A kinder, gentler art culture

This week I have one thing to say: Viva la Revolucion!

Why, you might ask? I'll explain.

If you're a regular reader of this column space, someone who takes some kind of joy from my crazy rants, then let me first say "thanks." Then I'll remind you of my baptism by fire.

In my first column, I wrote about what I saw as a lack of age diversity among the local arts establishment, with a bull's eye aimed directly at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. I don't want to rehash those words that led to so many hateful Speak Out calls and e-mails. Instead, I want to praise the local arts community.

During the course of the week, I've been talking to people about the upcoming First Friday art receptions, just so I can give you the information you need to make your art choices tonight. Look over to the right, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

One of those openings is for the Visual Arts Cooperative's fourth anniversary show, which, by the way, promises to be a big event. For the uninformed, the VAC is the only real, not-for-profit artists cooperative with a budget and all that good stuff in Cape Girardeau. Every month a selection of the cooperative's 40-plus artists display their work at the arts council.

I've seen the work in this anniversary show, and I can't even describe the variety. There's something for everyone.

While the cooperative is not part of the arts council, the affiliation is close. I know many of the people in leadership positions with the cooperative, and not only are they good artists, they're good people, too. There are few sources on my beat I feel more at ease with than Craig Thomas, the president of the co-op.

Each month (or almost each month) when I'd look at the co-op's show, it seemed like there was little diversity in artistic approach, and I could see the perspective of the young artist was rather unrepresented. Oh, how times have changed.

I spoke with Craig back then about my perceptions, and he told me the co-op was trying to expand the amount of young, vital artists within the group. At that time, James Thurman -- an artist whose work screams youth -- was still fairly new to the co-op. I'm happy to say he's still there, still representing us young people in the arts establishment.

And Thurman isn't the only one. The co-op has also added photographer, digital and mixed-media artist Rochelle Steffen to the group. If you haven't seen her art yet, be ready to be provoked. This stuff will make you think, no doubt about it.

Make a note of this one, too. The Modest Living Artists, Cape Girardeau's very own arts group dominated by young adults, is having a show down the street at Buckner Brewing Co. Both Rochelle and James will be in the show, as will the young-at-heart Utahna Hancock (who also has work in the VAC exhibition), Jake Wells and other talented artists.

Just a few months ago, MLA shows were few and far between. Now they're happening every couple of months or so. That, if you ask me, is a good sign.

As Cape Girardeau's arts community expands overall, it seems that young people are finding a place in that culture. Not so long ago it seemed that we were relegated to live music in downtown bars, but not anymore. Granted, not all young people have an interest in fine art (in fact, most don't) but many of us do, and many of us are talented artists. I'm not, but I love to see the work of those who are, and to see them get exposure.

Is this a trend? Is Cape Girardeau's art scene starting to embrace the young, contemporary artist as time goes by?

It's hard to say, but I'd like to think the answer is "yes." And with that embrace, those young people will move into the arts establishment, bringing fresh perspective that may attract other young talent.

But I see more than just the presence of young people on the Cape Girardeau art scene. I've also seen the survival of a populist approach to art that says everyone can be an artist, they just have to find the artist within.

This Friday another anniversary will be celebrated in a downtown gallery -- the third anniversary of Judy Barks-Westrich's Artist Studio. A lot of you may know Judy as the Central High School art teacher who churns out one talented artist after another.

Three years ago Judy took her teaching skills and made them available to adults, opening up the studio with an ethic that said everyone can be an artist. Now here she is, still going strong, still bringing out the artist inside people whose only artistic experience may have been drawing stick people.

You should see the inner talent Judy can coax out of the untrained. It's amazing.

All too often the world of fine art can seem like a place full of haughty pretentiousness, unwelcoming and judgmental of those who haven't received a formal education in art or seen the museums of Paris and New York. The people mentioned above are proving that the art world doesn't have to be an exclusive club.

As a layman, I thank them.

Matt Sanders is the Arts & Leisure editor for the Southeast Missourian and the editor of OFF Magazine.