Why not �Paint for a Cause�

Community called upon to come together to make art

When the word �artist� comes to mind, people might picture a painter, a sculptor, a composer or a photographer. They could have well worn-hands and paint-splattered overalls. They could be eccentric, shy or famous. They could be proud, or their own worst critic. As the list grows, it is easy to agree an artist is many things.

Art itself encompasses many mediums and styles. It�s about human imagination and the feelings stirred by the end result.

Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey are two artists who use their talents for good. Horrell is the owner of Painted Wren Art Gallery in Cape Girardeau, and Bailey co-manages alongside. They sell local art, photographs, prints, books, cards, goat milk soaps and more at the gallery. They�ve collaborated to create what they call their BARBARON mini-series of their painted illustrations and use the pseudonym �Alison Barbaron� to write and publish children�s literature, among other writing endeavors. They are full of ideas, together and individually.

__Art from the heart__

One of their newer ventures, Paint for a Cause, gathers the community while simultaneously helping those in need. It�s about inclusion, honor and creativity. Horrell came up with the idea while thinking of a way to get people to embrace their inner artist.

Carlee Criddle of Cape Girardeau adds strokes of red paint to the Paint for a Cause mural at the SEMO District Fair.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

�I do a lot of nature photography,� Horrell says. �So I remember going out and sitting in the woods waiting for a deer, fox or turkey to come up so I could take a picture, and nothing was happening. So I got to thinking, �How in the world can I give people a reason to come into the art gallery and then turn them into artists? Make each one be like an artist for just a little bit of time.��

Eventually, Horrell had the idea to put up a canvas with some of his original work, ask gallery visitors to donate for a chosen cause and then add to his creation with paint and brush.

The first Paint for a Cause was set up inside the gallery and benefited Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau. Horrell converted one of his paintings to black and white, transferred it to the chosen canvas and hoped for the best. They asked for $1 donations over a two-month span, and the finished work had 246 contributors. Horrell and Bailey keep a list of painters and always sign their names last after some finishing touches and �fine-tuning,� as Horrell calls it.

�It looks totally different from his painting, but it turned out really awesome,� Bailey says.

The paintings are either sold, auctioned or end up on display in the chosen facility. They take their time and have many discussions when deciding the next cause for a community paint project.

__�Police are important�__

Horrell and Bailey keep a small canvas up for eager patrons at all times in the gallery, but they also do a bigger painting once a year and welcome painters at the SEMO District Fair in September. Last year they chose to paint for the Missouri Veterans home in Cape Girardeau, and this year they chose the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

�It is a good cause because it covers the whole area of Cape, even outside the city limits,� Horrell says. �So that�s a cause that a lot of people can get behind. People can be proud.�

�Police are important,� Bailey adds. �We need them. This is a way to show our gratitude and help them out.�

The painting will hang in the police department, and the donations will benefit one of their community outreach programs aimed at promoting positive relationships between officers and the community.

As for the theme: �We wanted landmarks. We wanted something that said �Cape,�� Bailey says.

The final images painted by fairgoers and art gallery visitors were taken by Horrell and Bailey, and include the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, Fort D, Red House Interpretive Center, the Capaha Park lagoon, the K-9 Unit and more.

__Come one, come all__

Paint for a Cause takes time, dedication, local help, sponsors, donations and the willingness to make it all come together. Horrell and Bailey urge people of all backgrounds, artistic abilities, occupations and ages to participate in this �part of history,� as they call it.

�There are people that support the idea, but say, �Oh, I�m not an artist. I can�t paint. I�ll mess it up,�� Bailey says. �We keep telling them, �No, you�re not going to mess it up. We�ll take care of it.��

�It�s not about us,� Horrell says. �It is something about Cape Girardeau in the long run. If it ever gets recognized for what it is, it�s a feather in the cap of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, because it happened here, just like anything else that happens to take root and take off.�