September has come, and with it, a number of exciting additions to Art Walk! Experience live art, live music, hands-on activities, art demonstrations and more in 29 participating venues this Friday. Our university-sponsored galleries return in force with new shows at Drury Pool Art Center Gallery, Evangel Bellwether Gallery, MSU Brick City, MSU Center of International Programs, MSU Student Exhibition Center and OTC Fine Art Gallery at the Gillioz. We also welcome Wesley Downtown as a new member! Get details on all the shows below, and visit www.ffaw.org for maps, artist slideshows and more.

Art Inspired, 310 S. Campbell, adjoining Springfield Hot Glass Studio, is proud to present Guest Photographer and Speaker Brian Steel of Atlanta, Ga., with his collection Impaired Perceptions. Steel will speak at an invitation-only event 4-6 p.m. before Art Inspired opens to the public at 6 p.m. Steel's photographs will be offered for sale during the Walk. (417) 868-8084 www.artinspired.me/ Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M-Sat

The Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway, invites visitors to enjoy Artists at Work during the Sept. 6 Art Walk. Artists at Work features artwork created by artists attending workshops at The Creamery and artists working independently at SRAC's Storefront Studios. www.SpringfieldArts.org Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F; closed major holidays

DB Design Salon & Art Gallery, 326 S. Campbell, presents Oils by Karolyn Farrell and Digital Art by Deanna & Robert Henion for the Sept. 6 Art Walk. DB Design also offers a unique collection of original pottery by John Ehlers and Duane Bone. (417) 864-4343

Drury Pool Art Center Gallery, 940 N. Clay St., brings the artistry of the Drury Theatre Department to life during the Sept. 6 Art Walk with Drury Theatre: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. The artistry of theatre has a long history, and this exhibition celebrates that artistry through Drury's Theatre Department, showcasing the work of former and current professors and alumni. With pain, paper, fabrics and computers, we can see how the visual elements of theatre production come to life in light, set and costume design. Included in the exhibition is the work of Dr. Ruth Monroe, Dr. Robin Schraft, Dr. Michael Sokol, Madison Spencer, Todd Potter and Doug Mackenzie.  (417) 873-7263 www.drury.edu/pacgallery  Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. M, T, W, F; 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

The Evangel University Bellwether Gallery, 600 W. College, Ste. 116, presents Evangel Student Artwork for the Sept. 6 First Friday Art Walk. (417) 865-2815, ext. 7258 Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. W-Sat

Farmers Gastropub, 431 S. Jefferson, Ste. 160, presents Artists Sketching Live during the Sept. 6 Art Walk. Farmers Gastropub is a great place to start or end your First Friday Art Walk with a burger and a pint! Named "Best British Restaurant in the USA" by The Telegraph. (417) 864-6994 www.farmersgastropub.com  Food service 11 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Th, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. F-Sat, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday

Fresh Gallery, 400 W. Walnut, presents Featured Artists Alan O'Neal and Carl Huser in September. Alan O'Neal is a retired engineer who has been taking photographs for longer than he can remember; some of the works offered for sale were taken nearly 25 years ago. O'Neal grew up in the country and lives there still, and he has a fondness for nature. All of these things have an influence on the type of pictures he takes. In 2004, O'Neal started doing Digital Art. His process is to take a photograph

Art by Alan O'Neal

and create an alternate image out of it. O'Neal says, "My computer and mouse are my pallet and paintbrush. Many times the final results will have no appearance of being a photograph. I find it neat that it is possible to have an alternate image of a good photo that is also pleasing." For O'Neal, it is also satisfying to take a less pleasing photo and create a desirable image from it.  Our second Featured Artist for September is Carl Huser. His interest in woodturning can be traced back more than 60 years to an old German woodworker who always had time for a curious youngster. It was in Bruno's shop that he learned to appreciate and respect the beauty that is found in wood. Bruno's reverence for wood turned out to be contagious, and since then, Huser has found wood to supply a respite like none other. Huser's main interest is in the turning of vases (hollow forms) and bowls; a blend of form and function. His material comes exclusively from wood saved from brush piles or landfills. In salvaging native wood, the finished pieces are inextricably linked to the region and history from which they originated. His objective is to produce a work that demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship with an artistic touch that people would enjoy having in their homes. Huser says, "The satisfaction that comes from working with this medium is the discovery of beauty from within that has been hidden for years and sometimes centuries. Once found, I want to share this beauty with others and while it may not touch everyone in the same way, no one can deny that a statement has been made." www.freshgallery.org (417) 862-9300 Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. T-Sat, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. during Art Walk

Good Girl Art Gallery, 325 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101, presents Artist Joey Borovicka's show, Life in Small Places, Narrow Crannies, plus a front-window display of Totems by various local artists. Of Life in Small Places, Borovicka says, "I am interested in the experience of spaces; how we are affected by our surroundings, and how we transform them through our presence. Inhabiting a space is a creative act. We fill our homes with personal artifacts and arrange them through the patterns of our dwelling. Over time, our homes become reflections of our inner selves. The living spaces depicted in my latest work are places of solitude and escape. They are makeshift constructions built according to the temperaments of their occupants. These home-made homes, ramshackle though they may be, provide these occupants with the shelter and seclusion they need to indulge unfettered in their myriad bizarre daydreams. Within the walls of this introverted architecture they write stories, paint pictures, and build monsters. They collect curios from their surroundings and reminisce over relics from the past. These artifacts are not merely inert objects, they are enchanted with the memories and imaginations of the inhabitants." A painter and teacher with MSU and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, Joey's work has twice appeared in New American Paintings.  (417) 865-7055 www.goodgirlartgallery.com  Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. T-Sat 

The History Museum on the Square,155 Park Central Square, presents Woodruff's Dream: The Mother Road Through Springfield, The Route 66 Exhibit. The new exhibit  runs through Sept. 14. FREE admission to first-floor exhibits during Art Walk! (417) 832-1200 www.historymuseumonthesquare.org  

 

IdeaXFactory, 351 N. Boonville, invites you to enjoy an eXperimental studio installation with Artist Cathy Russell, plus Graffiti in the Grass, a public art event in partnership with the Urban Districts Alliance. Russell is creating a huge tree constructed from recycled aluminum cans, an installation that explores the theme of her family's struggles with alcoholism. Her work is a part of a series of "eXperimental studios" in which local artists will be given a section of the factory to explore installation themes, materials and methods to be used for future installations. The Harmonic Wall neon installation will be open for sound experiments using the Sonic Paintbrush and PhosXphon light, sound and motion board. Outside, the UDA is partnering with ideaXfactory for graffiti art painting in the grass. Commissioned artists will be painting live next to open spaces where the public is invited to join in painting. Fully completed street art paintings from Live at Artsfest and the Contemporary Art Street Jam will be on display outside where we will be collecting information from local artists interested in working with the City of Springfield to create a permanent StreetArtGallery wall.For more information, please visit http://ideaxfactory.com

 

MSU Brick City Gallery, 215 W. Mill, reopens for the fall with a gala celebration of the completion of the Art and Design Department Brick City facilities and the debut of two art shows: FUNCTIONS by Haley Bates, Sun Kim and Myra Mimlitsch in the East Gallery and Bobby Ross: Drawings and Other Contradictions in the West Gallery. (417) 829-5092 http://art.missouristate.edu/148370.htm Open 1-6 p.m. M-Sat, closed Sunday, Monday and University holidays

MSU Center of International Programs, 301 S. Jefferson, puts its focus on Saudi Arabia in September. Experience art, culture and the perspectives of students abroad.(417) 836-3733 http://international.missouristate.edu

MSU Student Exhibition Center, 838 E. Walnut St., opens its fall season with An Exhibition of Work by Jimmie Allen and Jacek Fraczak. Enjoy photography by Allen and graphic design and illustration by Fraczak during the First Friday Art Walk Reception 6-10 p.m. Sept. 6. (417) 836-6999 www.sec.missouristate.edu Open 1-5 p.m. T-Sat; closed major holidays and University holidays

Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square, invites art lovers to start their First Friday Art Walk with an Art Talk by Paden L. Chambers titled The Wellheads of Venice: Urban History in Stone followed by a special live performance on the Square by The Ugandan Orphans Choir, a ministry of Childcare Worldwide. The choir is composed of 10 children from age 8-14 from the Ssese Islands in Uganda's Lake Victoria. The children are orphans who were rescued through Childcare Worldwide's sponsorship program. The choir's main objective is to raise awareness of the desperate need to help children living in Third World countries. At 7 p.m., enjoy Music by Shannon Wurst. Throughout the evening, enjoy the Wordfest Art Show in conjunction with Wordfest 2013. (417) 831-1342 www.facebook.com/parkcentrallibrary   Open 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Th; 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. F-Sat

Qdoba Mexican Grill, 401 S. Kimbrough, presents Featured Artist Holly Goodwin in September. Goodwin is a visual arts teacher, painter, photographer, illustrator, florist, muralist and children's book author. A visual arts instructor for seven years, Goodwin teaches Pre-K through 12th grade at New Covenant Academy in Springfield. (417) 866-1399 www.goodwillandguacamole.com  

Springfield Brewing Co. presents Art by Gavyn Sky, John Payne and Robin Coulter Crabb

Springfield Pottery, 416 S. Campbell Ave., is a fine craft gallery and community clay center that features examples of fine craft by over 45 local, regional and national artists.  (417) 864-4677 www.springfieldpottery.com Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Sat

Studio 417, 444 W. McDaniel, invites visitors to enjoy A Show to Be Announced during the Sept. 6 Art Walk. Studio 417 is a group of passionate, hard-working individuals who are serious about their work, but not about themselves. We are artists who perform beautiful hair and make up services Monday through Saturday. Although internal beauty is the most important feature, we are dedicated to making you look good on the outside as well! We appreciate all types of art and are energized by beauty. Come see what inspires us!  (417) 866-6455 www.studio417salon.com  Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat

Wesley Downtown, 413 E. Walnut, Art Walk's newest member, invites you to enjoy an assortment of plein air oil paintings from Artist Mike Kornblum. In addition to the art exhibit there will be a Hands-on Art Opportunity for artists of all ages and skill levels. Come help create community artwork that will be displayed at a future Art Walk event! Also, experience the inspiring art of the church's glorious stained glass windows, alive and aglow in Art Walk's sunset hours.(417) 350-9806 www.wesleydowntown.com  

I look forward to seeing you downtown this Friday!