ARTLAND FROM HOME is a new series of online art projects designed by the art museum to provide a daily creative outlet for children (and parents) that are home together during the COVID-19 crisis.

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Each project consists of 8-10 images representing an individual step of the project. Each image will also have simple written instructions.

The final step in each project will be to take a picture of a child’s finished artwork with a smart phone or other device; email the picture to the museum at info@omfa.us. Digital submissions will be used to periodically create online exhibitions of children’s art.

Please use #owensboromusweumoffineart when posting pictures to social media.

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March1 - April 21

Fifty-three gifts to the Owensboro museum of fine art are unveiled in an exhibition of painting, sculpture, drawings, and photographs.

The exhibition showcases a series of eleven paintings by noted Kentucky artist, Jim Cantrell, and include large oils on canvas representing the distinctive qualities of his representational style complemented by a selection of watercolors. A prolific artist, Cantrell has lived in Bardstown, KY for the past four decades and is recognized for his paintings, drawings, and ceramics.

A gift of fifteen neocolor drawings and ceramics created by Kentucky’s widely recognized artist/educator, bob Lockhart of Louisville, feature his trademark satirical commentary on people and animals. Lockhart established the fine art program at bellarmine university, Louisville, in the late 70’s after completing his fine arts education at the art institute of Chicago.

Twenty-one paintings in a variety of media by Kentucky and regional artists were selected as purchase awards from competitions hosted by the OMFA. This collection constitutes a survey of contemporary landscape painting with an emphasis on the visual documentation of Owensboro and the region. The works represent the architecture of civic, corporate, educational structures, churches and private residences that have become iconic landmarks. Sponsoring these gifts were Swedish match, Atmos Energy, Dr. R. Wathen medley, jr., Ann Murphy Kincheloe, and Gail Reisz Branch.

A special collection of photographs includes gifts from local photographers Wendell Thompson, Bill Hughes and Fr. Larry Hostetter. Unique portraits represent the works of the late Lex Shipley (1924-1993) an outsider artist known for his expressionistic paintings and a painting in the folk art genre of bluegrass icon, Bill Monroe.

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REOPENING

JULY 14

JULY 14 - AUGUST 18

The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art has reopened with the exhibition CELEBRATE WOMEN commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, giving women the right to vote.

Closed for twelve weeks due of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum will resume its 2020 exhibition season with a showcase of more than 100 works of art by women artists across Kentucky. A brochure documenting the celebration will be published by the museum.

The exhibition, sponsored by US Bank, will feature a community celebration planned for later this Summer that will include a reception for the artists complemented by special performing arts events presented by Owensboro women.

A wide variety of media is represented in the exhibition and includes works by both academically trained and naïve artists. Highlights of the exhibition are paintings by Ellen Glasgow, Frankfort and Helen LaFrance Orr, Mayfield; assemblages by Louisville’s Jacque Parsley; fiber works by Dobree Adams, Frankfort, and former Kentuckian Penny Sisto; and quilts by Kentucky’s leading folk artist Minnie Adkins of Isonville. Also featured is sculpture by Meg White, Stephensport, an artist represented in the City of Owensboro’s public art collection by the horse installed in Riverfront Crossing.

Of special interest to local audiences are works by area artists including Katie Lowing, Rhonda McEnroe, Enid Roach, Selma Wiesenberg, and former Owensboroan Jan Frazier. Artists from the Museum’s Permanent Collection include Margaret Ross (1908-2004), Marion Vasterling (1930-2018), Marie Bensman (1908-1992) and Cynthia Lightner (1937-2017).

Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to observe the current safety procedures mandated by the COVID-19 crisis including social distancing, use of a mask and submitting to temperature checks.

Enjoy a 3D Virtual Tour of the museum's Permanent Collection galleries.

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As a response to the pandemic the museum is expanding its on-line offerings with ON-LINE MINI-EXHIBITS. These excerpts from the museum's Permanent Collection will focus on particular themes or artists of special importance.

The exhibits will include descriptive text that allows the viewer to put the work of art in historical context as well as learn about the artist.

Mini-exhibits are avaiable through email and social media

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The museum is offering this project on-line as a part of its expanded social media response to the COVID-19 crisis. Each post of this project will feature a different image from a coloring book designed by the museum.

As a part of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Daviess County, KY, the art museum partnered with the Daviess County Bicentennial Committee to create the DAVIESS COUNTY BICENTENNIAL COLORING BOOK: 1815-2015 to teach different aspects of local history. The book was distributed to thousands of Daviess County schoolchildren.

Many of the drawings in the book are based on important works in the museum’s Permanent Collection. The images are sized to be printed out and colored.

Hey kids, make sure you let your parents color too!

The Coloring Book is avaiable through email and social media

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February 29 - April 24

Artists from Kentucky and surrounding states competed for more than $3,500 merit awards in the Owensboro Art Guild’s 58th Annual Juried Exhibition.  One hundred and thirty-nine entries were received by the art guild and judged by Jon Michael Siau, Evansville, IN. Sixty-two works of art in two- and three-dimensional media were selected by him to comprise the exhibition.

Siau received his BA and MA degrees from the University of Evansville. Upon graduating he began a forty-two year career as an art educator at Evansville North High School. Watercolor, drawing, and printmaking are his preferred media. He also has been commissioned to create portraits and illustrations for such celebrities as Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, the Judds, Mickey Mantle, Don Mattingly, Yogi Berra; and the United States Olympic Committee. His creations were published in the usoc's world-wide magazine “The Olympian”.

The Owensboro Art Guild is Kentucky’s oldest continuing visual arts organization operated by artists and sponsors a variety of exhibition opportunities throughout the year.  In addition to the annual juried exhibition, open exhibitions, wherein all entries are displayed, are also organized by the guild.