Spiva Center for the Arts announces exhibits opening Friday, January 27: Andy Thomas: Storyteller in the Main Gallery; Divergent Tangents in the Regional Focus Gallery.

Andy Thomas: Storyteller, presented by Southwest Missouri Bank, features the paintings of nationally recognized artist, Andy Thomas. The show at Spiva is a first for the well known, highly regarded, self-taught painter from Carthage.

The exhibit will present the exciting breadth of Andy Thomas’s ability to masterfully portray the past—from the grand moments in history to the incidental moments of daily life. “What is so captivating about Andy’s work,” notes Spiva Director Jo Mueller “is his ability to engage the viewer in a visual narrative.”

In particular, Andy has become a noted historical painter of the Trans–Mississippi battles of the Civil War. Those familiar with details of specific battles appreciate Andy’s research and thoroughness, as portrayed in Andy’s recently completed Civil War scenes of The Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Several of them will be included in the show, along with local historical scenes such as “Joplin Main Street, 1900” and “The Connor Hotel,” on loan from private collections.

In a lighter vein of “imaginative” storytelling, Andy depicts the melodrama of a tense poker game set in the Old West or a funny cowboy jig around the campfire under the stars. “I often have friends dress up and model for me,” admits Andy. “If you look carefully, you might recognize someone you know.”

A masterful figurative, portrait, landscape, and still life artist, Andy produces paintings that transcend the narrow confines of a single genre. “When I started painting full time in 1991,” Andy recalls, “I just painted anything and everything, always with the intention to improve a little bit more every day.” A career built on hard work, shows, awards, commissions, gallery representation, and well deserved recognition brought success to Andy. His work is featured in prestigious exhibits around the country and represented by Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, TX and Mystic Gallery, Connecticut.

So what is Andy’s goal now? “He replies, “To be a better artist.”

During the opening reception, Andy will sign copies of his book, “The Artful Journey,” available for purchase that evening. The exhibit is sponsored by Southwest Missouri Bank, with additional support from Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Crabby’s Seafood Bar & Grill will host the opening reception, with music by guitarist Tim Snider.

Visitors to the Regional Focus Gallery will be treated to work by two local area artists in the exhibit, Divergent Tangents. Dan McWilliams from Jasper is an up and coming painter catching the eye and admiration of many collectors. For the past two years, Dan won First Place in the Adult 2-D category of Spiva’s Annual Membership shows, along with prizes and awards in other regional competitions.

Known for luscious color and confident brush work, Dan often chooses unusual lighting or quirky perspectives for depicting his subject matter, which can range from a Persian cat sitting on an oriental rug to waterlilies floating on a summer pond. His paintings are “realistic,” yet there’s a raw energy to the work expressing something beyond appearances. “I’m after a mood,” says Dan, “and I want the viewer to feel life.”

Joplin artist M. Justin Hale has been attracting appreciation for his sculpture work. Wood is his favored medium, and his finely finished pieces hover between stylized forms and outright abstractions. “When I look for wood,” notes Justin, “I am drawn to pieces that seem to suggest a form already in the material.” Most of Justin’s sculptures for this show were completed since 2000.

Andy Thomas: Storyteller and Divergent Tangents continue through March 3 at Spiva Center for the Arts, located at 222 West Third Street, Joplin. Spiva galleries and Gift Shop are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sundays, 1–5 p.m. Admission to the Main Gallery is by voluntary contribution.

Andy Thomas to paint portrait of lucky winner Sunday, February 12

Spiva Center for the Arts, funded through memberships, contributions, and grants, is open to the public.

George A. Spiva Center for the Arts
222 W. 3rd Street
Joplin, Mo 64801
Tel: 417-623-0183
Fax: 417-623-3805
www.spivaarts.org