hands Off"

Salem Alhussaini

Sugar Cube

On DISPLAY in our south gallery

april 11 - April 22

Artist Statement

My practice centers itself around the experience of being alive and all the strange, mundane, absurd, and extraordinary experiences attached to existing. The work is influenced by the different actions and interactions of the people, locations, and perspectives that I surround myself with at the time. Everything is made through a generative process where one element informs the next, spreading an idea across multiple mediums, and slowly accumulating into larger and busier expressions. Growth, death, compassion, fear. Life. These are complex ideas and feelings in my practice that I find easier to accurately express in visuals instead of words.

My current body of work expresses the idea of expanding on simplifications and categorizations through the lens of human life. What makes a person a human, and what does it mean to be alive? Bodies, memories, feelings, the food we eat, the content we collect and consume, the words we say, or the things we leave behind: all components that are presented as visuals for the viewer to reflect on and create their own narratives and personal connections with.

Artist Bio

Salem Alhussaini is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on ceramics. In 2022, he earned his BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. His interests include (but are not limited to) turtles, the color blue, and stickers. Through the utilization of materials, found objects, and metaphors, his work expresses ideas relating to daily practices, art histories, and universal themes. When he’s not in the studio, you can find him scavenging in the woods or frequenting the nearest skatepark. 

Beast in Show Pop-Up

The Betty and Art Robins Group Gallery

April 11 - April 15

For ONE WEEK ONLY, fun animal-themed art will be on display. Beast in Show is a non-juried show that includes work from artists of all ages!

Reception: Friday, April 14, 2023 4:30-6:30

Fuffy and friendly, our pets are some of our most loyal companions. For our first pop-up show of the year, “Beast in Show”, we wanted to highlight artwork that focused on our animal best friends. Whether they have four legs or two, feathers or fur, they deserve a shout-out!

Colette Brumbaugh

Natural Journey

ON EXHIBIT AT CENTRAL BANK OF BOONE COUNTY FROM March 31 - May 5

Artist Statement

Growing up in Missouri, I developed a deep appreciation and love for the landscape and painting outdoors or plein air. It becomes a totally immersive experience for me in an attempt to capture the essence of the geological features with a spontaneous use of line, shape, texture, and color. It has been and will continue to be a lifelong pursuit. These paintings reflect my recent journey. 

Artist Bio

Colette Brumbaugh is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting. Brumbaugh is a member and exhibitor with the Columbia Art League, Columbia Palette Group, and the Missouri Vallery Impressionist Society. Her work was chosen for the 2012 City of Columbia Commemorative Poster. She was the featured artist at the 2018 Missouri River Festival of the Arts. Paintings by Brumbaugh can be seen on permanent display at the Boone Hospital Center, Boone Medical Group, Capital Regional Hospital, and Central Bank. She has both her home and studio in Columbia, Missouri. 

4-H Photo Show

Mid-Missouri 4-H Photography & Art Project

On display in our South Gallery

March 28 - April 8

Participating in the mid-Missouri 4-H Photography & Art Project:

Hallsville Go-Getters 4-H club

Sturgeon Goalseekers

Adventurers 4-H Club

Back to the Beginning Club

The 4-H program is designed to teach young people important life skills and values that are necessary to lead a successful and rewarding life. 4-H strives to teach character-building skills such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and citizenship. Youth members are also encouraged to participate in community service and public speaking, as well as many leadership position opportunities. 

 Members are loaned a DSLR camera if they don’t have access to one, allowing them to experiment before investing in a camera. Students shoot their photos in between training sessions, where they receive help in reviewing and editing their work. During these sessions, members learn how to use photo editing software and they have access to introductory photography videos on YouTube.

We at the mid-Missouri 4-H Photography and Art Project truly appreciate the opportunity to highlight the talent of our amazing youth members. Their work is also shown at local, county, and state fairs as well as the Boone Electric calendar.

Community Stories: CAL from the Intern's Eyes

Hello! This is Bella the Intern, here again, to reflect on my experience at the Columbia Art League so far. Since starting here in January, I have learned many things about the logistics of running an arts non-profit but have also gained insight into the arts community of Columbia.

Last month, I helped to lay out my first show! Of course, it was the most difficult show to lay out with over 130 artworks: Tiny Things. I love this show because of how small each piece is and the lower pricing is also great for a college student like myself! It was quite the experience to try and figure out where everything should go. As viewers, we tend to disregard the aspect of setting up a show, but there is an enormous amount of thought and planning that goes into it. My supervisor, Kelsey, told me something that stuck with me: however we lay out a show, there needs to be a story told. We could just put pieces together that look nice, but it creates a much more enriching experience if there is a cohesive narrative to follow throughout the show. Prioritizing the story over the aesthetic is something I will always keep in mind throughout my career.

Some of the final Tiny Things layout!

Another thing I have noticed, perhaps more interesting to you dear readers, is the lively nature of the artist community in Columbia. I started school at Mizzou in the fall semester of 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic was in full swing, my social anxiety and worries for my health were at a new high, and I had no friends from high school following me to this new thing we called “college.”

With society at large retreating into its own little niches to hide until the pandemic was over, I was stuck by myself, feeling too young and socially awkward to look beyond my little dorm room and see what Columbia had to offer. Eventually, some lovely friends came into my life, and it wasn’t so lonely, but I still felt stuck in my college student bubble. I realized that I would need to break out of that in order to make Columbia feel like home.

Since working at the Columbia Art League, I have met more people than I did my entire freshman year, and what exciting conversations I have had! As an art history student, I rarely get to talk to the artists who make the pieces I study (unless someone out there has Van Gogh’s contact information), so the opportunity to talk to artists about their work and other work they appreciate has added a new dimension to how I view art.

A picture I got at the Nibble Reception. Lots of people!

There are many times when I feel too anxious to approach new people, and I can still feel like a fish out of water, but working here has made me feel like I am a part of this community, rather than another fleeting four-year transplant from St. Louis. When we lay out gallery shows, we attempt to weave a story with the artwork, adding our own narratives to pieces that already have so much human quality to them. I hope that the rest of my time at the Columbia Art League is spent just like that; weaving my own story into the vibrant community that this place cultivates.

Community Thread

A Collaboration with True/False

On display in our South Gallery

FEB 28 - MAR 25

Traceable through history, originating within ancient civilizations of Egypt, China, North Africa and the Middle East, the art of quilting has been and remains still a vessel for storytelling. Language is the thread and culture is the needle that tells the tale. 

In American history, quilting began as simply sewing discarded materials together to create items of functionality: clothing and blankets for warmth. As a skill most traditionally developed and mastered by women, quilting has been, for many, the means for developing independence, identity, and a sense of accomplishment. It evolved from an effort of practicality to a way for women to generate income and become self-sufficient. Quiltmaking has for centuries now, been a catalyst for community, creating a network to share the heritage and tradition embedded in the practice, a tradition often passed from one generation to the next. 

Hanging in our South Gallery is “Community Thread”, an idea born from the brains of artists Carrie Elliott and Esther Stroh. Making a quilt of any size is an immense undertaking, and this 9 x 9-foot creation is no exception. 

Featured during this year’s True/False Film Festival, it made sense to center the quilt around the same theme as the film festival, “This is a Test”. The quilt squares were thought of as “test swatches” where different embroidery techniques could be explored: embroidery, batik, fabric painting, and applique. Carrie and Esther, who acted as lead artists on the project, steered community members through a series of four, free workshops hosted at the Columbia Art League, each focusing on one of the four embroidery techniques. The result was over 345 quilt squares. 

Now faced with the task of sewing every square together, Carrie and Esther, with the help of a friend, decided to split the squares into three even groups. They each sewed their squares into rows of 19, reconvening to then sew the rows together. The next step was to sandwich the quilt, meaning to attach a back side and add edging. The design on the back of the quilt was made using printmaking. It includes momentos from Ragtag Cinema such as their logo, the couches and chairs in their theatres, as well as film reels and tickets. The idea was to keep the back of the quilt simple, but more elevated than simply using fabric from the store. If you’re paying attention to the details when viewing the back of the quilt, you will see that some stamps overlap from one square to the next, perfectly aligned. That is no coincidence, rather the effort of Carrie who pieced the back together like a, “mad scientist cutting fabric and hoping for the best”.

An open call was made for volunteers to attend quilting bees (gatherings at which people quilt) at the Columbia Public Library and assist in the sandwhiching of the quilt. This is no swift process, in fact it took them two full days to hand stitch the back to the front. Attaching the edging of the quilt took about half a day to complete. 

This quilt is more than just a quilt. Stitched into it are trademarks of Columbia and tokens of personal significance. There are 684 squares total, no two exactly alike, ensuring that you will see something new each time you look at it. And because it is a True/False film festival collaboration, you will find many squares refer to the legacy of the fest, with names of films that have premiered in years past. 

“Community Thread” was a labor of love from start to finish. Carrie Elliott and Esther Stroh were able to capture the essence of Columbia in this quilt, an essence of communal spirit. History reveals that needle and thread have the potential to transcend any boundary of time, but it also tells us that the most essential part to any story is the person who tells it. We are very proud to have a piece of work hanging in our gallery that not only represents all that is good within our community, but one that was made by people ambitious enough to make that first stitch.

This quilt will hang in the South Gallery of the Columbia Art League until Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023. After that, it will go to the True/False permanent collection, to be put on display every year during the fest. Visit the gallery and see this incredible piece of art.

A Q&A with Artist, Brett Butler

Brett Butler is an artist based in Sedalia, Missouri whose photography and film projects focus on dolls, children’s toys, and other iconic images from popular culture. Many of his works hold household names like Barbie and G.I. Joe in everyday settings, such as in kitchens, bathtubs, or even in downtown Sedalia. I met with Brett to discuss his two works in the Columbia Art League’s recent show, Nibble, as well as talk about his plans for the future and reflect on his artistic practice.

Bella Reed: How did you get started in photography and film?

Brett Butler: I've always written so I started out in writing. And then what happened is, I'm a toy collector. And I started to take pictures of toys just for fun. And I used to sell toys at a flea market, and I started, I said, let me bring some pictures with me.

And the pictures started to sell, and then what I did when they started to sell was to hone in on that craft of photography. I lived in Florida…there was a school called the Boca Raton Art School, and I went there for photography. I took multiple classes under Allan Pierce, he's like my mentor for that. And he kind of got me to, you know, learn all the other stuff that I didn't know. So that's basically how I got into photography.

Bella: What or who are your influences in photography? 

Brett: In art in general, I'm an Andy Warhol fan. I have some old work that I kind of based off of that. And then...John Waters, who I've met in person, is one of my biggest guiding forces—always to shock [the viewer]. So some of my pieces can be a little bit off, compared to the normal pieces. 

Bella: I was looking on your website, and I saw there was an article in the Sedalia Democrat, and you had said that you had initially been worried about the reception of the the art pieces and things like that. Have people responded to them more than you initially expected?

Brett: Yes, much more! So I was worried about moving to Missouri because I lived in South Florida, I had a kind of an art following down there. And I had an uphill battle with this whole career because whenever I would win an award or whatever people would be like, well, you just take pictures of dolls, you don't realize how hard it is to do this. And when I got here, I'm like, I don't know if this is even going to take off.

And surprisingly enough, I've been in Missouri now for three years. It's bigger than when I lived in South Florida. I have a bigger following. I sell more here between Columbia and Sedalia. Everybody's telling me I need to go to Kansas City. Things like that, I just haven't been able to.

Pizza Bites 101 by Brett Butler

Bella: Have you visited Kansas City? 

Brett: I'm actually planning to go to Comic Con this year. That's what I'm planning to do in Kansas City.

Bella: I'm sure the pictures would be really big there!

Brett: Yeah, I'm gonna scope it out for possibly next year.

Bella: What about dolls and toys is appealing for you to photograph? 

Brett: I have been a big collector since I was a kid. I have always collected toys and stuff, so my studio at home is just full of toys and so many things. Like I have so many Barbie dolls, G.I. Joes, and every little action figure. When I come up to Columbia like today, I'll go to Midway to shop for more stuff to take pictures of.

I just started doing Lego. Lego is something new because people asked me for it. When I started doing some shows people were like, do you do Legos? And now I've been starting to do some Lego pieces. 

Bella: Oh, yeah. I'm sure Legos would be really popular. I actually brought a few friends to the Nibble reception, and one of my friends is a Lego collector. He saw your photos, and he was like "Oh, I have to start doing that!" So now he's starting to take photos of his Legos too. So you've got a follower there. Was there a certain appeal to using Lego minifigures in particular?

Brett: I will tell you, for many years I was against doing Lego figures. People were telling me this like, "Oh, do Lego, do Lego!" I was like, no, no! When I started doing this, I strictly just did Barbie. That's all I did. And then I branched out to other stuff. And then when I got to Missouri, I started to play around with Lego and I really liked it. Now I'm doing a lot of Lego stuff.

Bella: That's awesome. Yeah, I know with the Legos there's more flexibility and you can build them, like the different faces and things like that. So I sort of got that especially in this one where the chef is like, you know, all nervous.

Brett: And that was hard! I've never worked on real food because I have tons of plastic food. And real food was really hard!

Bella: Oh, yeah, I'm sure because getting the Lunchable sort of things to stay...

Brett: Yeah, because it starts to sweat after a little while. You know, you've got lights hanging over it and stuff to get the lighting right. 

Bella: Was there a reason you used specifically Lunchables in these?

Brett: Because when I was doing this, I was trying to figure out what kind of food is small enough. And the Lunchables were kind of like the ideal food that I figured could work out well with the LEGO minifigures that wasn't too big and wasn't too small.

Bella: That's fair. Yeah, when I originally looked at both of the photos, I was just hit with this huge wave of childhood nostalgia, especially with the Legos and the Lunchables put together. So I wasn't sure if there was a meaning behind that or anything like that, or if it was just like a technical sort of decision.

Brett: Because of the structure and then the wheelbarrows and what's going to fit on it, it's not gonna be too overwhelming. The background is actually a kid's refrigerator, and the door's open to the freezer.

Bella: Yeah, I was wondering what the background was.

Ham & Cheese 101 by Brett Butler

Brett: That was the hardest part of this picture. When I started doing it, I couldn't find a background. Like that's on top of the kid's stove…and that's just the freezer door. So originally, I had a Lego piece in the back, and it just looked too generic. And then I put a brick wall thing up, it looked terrible. And I'm like, let me open the door and tape it to the wall. And it was perfect! It has old food in the background, like TV dinners. So that's where the background came from.

And the wood board, I just bought that at Walmart. [Laughter] They're all right now sitting in my studio with plastic food I'm working with. And then I have Instagram and Facebook and all this to follow. If you dig into my website, you'll see my old work.

Bella: Oh, yeah, I saw there was a lot of pictures of the Barbie dolls!

Brett: Yeah, because I do a lot of Barbies still. But that was my exclusive in the beginning. And I do GI Joe. And now I just, I do anything. It's fun. It's stress relieving. I'm just happy, moving here, that the reception has been so good.

Bella: Yeah, for sure. I would have been worried as well. Like just moving to a new place and things like that—that's scary!

Brett: The first show I did in Sedalia, I belong to the Sedalia Art League as well, and to the Columbia Art League, and I went to a meeting, and they said "Oh, it's very hard to sell in Sedalia." And I did a show, you know, a group show with them in the first two pieces, they just sold. Like wow! That's never happened! So it's been a really good run.

Bella: I think there's definitely in central Missouri in particular, and I think in a lot of rural places in the Midwest, a lot of people feel really nostalgic about toys. And there's a lot of collectors.

Brett: In Sedalia, I do have a miniature Sedalia in my studio.

Bella: Oh, yeah. I remember hearing hearing about that on your website.

Brett: And so I did a show a couple of weeks ago, and I have a lot of different Godzillas from probably before you were born. I had some of them attacking Sedalia and things like that. That's my biggest seller in Sedalia, is Godzilla attacking Sedalia.

Bella: That's so funny.

Brett: So like next, the next show here, I did one for this tiny show. It's going to be a copy of Columbia. We'll see how that goes here.

Bella: That's awesome. I'm excited to see that!

Tiny Things 2023

Tiny Things

On display in the Betty and Art Robins Gallery

FEBRUARY 28 - APRIL 7

All artworks in this show are limited to 8” x 8”, including frame. Artists are challenged and inspired to create something tiny in physical size, but still powerful and touching in impact and emotion. Changing our perspective and viewpoint in one way, can lead us to see our entire worlds in expansive ways. Size isn’t everything; so what is it really, and how does it impact the creation, vision, and enjoyment of art?

Congratulations to all of the winners!

First Place: Jessica Pelzer, Tiny Tree

Second Place: Hope Martin, The Great and the Small

Third Place: Mzeona Iagorashvili, Poppy 1

Honorable Mentions

Isabella Shah, Making Art

Karalee Tearney, Reliquary One

Nancy Katzman, Green Bowl, Bird

Brett Butler, Tales from Columbia

Alisha Morton, Stowed

Jane Mudd, Maasai Women

Robert Friedman, Together

Karen Hodges, Evening Shadows

Michelle Marcum, Mushroom Siren

Sara Estrapala, Tiny Box

Derek Fox, Christmas 1980

Ernest Hilderbrand, Party Time

Anthea Rackley

On exhibit at Central Bank of Boone County from February 17, 2023 - march 31, 2023

Artist statement

This body of work focuses on exploring how various interior spaces are inhabited, interpreted, and personalized through oil and acrylic paintings showcasing rooms of various functions. By depicting and observing space that has been lived in but shows no actual people, we can still interpret an inhabitant's emotions, interests, and lifestyle.

The works show how the everyday objects and architectural spaces in our lives come together to make rooms that we form intimate relations with. Through the utilization of a graphic painting style that simplifies form and color palettes that can often provoke nostalgia, the paintings invite the viewers to remember and reflect on the interior worlds they themselves have created and connected with throughout their life.

Artist bio

Anthea Rackley (they/them) has lived in Missouri their whole life and discovered an interest in the visual arts from a very early age. They studied at Columbia College, achieving a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing. Although that subject was their main focus, Anthea has had interest in a variety of artistic media, such as graphic design, fiber arts, and collage.

Currently in their work post graduation, Anthea is furthering their skills in various mixed media to explore more non-objective/abstract art, as well as continuing to expand their body of work pertaining to personalized spaces and interiors that was started in their BFA thesis.

Meet the Mentors

Membership Program 2023 Mentors

CAL's mentorship program is designed to increase accessibility to meaningful engagement with the arts for underserved populations, specifically High School artists, in the Columbia area community. Selected student artists are paired with a working professional artist mentor in their desired media category, and with their guidance and support, each student is expected to develop a small portfolio of work that reflects their exploration of a concept or theme. We are so excited to see what they can create together!

Lindsay Picht (she/her)

Lindsay Lennon Picht is a painter, primarily working in watercolor. She graduated with a BFA from Truman State University and is currently pursuing a career in the art world. She is currently teaching classes at Columbia Art League. She loves exploring different techniques within painting and drawing, and strives to create beautiful art as much as she can!

You can find more of her work on Instagram: @lindslennonart

Em Stagg (she/her)

Em Stagg primarily specializes in digital artwork and Visual Development. She earned her Master’s in illustration at the Savannah College of Art & Design and freelances alongside her day job as a Project Manager at the historic Conley House. She has worked with the Walt Disney Hometown Museum and also won a nifty Wacom tablet in a contest by Nickelodeon and LightBox Expo!

You can find more of her work at emstagg.carbonmade.com.

Kylee Isom (She/Her)

Kylee Isom is a photography student at the University of Missouri. She is a photographic and installation-based artist whose work centers around gender, stereotype, and systems of inequality. She is an advocate for the accessibility of art and has a passion for art education.

You can find more of her work at https://kyleeisom.format.com/

Laura Pintel

Laura Pintel

On display in our South Gallery through 2/25/23

Statement

I have always felt a deep connection with the natural world and this theme is often depicted in my work. In this show, in addition to paintings of birds and flowers, I include a small series of six pieces where I decided to focus on the paths that one takes in life and those obstacles- real or imagined, that can get in the way. Using walking in the woods as a metaphor, I chose to examine various barriers such as branches, puddles, or other obstacles, focusing on the fact that there is often a way forward. High contrast and bold color define my work. I strive for strong composition. I want the viewer to easily move around my paintings. I am drawn to the sensitivity of the impressionists, the pathos of the expressionists, and the graphic images of illustration. My hope is that I can share how I perceive and respond on a deeper level to the world around me.

Bio

I have always been interested in art and science – particularly the natural world. Both require keen observation. I have a B.S. degree in Biology from James Madison University, which led me first to a 10-year career as a Research Associate in Molecular Biology. During those years, I took art classes at night and eventually returned to school and completed my B.F.A. in Visual Arts at Stephens College. I enjoy exploring a variety of mediums. I work in oils and acrylics, collage, photography, and the computer. My photography primarily focuses on birds, as I am also an avid birder. For over 10 years, I have been a resident artist at Orr Street Studios. I exhibit my work there, as well as the Columbia Art League, and other local venues. I have presented locally in well over 120 art shows, and have won numerous awards.

From Cartoons to Canvases: Nibble as seen by The Intern

Which Way? by Linda Hoffman

Hello! My name is Bella, and I’m an art history student-turned-intern at the Columbia Art League this semester. Along with video games and brewing the perfect cup of tea, food and art are among my favorite things in this life. I discovered this as a young child watching the movie Ratatouille, as the main character Remy bites into a grape and some cheese and creates a wild choreography of color in his mind from the flavors alone.

Anyone my age who loves food (or Disney movies) can easily tell you that this scene is iconic in our collective generational imagination; it taught us all that both food and art, when appreciated, can describe and convey emotions in a way that is difficult to convey through language alone. When I first heard that I would get to work at the Columbia Art League during their show, Nibble, I was instantly reminded of this famous scene and got so excited to be a part of it. 

I took two of my friends along with me to the reception of Nibble last Friday. While it was a bit intimidating bringing my friends to my place of work and showing them my favorite pieces, I managed to brave through that anxiety and have meaningful conversations with them about the local art on display. 

One friend was particularly drawn to Which Way?, a fantastically textured oil painting by the local artist Linda Hoffman. We both agreed that the use of color in the piece was stunning; the contrast between the blueish-purple background and the bright yellow and orange hues of the fruit is striking. Being the art nerds that we are, we also talked about how the brushwork reminded us of Impressionist painting, similar to the works of Monet. 

Another friend was drawn to Bubble Tea Reverie, an acrylic painting by the artist Kelly Durante. As avid fans of boba tea, my friends and I absolutely adored this piece. The texture of the pinks, whites, and reds melting into one another, along with floating bubbles of dark maroon, instantly evoked the sweet whimsy and good memories of bubble tea.

Bubble Tea Reverie by Kelly Durante

As someone who has only really painted with oil and gouache, the visual effect of the acrylic paint also surprised me. When I first saw the piece, I remember staring at it, trying to figure out how a picture plane could have so much texture, yet end up being so smooth and shiny. This piece, along with Which Way? left me wanting to break out my paints again and start creating some interesting textures. It also inspired my totally-not-related purchase of tapioca pearls and matcha powder. 

Overall, seeing my first CAL show as an intern, despite my initial nervousness, was an incredibly impactful experience. Seeing so many people of different backgrounds gather to discuss not one, but two, of my favorite things in the world was something I will never forget. Although Nibble might not reach the same audience as Ratatouille might, it brought back the same appreciation for the arts (culinary or visual) that my six-year-old self learned from seeing Remy experience the wonders of French cuisine.

P.S. Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the show!

Lemon by Joanne Zucco Berneche

Finals Crammin’ at the Coffee Shop by Curtis Hendricks

Ham & Cheese 101 by Brett Butler

Marché by Diana Hallett

Pizza Bites 101 by Brett Butler

Nibble

January 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023

Our Nibble show is now on display in our group gallery! One of our favorite shows of the year is all about food and this year’s theme (Nibble) is inspired by our many receptions and the beauty of the charcuterie board. What are your favorite nibbles? Stop by and check out the show Tuesday - Friday 11:30 - 6, and Saturday 11 -5!

Nibble reception is Friday, January 20 from 6 - 8 pm!

Congratulations to the winners and to juror, Valerie Wedel for taking the time to look at each piece carefully!

1st Place: Derek Fox "Still Life with Grapes"

2nd Place: Kelly Durante "Spumoni Kiss"

3rd Place: Cheryl Hardy "Nibbled"

Honorable mentions:

Mary Sandbothe "Milk Dreams"

Joanne Zucco Berneche "Fish"

Ben Schwarz "Paris Pastry"

Juror’s Statement

When Kelsey Hammond, the Columbia Art League director, contacted me to jury this show and told me the theme was food, I replied “yes” without a thought. I always love the opportunity to see and talk about artworks by my fellow mid-Missourians, especially when they deal with such appealing subject matter. How refreshing to be introduced to works by artists that are new to me, hanging alongside works by those I’ve known for decades!

To jury the show, I walked through the works several times. It was very difficult to pick the winners, but the ones I chose stayed in my mind well after I walked past them.

Still-Life paintings don’t often move me, but Still Life with Grapes by Derek Fox actually gave me goosebumps! Even from across the room, the small composition holds its own. Spumoni Kiss, by Kelly Durante, makes me feel like I’m a tiny creature inside a piece of fruit. Cheryl Hardy’s Nibbled gives the eye a treat through its undulating textures.

I chose the honorable mentions: Milk Dreams by Mary Sandbothe, Fish by Joanne Zucco Berneche, and Paris Pastry by Ben Schwarz, for their ability to expand my thoughts well beyond the depictions of food. They conjured scenes of farm life, families gathering to honor traditions, and the joys of travel.

Art and food, I can think of no better combination!

Juror Biography

Valerie Wedel is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia in Sculpture (MFA) with a focus on performance and video installation. Her food-themed performance works include 2-Hour Apple, where she slowly and continuously consumed a single fruit during a gallery reception; The Concessionist, for which she popped popcorn one kernel at a time and offered them to passersby; and The Truffle-Making Machine, where she simultaneously created and destroyed chocolate truffles in a conveyer-belt fashion. For the past eight years, she has taught studio art at William Woods University. She is also co-editing a new edition of the textbook Drawing the Human Form, by William A. Berry. Her artwork is exhibited regularly in galleries throughout the Midwest.

6 New Year's Resolutions for an Artist

1. Set one, BIG long-term goal

• these goals may not be accomplished in a year

• be detailed

• examples: selling more work, entering an art show, etc. Both can be done at CAL!

2. Set 2-3 smaller immediate goals

• break down the large goals into smaller bites

• month-to-month actions

• examples: Taking a class at CAL to learn and strengthen techniques, starting a social media account, etc.

3. Schedule time to make work

• start a calendar & plan out a to-do-list

4. Join a community of artists (like CAL!)

• artist communities shouldn’t be your only source of learning but are an amazing way to stay encouraged & stay focused on your artwork.

• Examples at Cal: Adult Art club, Multi-week Classes, workshops

5. See more Art

• get out to more museums, gallery shows, art openings, or private studios

• examples: Cal has 3 gallery spaces filled with shows throughout the year, with corresponding receptions free to the public.

6. Share your work

• this process can be scary but take baby steps

• making art isn’t about making something perfect every time but instead finishing the piece, learning from your mistakes & going on to create something that you could have never imagined you were capable of.

• social media

• entering shows (CAL has 5 shows in 2023 that are open entry for anyone 16+ years old).