Well being. It can mean different things to different people.
Time spent reading a good book. Playing with children. Gardening. Gazing at a pastoral scene. A visit to the beach.
Basically, quality time.
For 22 years, the community’s artists have been interpreting the concept of well being through an annual art exhibit at First United Methodist Church, which will this year be on display May 4-30.
An opening reception for “The Art of Well Being” is set for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 and includes a concert of secular music followed by the presentation of awards. Cash prizes totaling $3,000 with a $600 prize for first place will be awarded.
Juror for this year’s show is Laicee Blackwell, who holds a bachelor of science in studio art with an emphasis on sculpture from the University of Southern Indiana. She also has a Master’s of fine arts in sculpture and expanded media from Kent State University, where she has been an instructor.
To submit entries, artists may deliver them to the church on April 21-22 or April 25-26 from 10 a.m. 1 p.m.
The exhibit location will be the church’s Gathering Area located just through the big double doors beneath the portico. That entrance is just off Green Street near the intersection of Second and Green streets in downtown Henderson.
Artwork must have been created since 2020. No jewelry, photography, digital artwork, nudes or crafts will be eligible. A prospectus with the complete rules is available at HendersonFirstUMC.org.
“The Art of Well Being” was the brainchild of Susan Latham, who at the time the exhibit began was parish nurse at First Methodist. The exhibit brochure says that Latham believed both the creation of art and viewing the results could contribute to health and well being of participants. So, 23 years ago she asked long-time local art curator and artist Jule McClellan, a fellow church member, to organize and implement the open art show, which she continues to do today.
For more information, call 270-860-1930.