Category Archives: Art

Cut Flowers: Art and Business to Richards

Calista Ricards in her garden at 1301 S. Horton. Submitted photos.
The Little Flower Farm LLC owner, Calista Richards, sees herself as an artist.
“I love that you can simultaneously be an artist while being completely covered in sweat and dirt,” she said.
She grows, sells and delivers her product, cut flowers, from her home at 1301 S. Horton, as of January 2021.
 “I provide fresh and local flowers in bouquets and arrangements,” Richards said. “The types of flowers change as the seasons change.  You can tell what time of year it is by the contents of my bouquets and arrangements.”
  The flower arrangements are available for delivery within Fort Scott city limits, for purchase at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market (On Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings), and for pickup on Horton Street at her home.

Directions On Picking Up

“When using Buzz for Blooms (1301 S. Horton) enter the southern driveway and go around the fence until you see a post in a pot with a sign that says Buzz for Blooms,” she said. “If I am not already outside, ring the doorbell found there and I will be out to assist you with your order.  You can even customize your purchase by pointing to things you would like out in the field.  Then, you exit out the northern driveway with your blooms– or future blooms– without ever having leave your car.”
Submitted photos.
About The Entrepreneur
“I graduated from high school in 2020, having been  home schooled  the whole time, and wanted to start a business instead of going to college,” she said. Richards believes college could not teach her what she wanted to know and “can lead to crushing debt,” she said.  “I would not shackle myself with that.”
 “There is nothing like being a part of the community this way,” she said.  “Flowers are bought for every time of life: birth, death, joy, sorrow, great occasions, and no occasion at all.  I want to see all these things and play my little part to bring beauty to all of it.”
The young entrepreneur is involved in the community, since opening her business
She is a member of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, the Bourbon County Garden Club, and  a board member of the Fort Scott Public Library.
In addition, “I have participated in the downtown cleanup and have done numerous fundraisers for the local cancer support group Care to Share,” she said.
Richards wanted to start a business that she could operate out of her home.
“Zoning Section 20-601.05 Temporary Uses states that you may have a business made up of seasonal sales of farm or garden produce, bulbs, plantings, or cut flowers, on an individual’s place of residence and raised by the same individual, provided no structure is constructed for such use,” she said.
Contact info
 
Submitted photos.
Richards is eldest of the six children of Jeremiah and Jennifer Richards.
“I have no employees but I cannot say I have no help,” she said.  “My family has been nothing but supportive and are working so hard so I can live this dream.  I could not have done it without them.”

Homeward to the Prairie and Find Your Voice Day Trip to K-State Deadline Today

One-Day Shuttle Trip
to the Gordon Parks: “Homeward to the Prairie I Come” & Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice Exhibition
Join us for a one-day shuttle trip to the Parks exhibition, in the Marion Pelton Gallery at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art featuring photographs donated by Parks to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1973. Also view the ”Doug Barrett: Find Your Voice,” Exhibition.
Deadline to register is April 12th

Photography Meet & Greet Seminar April 27

Kirk Sharp is the director of the Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. Submitted photo


The Gordon Parks Museum will host a Photography Meet & Greet Seminar on Wednesday, April 27
at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come meet and greet Veretta Cobler, professional photographer, who will give a
presentation on working with film and digital photography.

Veretta has moved back home to Fort Scott after over four decades of living in New York City where she
maintained her fullyequipped commercial photography studio. Throughout her career she transitioned from
the classic photographic film and darkroom expertise to the complexity of today’s digital photography
technology. Her experience expands to studio lighting and graphics computer skills. She is looking forward to
sharing her knowledge in her home community.

This indepth seminar is designed for all levels of photographers from the beginner to the more

experienced. She is looking to help improve and enhance their shots.

While in New York City as a professional photographer, she worked in fine arts, fashion, portraiture, still life
and journalistic cultural study. Her fashion images were published in various U.S. magazines including Bride,
Modern Bride, Bridal Guide, Elegant Bride, Martha Stewart Living, The Knot, Seventeen, Prom, and New York
Magazine. Her New York clients now use her images for their social media accounts.

Veretta’s fine art photography has resulted in exhibitions and publications of her work throughout her career.
Published works include New York Underground (2004), a coffee table photography book depicting the
nightlife in New York City in the late 1970’s. She has recently completed a book about the life and teachings of
a Lakota spiritual man, and is in the process of seeking a publisher.

Her work can be viewed at her website at www.veretta.com.

Free registration is available at the Gordon Parks Museum, online or over the phone, at 6202232700 ext.
5850.

Museum of Creativity Spring Happenings

Beaux Art Center

 

Submitted photo, 2020. From top left to right:Theodore, Lawrence, Vivian, Adelaide, Marshall, Johnathan, Lorina, and Harriet Bowman

The Bowman family purchased the building at 102 S. National Avenue in March 2020.

They have been slowly building it into The Museum of Creativity, which is a children’s play place, a gift shop, a snack bar, a party rental space and a place to display many exhibits.

They provide a family safe environment to have fun, learn new skills, discover talents and develop hobbies for all ages, according to Lorina Bowman.

“It is the perfect mix of interactive and display exhibits for all generations to enjoy,” according to Bowman. “We hope to grow our support and continue to provide workshops, clubs and events to enrich our community.”

They have a fund raiser planned for next month to provide funds to make the building handicapped accessible.

The museum has updated spring hours of
Friday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 .am. to 4 p.m.
The following are some upcoming events offered:
The LEGO CLUB is every Thursday and costs $2/person.
13+ years of age meets from 4 pm-6 pm
7-12 years of age meets from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
The LADIES CRAFT NIGHT is also every Thursday from 6-8 p.m
On the 1st Thursday of the month, bring your own project to show off, work on or get help with, the cost is $2 per person.
On the 2nd Thursday of the month, there is a card making workshop, the cost is $5 per person.
On the 3rd Thursday of the month is needle craft night (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc) –  $2/person
4th Thursday, there will be special workshops – $5/person
More information is on their Facebook page. (Click the “Events” tab and make sure to click “see more” to view them all.) Or message them on Facebook with any questions.
The museum is having Easter activities for children.
On April 9, the Easter activity from 10 am – 4 pm, with a cost of $3/person.  There will be crafts, games and “fun”, she  said.
Register for one of their Easter egg hunts held at 11 am – 1 pm – 3 pm for $5/dozen filled eggs.
On May 6-7, the museum will have an indoor yard sale/bake sale during the regular hours.
The museum is accepting donations of gently used items to add to the sale. Contact Angela Handly at 785-204-2881 or Lorina Bowman at209-204-9743 to arrange drop off or pick up.
“ALL proceeds from the yard sale and quilt auction will go toward getting our building handicapped accessible,” she said. “After a little research on pricing of the ramp and chair lift and the construction changes needed to install both, we have a goal of raising $15,000.”
“Any donation helps,” Bowman said. “Whether it is money, time, used items for the yard sale, or items for the auction, we appreciate your support so much! We want to continue improving our guest’s experience at the museum.”
On May 7, there will be a quilt auction at 1 p.m.
Quilts will be on display and open for silent bids during the museum’s open hours Friday and Saturday.
The silent auction will end at 2:30 p.m. when the live auction begins. “We will be on Facebook Live too, so you can bid that way as well,” Lorina said.
“We are accepting donations of prizes, finished quilts or finished quilt tops until April 30th but the sooner the better so we can post them to draw more attention to the event,” she said.

Chamber Coffee March 10 at Ellis Arts Center

Join us for this week’s
Chamber Coffee and 30th Annual
Bourbon County Fine Arts Exhibit
Hosted by Bourbon County Arts Council
Thursday, March 10th, 8am
Coffee and Exhibit Location:
Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center
on the campus of Fort Scott Community College
2108 S. Horton St.
Arts Exhibit:
Thursday, March 10th & Friday, March 11th from Noon to 7pm
Saturday, March 12th from 9am to 1pm
Artist Reception:
March 10th from 6pm to 8pm
Community is especially welcomed at the Artist Reception!
Categories include Best of Show 2D and 3D, Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Arts, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil and Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture and Watercolor.
Like the Bourbon County Arts Council’s Facebook page here.

Young Mom Turns Creative Outlet into Business

Genna Gilbert. Submitted photo.

Genna Gilbert, 23, is a stay-at-home mom who is turning a creative outlet, arts and crafts, into a business to benefit herself and her family.

The business is called Made With Love by Genna.

She started doing artwork at 16-years-old to “get away from reality,”  Gilbert said. “Painting/crafting helped me escape and get away from all the negativity that was going on in my life at the time.”

Submitted photo.
Submitted photo.
Submitted photo.

Then people started noticing her art and asking her to do some painting for them.

That began the process of selling her work. This year she made it an official business, she said.

She paints on metal, resin, glass, clay, and wood, creating items from earrings, drinking cups to windows. “A lot of things, custom artwork,” she said.

She does most of her work at her dining room table, with her husband Dante assisting her with paperwork and “cutting wood,” she said.

In the near future, she is hoping to put items online and in addition, have painting sessions for children and adults.

To contact her see her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MadeWithLoveByGenna or email her at [email protected]

From Made with Love by Genna Facebook page.

 

Bo Co Arts Council 30th Annual Fine Art Exhibit March 10-12

Bourbon County Arts Council Members present at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee in 2020, from left, Elaine Buerge, Deb Anderson, Terry Floyd, Steve Floyd and Linda Noll.

The annual art show that showcases local area artists is March 10-12.

The 30th Annual Bourbon County Arts Council exhibit will be held Thursday, March 10 through Saturday, March 12 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College.

“We will host the Chamber Coffee on March 10 at 8 a.m.,” Deb Anderson, president of the council said.

The exhibit will be open Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 from 12 PM to 7 PM and Saturday, March 12th from 9 AM to 1 PM.

The BCAC was formed in 1973 to foster, promote and increase the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, according to BCAC President Deb Anderson.

A 2016 photo of the Bourbon County Arts Council Annual Exhibit.

An artist reception will be held March 10th from 6 PM to 8 PM where participating artists will have the opportunity to listen to the juror critique and visit with her about their pieces.

The juror for the event this year will be Tara Booth,  an Associate Professor of Art at Cottey College, Nevada, Mo.

The competition is open to all artists age 16 and older.

Categories include Best of Show 2D and 3D, Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Arts, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil and Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture and Watercolor.

A new “Theme” category has been included: The theme this year is “The Eye of the Beholder”.

Bourbon County businesses and individual sponsors for the first prize winners of the art categories are:

2D and 3D – Memory of E.C. Gordon Ceramics – Ward Kraft, Inc

Drawing & Graphics – Landmark Bank Jewelry – Citizens Bank

Mixed Media – Lyons Realty Painting – Union State Bank

Pastel – Mid-Continental Restoration

Photography – H & H Realty

Sculpture – Fort Scott Broadcasting

Fiber Arts – Bernita Hill

Watercolor – Buerge Art Studio

Theme – City State Bank

Glass – Jamie Armstrong, Edward D Jones

Printmaking – Osage Timber, LLC

Current Bourbon County Arts Council Bard Members are Deb Anderson, President; Bre Eden, Vice President; Steve Floyd, Secretary; Terri Floyd, Treasurer; Cindy Bartelsmeyer, Elaine Buerge, Deb Halsey, Justin Meeks, Laura Meeks, Linda Noll, Tedena Tucker, and Chris Woods.

History of BCAC

“The organization of the BCAC is 52 years old this year. It was originally known as the Fort Scott Arts Council,” Anderson said. “Upon its incorporation, it was changed to Bourbon County Arts Council.”
“There were several activities in the beginning,” she said. “In June 1973 the first project was a booth at the arts and crafts fair, during the Old Fort Days Rodeo sponsored by the Jaycees.”
“The BCAC held the first street theatre,” she said. “In the art area there was ceramics, bread baking, spinning and weaving, wood carving, and quilting. Local artists displayed paintings, there was also an artist who did sketches and another who had very unusual pottery.”
They held a Continental Theatre Group presentation, variety shows, musicals, even a parade
The original board officers:
Gary Cullor-Chairman
Joann Meara -Vice-Chairman
Sally Cullor-Secretary
Treasurer-Steve Buerge
Board members were Dale Hammons, Robert Estes, Robert Galvin, Helen Stranathan, and Larry Nuss.
Committee chairman were
Music – Ralph Carlson
Arts – Ernie Huse
Crafts – Sondra Carlson
Theatre – Sally Cullor
Publicity – Shirley Hill
Membership – Mary Ann Burke
“A big thank you to these individuals, for forming this organization, who realized how important the arts were to a community and all those who have came after in keeping the BCAC alive, Anderson said.
“I have attached a history story of the BCAC from Gary Cullor who shared it with me,” Anderson said. “He is much more knowledgeable since he was there from the beginning. There would be a correction to the information in the fourth paragraph, it should read April 9th,1973 instead of April 9th,1773.”
To view Cullor’s history of the art council:

Call for Entries – Bourbon County Arts Council Fine Art Exhibit – 2022

The Bourbon County Arts Council announces its 30th Annual Fine Arts Competition and Exhibit, to be held at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, Thursday, March 10th, through Saturday, March 12th.

The mixed media competition is open to artists of age 16 and older. Categories include Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Art, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil & Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor.

A new themed category has been included; the theme this year is “The Eye of the Beholder”.

An artist may create a piece in any of the above media categories, as it relates to the theme.

Entry fees are $7.50 per piece for Bourbon County Arts Council members and $10.00 per piece for non-members. Artists may enter up to five pieces, but only three in any one category. Entry deadline and payment are due by March 4th, 2022.

Cash awards totaling greater than $3500.00 will be made, for Best of Show in 2D and 3D, First and Second Place winners in each category, and a Popular Vote winner.

Entry forms may be requested by calling Deb Anderson at 620-224-8650, Deb Halsey at (620)224-0684, or e-mailing [email protected].

PLEASE NOTE: We are no longer accepting pieces shipped to BCAC for entry into the exhibit.

The schedule for this year’s Exhibit is as follows:

Entry forms and payment, as stated above, are due by March 4th. No late entries will be accepted.

Artwork will be accepted at the Ellis Fine Arts Center on March 6th, between 1 and 4 pm.

Juror critique of the artwork will occur on March 9th; this is closed to artists and the public.

The BCAC will host a Chamber Coffee Thursday, March 10th at 8:00 am at the Ellis Center; artists are invited to attend.

The Exhibit will be open for public viewing on Thursday, March 10th and Friday, March 11th, from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm, and on Saturday, March 12th, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

A reception, open to the public, will be held for participating artists and the Juror on Thursday evening, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center is located at 2108 Horton St., Fort Scott, Kansas.

Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of Gordon Parks and his tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.,
The Gordon Parks Museum has scheduled a series of events to celebrate his life.
Starting on January 13th at 7pm
The Gordon Parks Museum Presents:
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s: Ever Present
Then, on Friday, Jan. 14th and Monday, Jan. 17th, the film showings of
Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights
After the first film on January 14th, there will be a Lunch & Learn in the Ellis Arts Center at 12pm. The Fort Scott High School Advanced Drama students will be reading the “I Have A Dream” speech given by Martin Luther King.
The community is invited and encouraged to bring canned food or cleaning products from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to the museum which is in recognition of King’s day of service events that will happen nationally. These canned goods/cleaning products will be presented to The Beacon, a local helping agency. Please, no out-of-date goods.
After the 1st film on the 17th, the Lunch & Learn event by Prisca Barnes, will be speaking on the “The Dockum Drugstore Sit-In”, an event that happened in Wichita.
A free lunch will be provided by Luther’s BBQ. Drinks and desserts will be provided by Great Western Dining.

Kids Art Camp Offered Next Week

Judy Earp. Submitted photo.

Judy Earp lived 40 years in California and moved to Fort Scott in December 2019 because she fell in love with a Victorian home here.

She originally was from Lamar, MO, and looked there and in Nevada for just the right home to accommodate all of her Victorian furniture in her decision to return to the Mid-West.

When Earp found the house at 702 S. National Avenue, she found a space for an art studio.

“My art studio is in the basement,” she said.

During her California years, in her free time (she was a computer programmer and also sold real estate), she took art classes of all sorts, at Monterrey Peninsula Community College.

“The labs and all the equipment were fantastic (for all the art classes she took),” she said.

She started offering painting classes in Fort Scott in 2020 and found that the play area just outside her studio was perfect for the kid’s art classes she wanted to instruct.

The children need breaks sometimes, she said, and the space is perfect for that.

Next week she is offering a Winter Art Party for children ages five and up.

“Our next camp is from December 27 through December 31,” she said. “It has a winter theme. The cost is $125 for the entire week. I also offer two art parties for the kids on No School Days, one for USD 234 and one for St. Mary’s. These take place at my studio at 702 S. National. The cost is $25.”

No School Days are when students are not in class for one day, for teacher in-service, etc.

“My main goal is to share the joy of creating art with people of all ages and that we should all have fun while doing so,” Earp said.

“I offer different art events geared for different age groups,” she said. “During the summer and winter and spring breaks, I offer an art camp that is a week-long and we create five  different paintings, all with a common theme.”

She also provides private art parties.

“Paint and Sip Parties are adult, also private parties,” she said. “I do women’s church groups.”

This past summer Earp offered a beach week, a red, white, and blue week and a farm week.

Judy Earp’s students during beach week in 2021. Submitted photo.

“I offer family-friendly art parties also, with paintings that are suitable for all ages,” she said. “We just had one at Papa Don’s this past Saturday. The cost is also $25.”

Students of the Family Paint and Pizza Art Party on Dec. 18, at Papa Don’s Pizza. Submitted photo.

“I also offer Paint & Sip Parties,” she said. “I will have two in January at Dry Wood Creek Cafe. We will be painting a Highland Cow. Both parties sold out within a few hours.”

Submitted photo.

“All parties include everything you need to complete and take home a painting,” she said.  “I draw the picture on the canvas for you, supply the paint, brushes, easels and aprons. I also guide the artists every step of the way.”

Judy Howser and a friend show their art from a Fall Pathway Art Party in September. Submitted photo.

The best way for people to know immediately when a new class, camp or party is offered is to Like and follow Happy Snappy Art on Facebook, she said.