Local Art News
Karen Johnson, Contributing Columnist
February 9, 2010

New Beginnings Invitational: A Pastel, Oil & Acrylic Invitational Group Show at the Buttonwood Art Space, 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, MO, opened First Friday, February 5th to a crowd who gathered on a snowy evening to view the latest art by some of the area’s finest artists. What greeted visitors was a wonderful variety of media, styles, and subjects. Many of the participating artists are members of The MidAmerica Pastel Society. Gary Ozias, displaying works in both oil and pastel, brings to life the richness of the prairie. Rich Hayek, a pastel artist, creates portraits of trees and takes the viewer on walks through subtle-colored grasslands. Jean Terry uses vibrant pastels to create rural settings that draw in the viewer. Michael Duane dwells on the wonders of the skies and the stylized earth beneath. In this exhibit he brings sunflowers to the foreground of one of his paintings. Elizabeth Zeller, an iconographer, also paints landscapes and creates sculptures.

Debbie Wagner has fun portraying food items in symbolic series, focusing in this exhibit on eggs, olives, and cherries. Kathy Drungilas’ contributions feature colorful classic cars from all angles. Beverly Amundson’s still life paintings of fruit beg to be unwrapped and eaten. Donna Yeager, longtime Kansas City artist, offers paintings of a coastal scene complete with pink umbrellas, peacocks, and bright lavender wild flowers. Sheila Jewell has contributed portraits, including one of a Grecian girl, and landscapes. Louise Davis takes viewers to the Kaufman Gardens and to the streets of Europe. Diane Stolz’s paintings of flowers and gardens bring a bit of wonder. Marcia Streepy’s landscape greets passers-by from the window of Buttonwood, and Donna Aldrich’s expansive painting of a Nebraska sunrise expresses the title of the show: New Beginnings.

Other artists who have contributed to this exhibit are John Adams, sculptures in iron and steel; JoAnn Swearingen, landscapes in oil; Cathie Thompson, landscapes; and Helen Wendlandt, oil landscapes. Complementing the exhibit throughout the gallery are the artistic botanical arrangements of Brownie Hayek. This is a stellar show worthy of a visit—or two.

The Buttonwood Art Space is located in the offices of Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC, 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri. The exhibit will remain through March and can be viewed Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment at 816-285-9000. Jamie Lavin is the Art Space’s director. Buttonwood Art Space