NEWS – WEBSTER ARTS

We bring art to life by providing opportunities for people of all ages to engage in and enjoy the arts through programs, partnerships, and collaboration. . 

Pre-register at  http://www.webster-arts.org/paintwebster

A few years ago, Janet Hamill began to experiment with plein

air painting on her own. Although she felt a bit self-conscious painting out in the open, Hamill saw it as a practice that could bring area residents together. So she went to work.

A former Webster Arts board member and current Chair of Paint Webster, Hamill quickly rallied the help of a few local friends to the arts such as Krueger Pottery, Yucandu and Webster University. She got sponsors on board to raise cash to award the competition winners  ($2,100 in prizes were awarded last year) and she spread the word to the greater St. Louis community. As the founder and dreamer behind Paint Webster, Hamill shares the philosophy of a program that continues to inspire each spring.

Paint Webster….

• is a free event for all ages and skill sets.  No barriers to participation!
• happens on one day, making it intense, exciting, and feasible for many to participate. Join us this year on May 9!
• offers a free pre-event featuring artist demos and workshops for kids and adults on May 2.
• culminates with a with reception that is open to the public on May 9 at the Monday Club.
• the work hangs in the Old Orchard Gallery to showcase the work of Paint Webster participants the week following the event.

The Missouri Arts Council (MAC) has been a long supporter of Webster Arts. We spoke with Donald Rice, Program Specialist, to learn how and why MAC supports artists across the state and in our own community.

Webster Arts: Describe the partnership between MAC and Webster Arts.

Rice: MAC helps by giving funds to the Air&Art festival and, in turn, Webster Arts makes their festival free and accessible to all people from all over the St. Louis region.  We both benefit because MAC reaches our strategic goals and Webster Arts fulfills their mission.

Webster Arts: Why does MAC value supporting community-based arts organizations like ours?

Rice: We believe that community-based arts organizations are on the front lines of leading their community in appreciation, growing, and developing the arts in their communities.

Webster Arts: In your opinion, what are some of the most exciting things going on in the Missouri arts scene right now?

Rice: I think the most exciting things are all the arts festivals happening around the state.  Everything from a Chalk Walk Festival in Kansas City (www.kcchalkandwalk.org), an African art festival in St. Louis (www.stlafricanartsfest.com), an Heritage festival in Arrow Rock (www.arrowrock.org), to an up and coming Jazz Festivals in Springfield (www.itsalldowntown.com).  Missouri festivals are like a box of chocolate, so many options.

Webster Arts: What’s one thing you’d love for the public to know about MAC?

Rice:  That we’re truly here to promote the arts in Missouri and we love being a part of the process of seeing Missouri and Missourians appreciating, growing and developing the arts.

Webster artist Laura Puricelli noticed something was missing when she went shopping for supplies to make a terrarium, a miniature ecosystem of plants contained in a glass container.

While most vendors carried whimsical fairy gardening figurines of gnomes and woodland creatures, Puricelli wanted something a little more practical to adorn her garden, something she could relate to.

“I was frustrated that what I wanted wasn’t out there,” she says.

So she began to develop prototypes of small figurines capturing daily life – a yogi in the lotus position, a birdwatcher, and a woman in a robe holding a coffee cup. Set to launch this spring, Terra Folk is Puricelli’s new line of hand painted, locally sourced terrarium accessories designed to bring a little personality into small-scale gardens.

“I decided to take my passion and go with it,” she says. Discover your favorite Terra Folk figurines at Rolling Ridge Nursery and Garden Heights Nursery or at terrafolk.com.