BOMH Regional Exhibit in Hannibal

by Michael Gaines, HAC/MACAA Executive Director and BOMH Board Member

The Hannibal Arts Council enjoys a long-standing connection with Best of Missouri Hands members through the Autumn Historic Folklife Festival, held each year in October. Many of the exhibitors are BOMH members and are part of who we call our Folklife Festival Family. As a festival sponsor, we know when a BOMH Juried Member applies that the juried designation comes with somewhat of a pre-juried distinction and stamp of approval. We see a great value in the BOMH juried membership. Our audience (and purchasers) take note as well.

Having been involved in BOMH for several years as a board member and board advisor, I have also come to realize and respect that not every member of BOMH does festivals or goes through the jury process. When the Regional Activities Committee began talking about regional exhibits and the ability of the hosting organization to create an exhibit which fits their needs, I was very excited. Because the Hannibal Arts Council has a gallery, there was yet one more opportunity created to connect with BOMH.

The result: Through July 6, the Hannibal Arts Council is pleased to be the host of a special exhibit of Juried and General Members of Best of Missouri Hands who live in the Northeast Missouri Region. As the sponsoring organization, we were given the leeway to create an exhibit which suited our needs, our space and our goals. We could have chosen to curate an exhibit through pulling from the entire BOMH membership, concentrate regionally, feature one particular medium or only feature Juried Members.

In our case, we chose to invite both general and juried members who live in our region to participate.  Participating in the group exhibit include artists Martha Mudd Adrian, Brenda Beck Fisher, Pat Kerns and Kimberly Shinn of Hannibal, Jeannie Scott/Eric Zumwalt and Joyce Ayers of Green Castle, Dave Carter, Charles Pritchard and Ann Salviazul of Kirksville, Theresa Allen Hamlin of Edina, Cindy Logan of Louisiana and Mary Beth St. Clair of Wyaconda.

From the perspective of the arts organization hosting the exhibit, the exhibit provides an opportunity for us to spotlight area artists, as we do with our entire gallery schedule, but adds the ability to us to be a catalyst for encouraging our local artists to become more familiar with BOMH, its services, programs and networking. From the perspective of a BOMH board member, I see the value in regional exhibits for giving visibility to BOMH and its artists, providing an opportunity for all BOMH members (gallery or festival) to participate in new ways, all while creating partnerships with arts organizations throughout the state.

To view the exhibit though July 6, the Hannibal Arts Council hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The Hannibal Arts Council is closed Tuesdays and Sundays. For more information on the current exhibit and other HAC programs contact the Hannibal Arts Council at findit@hannibalarts.com, 573-221-6545 or visit them on the web at hannibalarts.com.