The exhibit offered artists of all talent and experience levels a chance to have their work displayed, as opposed to more formal exhibits where an artist’s work is judged before being selected, or they may have to pay a fee for their work to be entered.
Post Art Library Executive Director Jill Halbach said that inclusivity is one of the goals of having a community exhibit.
“I think it helps to build confidence for people who are complete newcomers and also encourages people to participate, who may have never considered doing something like that before because this is a less formal environment,” Halbach said.
In total, 26 pieces were entered, depicting landscapes, food, ideas and feelings. The mediums ranged from paintings to photography to felt art.
“It's really interesting just to see the variety we received from different areas of the community,” Halbach said.
Artist Eli Goodwin, a fine arts graduate of Missouri Southern State University, entered a piece called “The Line.” It shows a cicada, which are prominent in the Midwest, in front of a human torso. According to Goodwin, cicadas symbolize rebirth, resurrection and transformation, and they used the insect to represent the queer experience in their work.
“I thought that there wouldn't be many other career pieces involved because people would be thinking more about the environment,” they said. “Maybe not about the queer community exactly. So I wanted to make sure that I involved the queer community in the space.”
Craig Gold, who has entered work in community exhibits similar to “My Midwest” before, created a watercolor and acrylic painting titled “Friends at Sunset.” For him, the exhibit was an opportunity to express himself through his passion for art, as well see what his fellow artists are doing.
“I enjoy what other people do, as well as my own stuff, and I get ideas from them as well,” he said. “That's what's fun.”
“My Midwest” will be on display through April 27. Halbach encouraged the community to come to the library and see it before then.
“I hope they stop in and that they see what people made and maybe get inspired to participate in something like this in the future, because we will have another opportunity coming up soon,” she said.
More information about the Joplin Reads Together program and future events can be found on the library’s website.
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