The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO will be hosting an Ozarks-themed multimedia art show called Our Ozarks In Art and is calling for competition submissions from all forms of artists– painters, photographers, sketch and graphic artists, sculptors, and model-makers, craft artisans, etc.
Entry dates for the show’s competition will be Friday, July 30th & Saturday, July 31st from 12 pm-4 pm at the museum, located at 405 Worcester Ave. in West Plains, MO. The show’s entries will be on display to the public as an exhibit in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, beginning Friday, August 6, 2021, and will run for a four-week engagement, ending on Sunday, August 29th.
Entry fees are $5.00 per entry, with a cost break of $20.00 if you enter five items into the show. Entries will be evaluated for artistic quality, integrity, technique, and presentation, as well as how skillfully they represent the theme of the show—to convey through art the essence of “the Ozarks.” Entries must meet given guidelines for acceptance into the competition portion of the show. The show’s final categories and prizes to be awarded will be determined by the actual entries received. Entrants may find more information by clicking HERE.
Those who are interested in entering the competition can find entry guidelines and other pertinent information on the museum’s website at https://harlinmuseum.com/programs/art-show-competition-guidelines/2021-our-ozarks-in-art/ or on flyers that are available in the museum’s lobby. Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801.
2021 Ozark Heritage Exhibit ft. L.L. Broadfoot’s Pioneers of the Ozarks Collection
The public’s opportunity to view the treasured Pioneers of the Ozarks collection of portraits and Ozarks’ landscapes created by historic Shannon County artist, L.L. Broadfoot, is happening now during the Ozark Heritage exhibit at the Harlin Museum. The annual exhibit opened earlier in the month in conjunction with the Old-Time Music & Ozark Heritage Festival and will be on display in the museum’s main gallery until June 27th.
The exhibit features the entire collection of cultural depictions of a by-gone Ozarks era and the individual portraits and complete character studies drawn or painted by Broadfoot and included in his book, Pioneers of the Ozarks, which was first published in 1944. Today, the book is in its’ fifth edition copy, having sold hundreds of copies around the world, and is still available for purchase through the Harlin Museum’s gift shop and website.
Due to the size of the original collection being so large (there are over 80 pieces to the Pioneers of the Ozarks part of the collection and over 200 pieces to the Broadfoot collection total), the gallery is only able to showcase the entire Pioneers-portion during this annual exhibit. As, over the years, the museum has been contacted by many individuals who claim to be either a descendant of the artist or a descendant of someone who sat for one of Broadfoot’s portraits and would like the chance to see the work in person, the Harlin encourages all those who wish to view the art to come stop in at the museum and take it in—in all its’ splendor of a time and a place almost forgotten to the ages.
Those who are interested in scheduling an individual or group tour can contact the museum at or phone the museum directly at (417) 256-7801. The museum is currently open Friday, Saturday, & Sunday (12 pm – 4 pm).
The Harlin Museum would like to announce the entry dates for its upcoming 2021 Photography Show Competition, which will be Friday, April 30th, and Saturday, May 1st, 2021, from 12 pm to 4 pm (both days), and issue a Call to Artists/Photographers for their recent work in the field of photography. If you have any questions regarding entries for their annual Photography Show Competition, please email the museum at or call the Museum Desk at (417) 256-7801. Guidelines for entry to the competition can be found below.
Larry Lindeman, Harlin Museum Board Member, accepting a $550 donation for the Harlin Museum’s High School Art Show from Mega Motorsports General Manager, Luke Stokes, and other members of the Mega Motorsports team
As one of the few annual student art events that were able to continue as scheduled during
pandemic precautions, the Harlin Museum’s 2021 High School Art Show has been a bright spot in the school
year of many local area art students. After a year unlike any other our communities have ever experienced,
this taste of the familiar became both a welcome opportunity for students to shine and a generous example of
how prioritizing support for local community programs, like those offered at the Harlin, can make all the difference during these difficult times to help us all move forward.
This year’s show overcame several odds before making its way to the gallery walls. To begin with, many area art teachers were originally going to forgo entry this year—as budget cuts had drastically affected their departments and many students could not afford to frame their entry pieces themselves—until the decision was made by museum staff to relax the guidelines for entry to the show in favor of inclusiveness.
“It’s more important that students get the opportunity to participate in the show—to have the experience of seeing their artwork on display and allowing others to enjoy it—than for the gallery to be filled with perfectly framed pieces. The point of the High School Show is to show appreciation for the art and the artists that create it and to encourage the students to express themselves creatively. With all the challenges we’ve faced in the past year, both individually and as a community, we knew that there was a lot of growth happening, and that the artistically inclined of us out there would be expressing ourselves by way of our art—and that those pieces would be special,” said Vicki Warren-Martin, president of the museum’s board of directors, “and we were right. The pieces in this show were some of the most creative we have ever displayed, and many of them touch on current events. The High School Show never disappoints. It’s always sharp and expressive and full of creativity. These kids have amazing talent and our schools have some stand-out teachers. We were thrilled to be able to make it happen and give everyone a chance to share that talent with the public.”
So, by relaxing guidelines and allowing unframed pieces to be entered for competition, while also offering free frames to any student or teacher that wanted some from the museum’s available selection, students from six area schools were able to enter their art pieces for the competition. With a total of 72 entries between 2 divisions, the show features art from students at West Plains High School, Thayer High School, Mountain Grove High School, Mtn. View/Birch Tree/Liberty High School, Willow Springs High School, and Koshkonong High School.
Each piece was judged using a points-based system, giving a score out of a total possible 200 for the four areas of design & composition, technique/skill of construction, presentation, and creativity & originality. The two judges for this year’s competition were former WPHS art teacher, Rhonda Richter, and former president of the WP Artist Guild, Angela Bullard, both of whom are currently practicing artists.
The other issue that posed a problem for the show was one of funding. The museum, which is a volunteer-run non-profit, experienced a rather difficult year in 2020 that included an extended closure which cost them hundreds in donated funds. Each competition art show is expected to offer prize money to place winners, which can easily cost upwards of $500 per show, and the Harlin’s operating budget fluctuates from donation to donation, making it an almost constant requirement for museum staff to be fundraising and seeking sponsorships. But, at a time when so many people are in need, it can be difficult to find people who are willing and able to give back.
Warren-Martin commented on the critical situation facing arts institutions across the country, including their own
“If it were not for the generosity of our sponsor for the high school show there would not have even been a show this year. While there are some great opportunities in grant funding for institutions like ours, there is also a great deal of competition for that money and not nearly enough of it to go around. Add to that the expenses of simply keeping the doors open in a place like this—especially if you are dealing with older buildings or antiquated systems that constantly require repairs—and it goes downhill fast. A lot of your smaller, local museums are being forced to close because they cannot cover their losses from the past year of upheaval—the obstacles are just too great. And with every museum or gallery that closes, it’s another loss to communities that don’t have a lot left to lose. Collections are being sold to pay debts—and history is being lost. But, luckily, the Ozarks is the type of place that looks after their own. We’ve truly been fortunate. We’ve had local patrons and business owners step up and reinvest in their community by supporting us, and, in doing so, they’ve invested in our mutual future and we’re just so grateful for it.”
It was the generosity of West Plains local business, Mega Motorsports, that came to the rescue of the museum (and the hopeful students entering the show) to help defray show costs, covering prize amounts for all 26 places awarded during the show, including Best of Show, 3 Judge’s Awards of Distinction, and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in 5 separate categories, making for a truly special and memorable event for all involved and giving seniors a final highlight to look back on with pride.
The winning entries of Harlin’s 2021 High School Art Show are as follows:
Best of Show – The Arabian Mona Lisa – R. Nicole Coats – West Plains High School
2D Division
Drawings
1st – A Walk Without You – Li Burkhardt – Mtn. View/Birch Tree/Liberty High School
2nd – Empty Mind – Rachel Burke – West Plains High School
3rd – Deep Gaze – Megan Broos – Mtn. Grove High School
Honorable Mentions
Felix Kjellberg -Alyssa Harrington -Mtn. Grove High School
Man’s Best Friend – Lydia Davis – Mtn. View/Birch Tree/Liberty High School
Paintings
1st – Capri – Skyler Todd – Thayer High School
2nd – Nightwalk – Alyssa Harrington – Mtn. Grove High School
3rd – Strawberry Jam – Conner Quimby – Conner Quimby – West Plains High School
Honorable Mentions
The Light in Her Eyes – Li Burkhardt – Mtn. View/Birch Tree/Liberty High School
Kenna – Katlynn Ritchie – Mtn. Grove High School
Mixed Media
1st – Expression Bird – Dezarie Davis – Thayer High School
2nd – The 60’s – Rachel Burke – West Plains High School
3rd – UTV – Dezarie Davis – Thayer High School
Honorable Mention
Untitled #1 by S. Caldwell – Skyla Caldwell – Thayer High School
3D Division
Sculpture
1st – Silent Smile – Justice Dawe – West Plains High School
2nd – Punizione’della Nature – Rachel Burke – West Plains High School
3rd – A Cracked Rose – Natalie Wiehe – West Plains High School
Honorable Mentions
Jim Carrey Mask – Teagan Phelps – Thayer High School
Sunflower Morning Coffee – Courtney Crivello – Thayer High School
Textiles
1st – Star Shopping – Skyler Todd – Thayer High School
2nd – Kaw Kaw – Skyla Caldwell – Thayer High School
3rd – Happy Daze – Teagan Phelps – Thayer High School
Judges Awards of Distinction
Silent Smile – Justice Dawe – West Plains High School
Capri – Skyler Todd – Thayer High School
Felix Kjellberg – Alyssa Harrington – Mtn. Grove High School
The Harlin’s 2021 High School Art Show is on display in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery until March 4th, at 3 pm. The museum is located at 405 Worcester, West Plains, MO 65775, about a block southwest of West Plains’ downtown Court Square. Those who are interested in becoming a sponsor for museum events can contact Vicki Warren-Martin directly at or may phone the museum at (417) 256-7801.
We are pleased to announce the entry dates for our 2021 Spring Art Show, Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3. This is an open call for artists to submit their pieces for the competition show. Please see guidelines in attached photo.
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO is set to host it’s annual High School Art Show & Young Artist Showcase and is calling for art submissions from all regional public, private, and home-schooled student artists in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades. Entry dates for the show’s competition will be Friday, March 12th, and Saturday, March 13th from 12 pm-4 pm at the museum. Entry fees are $5.00 per piece. Late entries will be accepted on Sunday, March 14th, 2021 (12 pm – 4 pm) for an additional $5.00 fee per entry piece. Guidelines for competition can be found HERE.
The Young Artists Showcase is open to any artist 8th-grade-age or younger and allows younger artists to experience seeing their art on display in a professional art show. Entries to the showcase are free to enter; entry dates are the same as those for the high school competition.
The show will be on display to the public in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery, March 12th – April 4th, 2021.
Join us for another fun wool-felting workshop with Angela Bullard this, Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 1 pm. This workshop will focus on creating a lovely winter landscape. Wool and needle supplies will be provided; attendees will need to bring a pen and paper for taking notes, along with a small pair of scissors.
The cost to attend is $35; payment to be made the day of the workshop. Cash or check.
The Harlin Museum of West Plains, MO is proud to announce the winners of their 2021 Fiber & Textile Arts Competition Show, which will be on display in the Hathcock Gallery of the museum from February 5 – 28 on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday afternoons.
The Best of Show award goes to an entry entitled, “Where The Wild Things Are”, a felted wool and embroidery piece from the Needlework Category of the Adult Division that depicts a character from the popular children’s book of the same name. The creator of the vividly imaginative piece and winner of the competition’s top prize is Sarah Holson of Houston, MO.
Continuing with the Adult Division, in the Knitting/Crochet Category, 1st and 2nd place were both awarded to Gloria Greear of Summersville, MO for her knitted afghan entry, “Shepherd’s Afghan,” a whimsical spread of sheep being herded by sheepdogs, and her knitted garment entry, “Multi-Colored Sweater”, a lovely and colorful hip-length cardigan sweater, respectively.
And, in the competition’s largest adult division category—quilting— 1st place is awarded to Alma Pruett of Cabool, MO for her quilt entry, “Bow Tie ’30s”. 2nd place was awarded to Kathleen Borg of Cabool, MO for her entry, “Civil War Churn Dash Runner”. 3rd place was awarded to Bridget Williams of Mtn. Grove, MO for her quilt entry, “Sun Bonnet Sue”, and she also picked up an Honorable Mention for her quilt entry, “Farmer’s Daughter”. A second Honorable Mention award for the Adult Division Quilting Category goes to JoAnne Biros of Plato, MO for her quilt entry, “Sister’s Choice”.
And, finally, the Top Winner in the Youth Division is Olivia Wood of Willow Springs, MO for her Quilting Category entry, “Lilac Dance”, for which she will be the recipient of the Carrie A. Warren-Gentry Memorial Award for Youth Talent in Textile Arts, a special annual monetary award set up by the Warren family of West Plains, MO to honor the memory of their beloved family member and the well-known textile artist, Carrie Warren-Gentry, who passed away in 2010.
The competition this year was judged by Cindy McLean of Pomona, MO, and Bonnie Bainbridge of West Plains, MO, both accomplished textile & fiber artists with decades of accomplishment between them. Each entry was judged on a point-based system, with construction being worth 50 points, general appearance worth 25 points and artistic design also worth 25 points, making for a possible 100 points per judge—or 200 points total. Winners will receive award ribbons and small monetary prizes, while the Best of Show will receive, in addition, a $100 gift certificate from the show’s main sponsor, Six Sisters Mercantile.
Included in the display with the competition pieces, visitors will also have the opportunity to see some of the rare and historic textiles that are part of the museum’s permanent collection, including signature quilts made by two local churches, a signature quilt created by employees of the International Shoe Company of West Plains, MO upon the retirement of a longtime coworker, a patchwork quilt made for a Civil War soldier that accompanied him during battle and barely managed to make it back home, and a lovely display of the millinery collection of hats that belonged to Lida Bozman, longtime West Plains resident.
The Harlin Museum will open for it’s 2021 season of events by accepting entries on Friday, January 29th and Saturday, January 30th (12pm-4pm each day) for their annual Fiber & Textile Arts Comprtition Show, which will be on display for the public from Februry 5th-28th in the museum’s Hathcock Gallery.
The museum is putting out a call for submissions to all regional fiber arts and textile arts artists. Entry fees for competition will be: 1 entry – $20.00; 2 entries – $30.00, 3 entries – $35.00, 4 entries – $40. Enter 4 pieces and get a 5th entry FREE! Limit 5 entries per artist. Cash or check only. Entries and entry fees are to be brought to the main gallery of the museum between 12pm-4pm on the appointed days for drop-off and each entry must meet the given guidelines for acceptance into the competition portion of the show.
Submissions may include any item that was created using fibers or textiles, including examples of: quilts/quilt art, afghans, crocheted & knitted articles, embroidery, hand-woven or machine-woven articles, felted wool projects, lacework, tatting, applique, handmade apparel from pattern or personal design, beaded items, woven rope, canvas work (needlepoint, petit pointe, etc.), macramé, etc.
The guidelines for competition are that any type of art or craft item that utilizes fiber or textile components as part of the piece is eligible to enter, all pieces must be the work of the artist entering the competition, and entries must not have been previously entered in a Harlin Museum Competition Show. All competition entries will be evaluated 25% for general appearance, 50% for construction, and 25% for artistic design. A complete list of all submission guidelines can be found HERE.
Any questions regarding eligibility or other inquiries can be emailed to the museum at or you may contact the museum directly at (417) 256-7801. We look forward to another exciting year of art and regional hisrtory at The Harlin! See you at the museum!
Due to a lack of participation in the event, the museum’s December event, “Decorate A Tree For Charity!” has been canceled and the museum will be closed through the end of the year.
The museum will reopen for a new season of events beginning on, Friday, January 8, 2021, when we will be accepting entries for the annual Quilting, Fiber, & Textile Arts Competition Show, which opens to the public on January 15th, 2021.
Watch the Harlin’s website and Facebook page for updates on the museum’s new schedule for 2021 and announcements regarding our upcoming art and history events for the new year.
