Arts Council of Southeast Missouri celebrates 50 years

People can walk through an artistic timeline at this month's First Friday opening at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

The local arts council -- the oldest in Missouri -- observes its 50th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the council set up a special exhibit to showcase the talents of every Dingeldein Award recipient from council founder Otto F. Dingeldein in 1975 to this year's recipient, Perry County painter Linda Buis.

"It's an incredible opportunity. It brings back memories of how long the arts have been important to the community," said Ann Gifford, chairwoman of the arts council.

The Dingeldein Award is given annually to living individuals who have made a considerable impact on the cultural enrichment of the community through artistic achievement.

"The award is very prestigious," Gifford said. "It's in recognition of a person's contribution to arts throughout the community."

Past Dingeldein Award winners include Marjorie Suedekum, Dan B. Cotner and Frek Shivelbine, just to name a few.

"I'm extremely humbled to be part of that group of people who have contributed so much to the arts and to the area," Buis said. She will officially receive the award in a ceremony Oct. 26.

Galleries throughout Illinois and Indiana as well as Southeast Missouri display Buis' artwork. Her realistic oil paintings, complete with her signature red cardinal, are influenced by nature.

"The outdoors and nature is my life. There's unending subjects to paint. I will never run out of subject matter," she said.

In addition to painting, Buis also raises and breeds mammoth jackstock, a large breed of donkey, enjoys traveling and has a passion for rocks and fossils.

As an artist, Buis has received several regional awards for her paintings, but receiving the Dingeldein Award takes more than applying paint to canvas. The council takes several aspects into consideration, including the nominee's impact on the community, past awards and recognition, what they've done for the arts community and how long they've been involved with the arts.

Buis has been a member of the arts council since 1987. She has spent more than 20 years volunteering for the organization and in 2003 helped establish the visual arts cooperative to promote local artists.

Once the visual arts cooperative was established, "I migrated from just belonging to the arts council to being a participating factor in a larger fashion," Buis said.

Dingeldein formed the Arts Council in 1961 to highlight the talents of local artists and bring together a community through artistic expression. Today, 50 years after the council's inception, Gifford said the same ideals apply.

"The arts enrich everyone's lives," Gifford said. "Hearing a beautiful melody, looking at a beautiful painting, seeing the movement of dancers, helps provide inner peace and harmony."

The arts council continues Dingeldein's vision by hosting monthly First Friday exhibits.

"Art is good for the soul. Just seeing what other people do artistically might inspire others to get involved," said Marjorie Suedekum, 1976 Dingeldein Award winner.

In its 50 years, the arts council has grown from a single studio to an active staple in the Cape Girardeau community, according to Dan B. Cotner, 1978 Dingeldein Award winner and the longest active member of the council.

"There's more participation and observation. With all the galleries we have now, we can do much more than we used to," Cotner said.

A reception for the Dingeldein exhibit will be held in the arts council building at 32 N. Main St. from 5 to 9 p.m. today and is free and open to the public. It will be on display for the entire month of October.