GOVERNOR’S MANSION EXHIBIT 2015

ARTISTS FEATURED IN NEW DISPLAY AT MISSOURI GOVERNOR’S MANSION

Hannibal, MO – Eight members of the Missouri Artisans Association/Best of Missouri Hands organization have been selected to have their work displayed at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion as part of an ongoing partnership titled Best of Missouri Hands at The Mansion.

Each year a different medium is selected to be featured.  Invited to display their work in 2014-2015 are Best of Missouri Hands Juried Members and photographers Todd Tuttle of Poplar Bluff, Faith Bemiss of Sedalia, Hilary Hitchcock of St. Louis, Gary Winn of Blue Springs, Lori Purk of St. Louis/Clarksville, Martin Spilker of Bethel, Harry Enderle of Boonville, and Kim Carr of New Florence.

The Best of Missouri Hands is privileged to have a presence at the Governor’s Mansion since the organization partnered with Governor and Mrs. Bob Holden to collect and display ornaments created by Missouri artisans on the Governor’s Mansion tree in December of 2002.  This project continued until December of 2004.  Beginning in 2005, the ornament collection was exhibited in a one-of-a-kind display piece designed by BOMH member Heinrich Leonhard and made by Lou Swacker.

In 2010, the Missouri Artisans Association and Missouri Mansion Preservation staff revamped the display to feature selected Best of the Missouri Hands artisans creating works they are producing currently.  The first to participate in the new display were Best of Missouri Hands glass artisans Gary and Judy Rice, Nicholas Philips and Lance Stroheker of New Haven, Kenneth and Julie Marine of Hollister, Peggy King of Columbia and Shawn Harris of Sedalia.  The second display featured Best of Missouri Hands painters Brenda Beck Fisher of Hannibal, Miriam Krone of New Haven, Loran Creech of California, Carolyn Coffey Wallace of Ava, Alicia Farris of Springfield, Cheryl Schweitzer of Jefferson City and Shirley Eley Nachtrieb of St. Charles.

The Missouri Artisans Association/Best of Missouri Hands was founded in 1989 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and recognition of Missouri’s artists and artisans through education, interaction and encouragement.  For further information on the Missouri Artisans Association/Best of Missouri Hands organization, please visit  www.bestofmissourihands.org 

To schedule a tour of the mansion please visit

http://mansion.mo.gov/tours.php