The MOSI Art Guild began in January of 2014. Three Kirksville area artists came together with the intention to network, support, and motivate artists in northern Missouri and southern Iowa. Their hope was to give artists recognition and opportunities to learn and improve their artistic skills. Meetings were scheduled for once a month to gather and review in-progress and finished artwork with peer critiques, and to have regular presentations exploring each artist’s techniques. Meetings continue to have mini programs such as Preparing Artwork for Presentation, Horses as Art Through the Ages, or Writing an Artist Bio.
EXHIBITING ARTWORK
The first Spring MOSI Art Guild Exhibit was held in 2014, MOSI’s first year of existence, in the Alliant Bank – Kirksville Branch with over twenty members participating in 2-D and 3-D artworks. This show was judged by Mark McWhorter, instructor of studio art and art history at Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA. Winners were Colleen Wagner, best of show; Maureen McHale, 1st place 2-D art; and Amber Corbett, 1st place 3-D art.
The second annual Spring MOSI Art Guild Exhibit was held at the Kirksville Arts Association gallery. It was judged by Debra Scoggin-Myers, instructor of art at Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO. Winners in 2015 were Colleen Wagner, best of show; Ann Salviazul, 1st place 2-D art; Amber Corbett, 1st place 3-D art; along with several honorable mentions.
The third annual Spring MOSI Art Guild Exhibit was held at the Kirksville Arts Association gallery where it hung May 12 through July 4, 2016. It was judged by Sandy Eccles, a professional artist and retired art teacher. Winners in 2016 were Anna Marie Dabney, best of show; Darrell Williams, 1st place painting; and Greg Walter, 1st place drawing; Maureen McHale, 1st place photography; Amber Corbett, 1st place mixed media/misc.; Denise Hilton, 1st place 3-D art; along with a number of honorable mentions.
Upcoming 2017 – The fourth annual (2017) Spring MOSI Art Guild Exhibit is in the planning stages.
In the fall of 2014, 2015 and 2016, a second art exhibit, Pickler Memorial Library/MOSI Art Exhibit, was held at Pickler Memorial Library on the Truman State University campus. This is not a juried show but allows viewers to select their favorite piece of art. The winning artists were recognized during the reception. The viewer’s choices for 2016 were Denise Hilton and Darrell Williams.
Upcoming 2017 – The Pickler Memorial Library/MOSI Art Exhibit has become an annual event and is planned for the fall of 2017.
At each month’s meeting the MOSI members select a Celebrated Artist. Interested members bring in one finished artwork for the competition. All members then vote for their favorite piece. All art is then discussed. The winning piece is hung for public display. Also, an article and picture of the celebrated art and artist are sent to the Kirksville Daily Express for publication. See blog postings for Celebrated Artists.
Along with the Celebrated Artist display, members may also display artwork in the window of Edwards Shelter Insurance, 106 W. Harrison St., Kirksville, MO. This artwork is rotated and is another opportunity to exhibit and sell MOSI artists’ work.
MOSI worked with the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce–Merchants Committee to begin an Artwalk in downtown Kirksville in the summer of 2014. The 2015 Artwalk and 2016 Artwalk was sponsored by the Kirksville Arts Association and the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce–Merchants Committee on the downtown square in June. Many MOSI members participated each year. Each artist is paired with a downtown merchant. At this location a display of the artist’s work is set up along with the artists sharing their techniques during the community Artwalk.
Upcoming 2017 – The 2017 Artwalk will be be held June 2 on the square in Kirksville. MOSI members also exhibit in the Kirksville Arts Association’s Regional Art Show held in the fall, and frequently at the Columbia Art League in Columbia, MO, see Related Links.
Two of our founding members, Dave Carter and Colleen Wagner have had solo art exhibits at the Kirksville Arts Association.
WORKSHOPS
In 2015 MOSI sponsored six hands-on workshops for members and others interested in exploring or improving their art techniques. These events were held at the Kirksville Arts Association gallery, Jackson Stables outside Kirksville, and the community center at Edina, MO. They included Soft Pastels, Dynamic Design, Plein Air, Spray Can Art, and Stained Glass. Four workshops were held in 2016 at Kirksville’s First Christian Church Education Building. They included Acrylic Landscapes, Color Theory, Watercolor, and Stained Glass Ornament/Light Catcher. A complete list of past workshops and the instructors is available here.
Upcoming 2017 – Workshops are being planned for 2017. Watch for more details posted online and on fliers around Kirksville.
FUNDRAISING
MOSI exists to encourage, develop, and promote artists in our area. With that in mind, we have fundraisers to raise money for our minimal operating expenses and to support our members at workshops.
The first fundraiser was held in the early Spring of 2015 and was artist decorated chairs. The wooden lawn chairs were purchased from a local woodworker then distributed to interested MOSI artists. There was no theme other than to decorate the chair. Our artists used oils, acrylics, or pyrography to explore decoration of the lawn chairs. A silent auction was held and each chair was sold in mid-February to the highest bidder.
The second fundraiser of 2015 was a hands-on art and wine party hosted by MOSI at Jackson Stables titled, Van Gogh Remix. This was open to the public and consisted of painting a remix of Van Gogh’s “Three Sunflowers in a Vase” while enjoying a complementary glass of wine in the ambiance of Jackson Stables, southeast of Kirksville, MO. The canvas, easel, paint, brushes, and instruction by Judy Harris and Colleen Wagner were supplied by MOSI. There were 20 in attendance. Each participant took their remix painting home with them.
The fundraiser for 2016 was a silent auction of artist decorated clocks. Abstract forms were built and distributed to interested MOSI members. They were painted, collaged, or in some way decorated uniquely then assembled with clock mechanisms and hanging materials. The clocks were displayed in the Alliant Bank, 201 S. Baltimore, Kirksville, from April 4 through April 28. A reception was held at the bank on April 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the auction closing at 5:30 p.m. The clocks went home with the highest bidder for each.
updated 12/8/16