Just like beauty, a state of well-being is in the eye of beholder.
In this case, namely an art exhibit interpreting well-being, it can also be in the eye of an artist.
That can mean creating something that depicts outdoor play. Gardening. A pastoral scene. A visit to the beach. A beloved pet or fellow human.
For 23 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 Aug. 23-Sept. 12.
An opening reception for “The Art of Well Being” is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23 and includes a concert followed by the presentation of awards. Cash awards total $3,000 with a $600 prize for first place to be awarded.
The juror for this year’s show is a familiar name in the local arts community. It’s Rachael Baar, former executive director of Henderson Fine Arts Center, now Preston Arts Center, from 1996 to 2017.
Rachael has been curator of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah since 2017. In her position at the NQM she has jurored several shows including “Seeing Stars” for the Southeast Missouri Arts Council. Rachael holds a Master of Science in management from Brescia University, an MS degree in education from University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Murray State University.
To submit entries, artists may deliver them to the church on Aug. 14-15 from 10 a.m.-noon.
The exhibit location will be the church’s Gathering Area located just through the big double doors beneath the portico. That entrance is 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.
For more information, call 270-860-1930.
