Urban River, acrylic painting by David Kontra

The Swan, corrugated cardboard sculpture by Jessie Montes

RES = Robert Eugene Smith, acrylic painting by Robert Eugene Smith

The Big Green Fish, painted wood sculpture by Ed Larson

The Moth, acrylic & enamel painting by Micah W. Guenther

The Chicken, painted wood sculpture by Gary White

Presented by Pro 100

Spiva programs are made possible with financial assistance from The Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a State agency.

Those accustomed to seeing the Spiva Center’s Main Gallery filled with refined sculptures and breathtaking works of painterly skill may be jolted by the artworks on display in the new exhibit opening to the public on Saturday, January 27.

In the Company of Outsiders showcases the work of three untrained artists who create outside of the mainstream of art school training or fine art concerns. Exhibited are cardboard “paintings” and sculptures by Jessie Montes, paintings by Robert Eugene Smith and David Kontra, and a selection of painted wood sculptures by guest artist and Joplin native Ed Larson.

A native of Mexico, Jessie Montes began his new life in America as a farm laborer in Kansas. He eventually earned a GED, married, and settled in Dodge City. When his son and daughter were serving in the Persian Gulf War, Jessie was a custodian for the public schools in Dodge City. To distract himself from worrying about their safety while serving in the military, he began cutting cardboard into thin 1/4 inch strips and gluing them together to fashion items such as decorative picture frames to hold photographs of his children.

Eventually, Jessie worked on more complicated designs, added color, and devised methods for creating recognizable portraits. George Bush, Wyatt Earp, Shakespeare, Elvis Presley, Mel Gibson, and Frank Sinatra are among the notables Jessie has rendered in corrugated cardboard. One finely textured portrait was made from 35 pizza boxes, gathered from the school cafeteria.

Then there are the three-dimensional pieces, such as decorative boxes, working lamps with shades, an Aztec pyramid, the Eiffel Tower—all constructed of corrugated cardboard. Jessie’s work is represented by such prominent galleries as Phyllis Kind of New York and appreciated for the fine craftsmanship and unique use of materials.

Robert Eugene Smith started painting in 1973 while living in Houston, Texas. While browsing through an art magazine at the local library he noticed an advertisement for fine art being offered for sale by an auction house. Robert shipped two paintings to New York City, and a few weeks later received a check for $70 from Sotheby’s. With that encouragement, Robert was spurred on and, according to him, “....has sold thousands of canvases” since.

Robert’s images are crammed full of people, buildings, cars, trucks, airplanes, animals, and chaotic activity rendered in bright primary colors. A single painting may include Elvis Presley, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, and The Three Stooges, with mountains and missiles in the background. Robert now lives in Springfield, Missouri.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, David Kontra, a younger man in his late 40's, resides outside of Hartville in rural Missouri. David is afflicted with a degenerative eye disease that presented in childhood and progressed to render him legally blind by adulthood.

With a mere 5 percent vision in one eye and only light perception in the other, David relies on memory, instinct, and feel to create his paintings. Many of his paintings are dark in tone, with figures placed in an urban setting. “I painting all kinds of people because there are so many kinds of people out there,” David notes. His themes are often inspired by the lyrics of pop music or deal with current events from the media.

The painted wood sculptures by guest artist Ed Larson provide a humorous note to the exhibit and reflect the artist’s many years as a toy designer in Chicago. Originally from Joplin, Larson lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Concurrently Spiva’s Regional Gallery presents Other Visions, an exhibit of paintings by Girard, Kansas, resident Micah Guenther, with sculpture selections from the collection of Bill and Martha Fowks of Joplin.

The opening reception for Spiva members, artists, and guests is Friday, January 26, 5:30-7:30pm. The exhibits are sponsored by Pro 100 Inc REALTORS with additional support from Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. The opening will be hosted by David Blum, owner of The Red Onion Cafe and Bella Peppers Italian Kitchen, with music performed by Baled Green & Wired Tight.

Spiva Center for the Arts is located at Third and Wall in downtown Joplin. Free parking on southside of building off Wall. 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. Suggested donations are $2 for adults, $1 for students. For additional information, please call 417.623.0183.

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