Mena Art Gallery's Summer Open Show

Sunday afternoon, from 1 to 3 pm, Mena Art Gallery introduced its current Exhibit: The Summer Open Show. This exhibit includes a variety of work from painting to photography, from metal sculpture to pottery, and most things in between, all from local artists.

Most of the work on display is for sale, so if you find something you can't live without, you may take it home with you and either decorate your house or delight a friend while supporting the arts in Mena.

This exhibit will remain on display through the end of July, so if you missed the reception, there is still time to enjoy the show. Gallery hours are from noon to 3 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday. For more information, call the gallery at 479-394-3880 or go online at www.MenaArtGallery.org.

Many of the artists with work on display will be taking part in our third annual Ouachita Art Trails Studio Tour in October, so you will have an opportunity to see where and how the artists produce their work and talk to them about their creative process. Most will also accept commissions. Watch your local paper for more information about September.

Mena Art Gallery Members Win Big at Regional Art Show

Above are three of Mena Art Gallery’s award-winning photographers with their winning photos: William Rainey, Chris Masters, and Jo Eldridge.

It was award ribbons and prize money galore for members of Mena Art Gallery at this year’s annual Cossatot Arts and Crafts Show. The art competition, held at King, Arkansas, near DeQueen, took place on May 1 – 2. This event offers just under $10,000 in prize money and purchase awards. Each year, artists from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and other more distant states enter their best work in an effort to take home some of the money.

Members from Mena Art Gallery outdid themselves this year in the number of winning pieces entered and purchase awards received.

In the Adult Art Division, Jim Brace took Best of Show for his oil on canvas painting of Abraham Lincoln, as well as 1st Place in Portraits for the same painting. In addition, he won a 1st Place in Western and The Coolidge Birge Memorial Award. Other winners included: Judith Cantrell – 1st Place in Animals and a Purchase award of $350; Johnna Alexander – 2nd Place in Animals; Gilda Meyers – 2nd Place and Honorable Mention in Western.

In the Photography Division, winners included: William Rainey – 1st Place in General Photography, 1st Place in Cossatot Country and a Purchase Award for $250; Chris Masters – 1st Place in Landscape; Jo Eldridge – 2nd Place in General Photography, Honorable Mention in Cossatot Country and a Purchase Award for $150; Richard Shull – 3rd Place in Landscape.

Mena Art Gallery wishes to congratulate these individuals. Mena can be proud of these talented artists who are part of our community.

Pottery Show Opens at Gallery

Sunday afternoon, May 2, a reception at the Mena Art Gallery formally opened the exhibit for May: a show devoted entirely to pottery created by local artists.
Five potters have work on display: Suzanne Manis, Lou Alderman, Ruby Thacker, Howard Goins, and Diana Licata. Many of your friends and neighbors in Mena were there to meet the artists and see their latest creations.
There are bowls of all shapes and sizes, mugs and jugs, bread baskets and fruit baskets, pitchers, and some that are simply decorative pieces. Almost all of the pieces are for sale, so this is a great time to pick up something special.
The show will remain on display at the gallery, 607 Mena Street, through the end of May. Gallery hours are noon to 3 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 1 to 4 pm on Sunday.

Beautiful Grandfather Clock at Mena Art Gallery

If you have not yet seen the Grandfather Clock at Mena Art Gallery, be sure to take the time to go by. It was donated to the gallery by a member as a fund-raiser to help make it possible to bring you the ever-changing display of art work that you have come to expect. It is being disposed of through a raffle. The donor has specified that we are to receive at least $750 for the clock, which is valued at over $1,000, so ticket sales will continue until we reach that magic number: $750. You still have a chance to win!
Tickets for the raffle are $1 each, 7 for $5, or 10 for $7.50. Gallery hours are noon to 3 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, or 1 to 4 pm on Sundays. Location is 607 Mena Street, just across from the Ouachita Little Theater.
And while you are there, plan to see the All Pottery Show; it displays some great work by local potters. Pieces range from the practical like mugs and bowls to the purely decorative, but all are beautiful. I am constantly amazed at the talent our local artists display.

Gallery Plans Two Photography Workshops

Attention photographers! Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your image-taking skills. Learn how to capture dramatic and unique images of Arkansas landscapes and wildlife, as well as amazing close-ups of flowers, bugs, and all things small.

The subject of the first workshop is landscape and wildlife photography. It will be held on Saturday, May 8, at the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center located at the foot of Rich Mt. Class size is limited, so sign up early.

The subject of the second workshop is macro photography, and it is planned for Saturday, June 12. Location is being decided now and will be announced soon. Cost of both events is $85 each. All proceeds for the May 8 class will go to the Arkansas Wildlife Center. Fees from the June 12 class will go to Mena Art Gallery. Fliers and sign-up sheets are available at the gallery.

Both day-long classes will be taught by award-winning photographer, Corbet Deary of Hot Springs. Two of his wildlife images were featured in last year's Arkansas Wildlife Calendar published by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. For additional information, call Janis Shull at 479-234-2032 or Corbet Deary at 501-624-3243.

Annual High School Show Opens

The artistic talent of area youth was on display at Sunday’s reception for the 23rd Annual High School Show. Over 200 pieces of original art filled the walls of Mena Art Gallery. Schools represented were Acorn, DeQueen, Mena, Umpire, Waldron, and Wicks.

Jesus Orozco of Waldron won Best of Show for his painting titled, “Sunset.” He received $50.00 along with a beautiful ribbon.

Cash awards were presented to other winning artists in each of six categories:

(1) Painting:
1st Place – Kaylee Van Emmerik, Mena;
2nd Place – KC Hansen, Mena;
3rd Place – Yesinia Boix, DeQueen;
Honorable Mention – Latrisha Metcalf, Mena.

(2) Watercolor:
1st Place – Dalton Myers, Acorn;
2nd Place – Tyler Jones, Acorn;
3rd Place – Brenda Balderas, DeQueen;
Honorable Mention – Taylor Barrett, Wickes.

(3) Photography:
1st Place – Ashley Pickens, Waldron;
2nd Place – Austin Stroud, Mena;
3rd Place – Jasmine Wright, Waldron;
Honorable Mention – Jessica Davis, Umpire.

(4) Three Dimensional:
1st Place – Pachia Vang, Waldron;
2nd Place – Abigail Ajuado, DeQueen;
3rd Place – Stephanie Vidrine & Rachel Hinson, Mena;
Honorable Mention – Maria Magana, DeQueen.

(5) Mixed Media:
1st Place – Kaylee Van Emmerik, Mena;
2nd Place – Megan James, Waldron;
3rd Place – Zack Roppel, Mena;
Honorable Mention – Maggie Oneil, Mena.

(6) Graphics:
1st Place – Aleyandra Arroyo, DeQueen;
2nd Place – Jerry Hensley, Mena;
3rd Place – Stephanie Vidrine, Mena;
Honorable Mention – Carlos Maya, Wicks.

Special Merit ribbons were awarded to Carmen Echevarria, Jessica House, Devin Broyles, Kate Self, Kayla Stone, and Kristin Trulock.



Mena Art Gallery wishes to express their thanks to Mena Title Company for providing the cash awards for this show. The art work of these talented young artists will be on display through April 27 and can be viewed during gallery hours: 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

High School Art Reception Sunday

To see the amazing talent of our area’s youth, come to the opening of Mena Art Gallery’s 23rd annual High School Show Sunday, April 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. You will be rewarded with bright, fresh, imaginative creations in a variety of media including: (1) Oil, acrylics, and pastels; (2) Watercolor; (3) Photography; (4) Graphics; (5) Three-dimensional art; and (6) Mixed Media.

Cash awards will be presented to the winners in each of the five categories above. These awards are made possible through the generous support of Mena Title Company owned by Jeremy and Quincy Thornton. The Thorntons share a love of impressionistic art and hope that their sponsorship of the High School Show will be an encouragement to young artists. Refreshments will be served and many of the artists will be available for you to meet and congratulate.

This show will remain on display for two weeks, until April 28, and can be seen during weekly gallery hours – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12 to 3 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.