Thirty-one years establishes an event as generational. And for 30 of those years, the Midwest Gathering of the Artists has been growing its roots ever deeper with the culturing oversight of Sandra “Sandy” Higgins.
A Carthage resident for 47 years now, Higgins was always an art advocate. She was attending a gallery on the square some 30 years ago when she met local artist Bob Tommey.
“He was talking about doing a show. As I passed by, I turned to him and said, ‘I can do that,’” she recalls.
Tommey was already working on the show with another local artist, Lowell Davis, and business man Danny Hensley, according to the MGA Web site www.4statearts.com/organizations/mga/history.html.
“We started developing it with three or four painters,” says Higgins. That was in December 1978. The painters were David, Tommey, and Ron Crooks, of California. “It started as Western art. Eventually, I convinced him (Tommey) that flowers were good, portraits were good,” she adds.
By year two, there were 20 artists involved, and by 1985 the MGA show would see the addition of Sam Butcher, already famous for his Precious Moments art. Memorial Hall and artCentral eventually teamed up to host the event in 1989.
“We try to add six or seven new artists each year,” says Higgins. This year, 33 artists are included, the last one signing on at the end of July.
Higgins is a full-time volunteer, never wanting to be paid for her directorship, although she spends many hours organizing and arranging all the events. She was honored for her efforts on behalf of not only MGA but the entire artistic culture in this area during a Carthage Chamber of Commerce ceremony held in January 2008.
Heralding Higgins as an art lover and collector, the emcee named her as “Someone to whom art may be almost as necessary as air… Someone with such generosity of spirit that encouraging artists—no matter where they are in their careers—is as natural as sharing a cup of coffee with old friends.
“This is a person who looks after this community and has helped create a community of artists that now extends across the country to ensure that art is regarded as a vibrant, vital, part of the culture of this part of the world.”
Higgins was among a group of Carthage citizens who formed an arts organization that later became artCentral and served as the acting director of that group until 1997, when she opened her own gallery, IMAGINE, on the Carthage square.
“She truly is an ‘Art Angel,’” said one artist, noting Higgins’ donations to scholarships for children to attend artCentral camp and encouragement to new artists. “She also has been known to take portfolios of more established artists with her on vacations, dropping them off at galleries she visits—much like Johnnie Appleseed, only she is planting art seeds from southwest Missouri where ever she goes!” said the artist.
Higgins said she is particularly supportive of young peoples’ artistic efforts, displaying several examples of art by elementary students.
This year’s participants in the Midwest Gathering of the Artists include: Andy Thomas, April David, Bill Snow, Billy Kirk, Bob Tommey, Bobby Hunt, Bob Duffle, Cal Sechrest, Dan McWilliams, Debbie Reed, Don Goin, Doug Hall, Doug Prine, Garnet Buster, Gail McArgel, Jack Sours, Ken Southwick, Kyle Carroll, Laura Reilly, Larry Case, Lowell Davis, Martha Spurlock, Martiena R. Richter, Raymond Popp, Richard Thompson, Robin Putnam, John Fitzgibbon, Roy Lee Ward, Steven Napper, Theresa Rankin, Todd A. Williams, Tricia Courtney, and Karen Honaker.
PROFiLES
September 23, 2008
MGA Boasts Dedicated Director
By Rebecca Kanan
- PROFiLES
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<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0> Eyes on the Audience <font color="#ff0000">w/ John DeHoyos performance videos and audio interview</font>
About a dozen hearty souls, including myself, braved the elements one recent wintery afternoon to listen to the musical stylings of a 28-year-old Southern California native named John DeHoyos.
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“E” is for Energy, Education: New High School Includes Features to Lower Electric Bills
For those of us who walk around every night turning off lights and unplugging appliances to reduce our electric bill and keep our carbon footprint low, the opportunity to start from scratch and install energy-saving technology during the construction process would be invaluable.
- Over the River, Through the Woods “How can the long distance runner ever get lonely?” asks Snoopy in a 1978 Charles Schultz comic strip. In context, Snoopy poses the question following an ongoing series of complaints from his aching limbs; but the question is valid in reality as well.
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Home Town Inspired: Young Entrepreneurs Invest Time and Energy
From the courthouse to the beautiful Victorian homes, Carthage is a unique and lovely town, full of surprises and its own quiet charm. It’s a town that not only supports local entrepreneurs but also encourages them, as evidenced by the many flourishing locally-owned enterprises.
- MGA Boasts Dedicated Director Thirty-one years establishes an event as generational. And for 30 of those years, the Midwest Gathering of the Artists has been growing its roots ever deeper with the culturing oversight of Sandra “Sandy” Higgins.
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British Invasion: Annual Car Show Gets Bigger Every Year
Although the songs of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks were blaring through the sound system, Carthage’s recent British invasion wasn’t about the music. . . . It was about the cars.
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Light, Color, Composition
She calls herself an “impatient realist.” When you see her art, you recognize immediately the realist part. But “impatient” …?
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Welcome Babies: McCune Brooks Brings Forth Spradling Birthing Center
“Women will be pampered unmercifully,” said Pam Barlet, director of community relations and program development at McCune Brooks Regional Hospital in Carthage. “The new Spradling Birthing Center is opening on September 2. We are so excited to be welcoming babies back to this hospital.”
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Cards, Yards, and Bards: Duo Decorates Lawns for Special Occasions
Congratulations in 3-D. Happy Birthday in moos, baas, or vrooms. Be My Valentine in multiple hearts.
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Girls Night Out
Girls Night Out, LLC, a non-profit organization to benefit women in need, is proud to announce that our inaugural empowerment event, the red carpet movie premier of “Sex and the City”, on June 2, 2008 was a huge success.
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