ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ART

The galleries of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri are available to artists looking for a place to show their work, but anyone with an itch to display painting, sculpture or work in some other medium might have to wait, says Leslie Stucker, Arts Council assistant director.

The two galleries are booked through the end of 2001, with some dates already spoken for in 2002.

"We receive lots of slide portfolios asking for exhibits," she said.

The two galleries, the Lorimier Gallery and Gallery 100, have a monthly rotation of exhibits.

Gallery 100, reserved for national and international artists, next will feature the exhibit "Dot's Art" starting today and continuing until July 28. The name of the national juried exhibition evolved from the council's dot logo. As the line that makes the circle winds around, it is symbolic of the all-encompassing nature of the arts, Stucker said.

The exhibition has grown in size through advertisements in national arts journals. Nearly 300 entries were received for this year's competition, Stucker said, out of which 25 pieces were accepted.

The fact that the competition was juried by Kathryn Hixson, editor of the New Art Examiner magazine of Chicago, has added to the prestige, Stucker said.

The Arts Council acts as a recruiter for the exhibit by sending out a prospectus to a list of about 2,000 artists that it maintains. The artists respond by sending slides of their work to be judged.

Those who are selected send their works to the gallery by mail, Stucker said.

The Lorimier Gallery offers a venue for regional or Missouri artists. "Lost," an exhibition scheduled to start today, will display black and white photos of Europe. The exhibit presents the work of Stephan Frazier, a photographer for the Southeast Missourian.

The Arts Council has more than 500 members in the region, Stucker said.

A few standard exhibitions take place at certain times each year. Upcoming in August will be works from children. In January, the River Heritage Quilters Guild will present a show of local talent alongside a national exhibit of fiber arts.

Other exhibitions the Arts Council is highlighting include the March 2001 installation exhibit of Turkish artist Apo Torosyan. Torosyan's work has appeared in private collections and museums in Turkey, Greece, Spain, France, Armenia, Canada, and the United States.

Rebecca Bluestone will exhibit her fiber works during April 2001. Bluestone's work has been exhibited nationwide and is in the private collections of Robert Redford and the Chicago Art Institute.