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ARTISTS OF THE MONTH
Once a month the Mississippi Valley Art Guild selects one of its own and honors them as Artist of the Month. The honoree's creations are displayed at several facilities throughout the City. We are very proud of our talented, dedicated artisans and are delighted to promote their art in our community.
Greg Durham
The MVAG featured artist of the month of January 2023 is Greg Durham.
Durham from Chester is an experienced photographer who enjoys shooting wildlife & sporting events.
Several years ago he was fortunate to shoot photos in Northern Canada with the National Geographic’s Journeys program. The trip allowed him to to get close and personal to polar bears in their natural habitat. He’s also traveled to Alaska to photograph brown bears as well.
Durham is known for gifting sports photos to Coaches/High Schools in Perryville & in Chester. In fact he cherishes the “media excellence award” he received from the Chester H.S. for his media coverage of student athletes.
His photos are displayed @ Southern Illinois Eye Center, Buena Vista Bank, Reids’ Harvest House, the public Library, & St. Nicholas Landmark in Chester.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 pm on 611 State street in Chester.
Kerringtyn Malley
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Kerringtyn Malley is currently a senior at Chester High School and is the MVAG featured artist for the month of February 2023. She is the daughter of Ty and Nikki Malley.
She has been accepted to both Savannah College of Art & Design and Columbia College in Chicago to obtain an art degree in illustration, Gaming Art & Digital Art.
Throughout her time at Chester H.S., she has won competitions for her artwork. During her Freshman, Sophomore, & Junior years, she was awarded the Southern Illinois School Press Association for
Illustration.
She has maintained High Honors throughout her high school career and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Her artwork is displayed in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, Buena Vista Bank, the public library, & Southern Illinois Eye Center.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month at 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
John Reith
John Reith from Chester Il is a photographer and the MVAG’s featured Artist of the month for March 2023. He has been a guild member for several years and is an avid supporter of other local and regional artists. He draws inspiration from many forms and enjoys working with landscape/cityscape, industrial, and architecture subjects the most. His preferred medium is Mixed Media, taking his original works and manipulating them with post editing software or introducing other mediums such as paint and ink. His artworks are displayed in Chester at the Southern Illinois Eyecare, St Nicholas Landmark, Buena Vista Bank, the Public Library, and Reids’ Harvest House.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month at 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
Melanie Barker
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Melanie Barker of Ava is the Mississippi Valley Art Guild’s featured artist for April. Growing up as the daughter of an artist mother she was provided with plenty of art supplies and was enrolled in private art lessons at the age of 7. Through school she went on to participate in art contests, create personal cards, and illustrate for others. Though practiced in different art mediums, she has enjoyed acrylic painting the most. She loves the quick brush stroke and the depiction of light of her impressionistic style of painting. Barker accepted an art scholarship at Shawnee Jr College in Ullin then went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts Degree from SIUC, and graduated from SIUE with a Masters in Art Therapy. She became a Registered Art Therapist and recently retired from the St of IL/Chester Mental Health after 28 years of service. Even though she’s no longer employed in Chester she continues to be an active MVAG board member and is proud to be involved with the not-for-profit that provides networking, education, and support within the community. Her artwork is on display in Chester at Southern Illinois Eye care, St Nicholas Landmark, the public library, Reids’Harvest House, and Buena Vista Bank. The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
Brenda S. Thompson
Brenda S Thompson of St. Mary, MO is the MVAG featured artist for May.
Brenda has always loved to draw and paint. Inspired by the rolling hills and countryside of Southeast Missouri where she grew up, Brenda began painting landscapes while in high school. In the 1980s she quilted and created fabric art, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that she started painting again, learning wet-on-wet oil painting techniques.
Being busy with her corporate career and raising a family, there was little time to dedicate to her art. In 1995, Brenda followed her corporate job to Texas. In 2015 after a long hiatus, she picked up a brush and began painting animals and landscapes with acrylic paint. In 2016, Brenda began to study watercolor painting and as a member of the Chisholm Trail Art Group, she received multiple awards for her art.
In 2017, Brenda returned to Missouri and soon joined the Ste. Genevieve Missouri Art Guild and the Mississippi Valley Art Guild in Chester. She enjoys being a member of active art groups that influence her to be more creative and to show her work which she displays at sponsored events throughout the year. Her art currently is exhibited at the guilds’ art centers and at the Guitar Shop at Hopi Lane in Perryville, Missouri.
Also, her artwork is featured in Chester at Southern Illinois Eye care, St Nicholas Landmark, the public library, Reids’Harvest House, and Buena Vista Bank.
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Frankie Eggemeyer Veath
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The M.V.A.G. featured Artist of the Month for June 2023 is Frankie Eggemeyer Veath of Chester. Frankie earned three Bachelors Degrees from SIU Carbondale (Science & Arts, Psychology, & Paralegal).
Frankie is one of the founding members of the Art Guild (non profit organization) & one of our oldest members. She started creating at a very young age & still passionate about art. Her favorite images to paint are historical pictures of Randolph County/Southern Illinois.
Her art is on display in Chester at Reids Harvest House, Public Library, Buena vista Bank, St Nicholas Landmark & Southern Illinois Eyecare. The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 PM on 611 State Street.
Barbara A. Schrieber
The MVAG featured artist of the month for July is Barbara A. Schrieber. Barbara is a watercolor artist from Waterloo, Il. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education and Graphic Design. She also has a Master’s degree in Watercolor Painting from Eastern Illinois University. Barbara enjoys teaching children art classes, adult watercolor classes and drawing classes locally at Immanuel Lutheran Church located in Waterloo, Il. Barbara blends an unique style of vivid colors, freshness, and personal joy in her work. Some of her themes include nature, florals, and guardian angels. Barbara is married to Tom and has three children, daughter Joy, son Tim & wife Kelli, daughter Annie & husband August. She also owns a smart and feisty Goldendoodle named Banjo and a Siamese cat, Sawyer as well.
Her art is on display in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the public library, Buena Vista Bank, and Southern Illinois eye care.
Barbara McCormick
The MVAG featured artist of the month for August, 2023 is Barbara Mccormick.
Barb from Chester has been painting for over 30 years and enjoyed taking art lessons with her mother.
She is an active guild board member; scheduling art classes and leading the T.A.G. (Teen Art Guild).
Her art is on display in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the Public Library, Buena Vista Bank, and Southern Illinois Eyecare.
Judy Nagel
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The MVAG artisan of the month for September is Judy Nagel.
Nagel from Kansas moved to Chester in 2005 after she married her husband, James Nagel from Red Bud.
Nagel always enjoys practicing painting and still considers herself a novice. Also, she loves creating beaded jewelry and most recently working with stained glass.
Nagel said, “I try to attend as many classes the guild offers and recommends everyone to do the same.”
During the summer months she loves visiting and spending time with her adult children and grandkids.
Her artwork is featured in Chester at the St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the public library, Southern Illinois Eye Center & Buena Vista Bank
Bitzie Link
The MVAG Artist of the Month for October is Bitzie Link. Bitzie resides in Chester and is currently working in mixed media with an emphasis on acrylic and fabric collage. Exploring abstract landscapes with color, movement and texture as her focus. She continually studies different art techniques, including color mixing and how to create a sense of depth and movement on a flat service. She uses the abstract to distance herself from perfectionism and enjoys creating in an intuitive way that lets the art help make itself. Often using her grandson’s scribbling as a jumping off point, challenging herself to keep layering until she’s created something out of it. Bitzie is a lifelong creator with skill in sewing, paper mache, sculpting, painting, book binding and drawing to name a few. She studied art at SWIC and loves encouraging others to make something.
Her art is featured in Chester @ St Nicholas Landmark, Southern Illinois Eye Center, the public library, Reids’ Harvest House, and Buena Vista Bank.
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Rachel Nance
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Rachel Nance is the MVAG artist of the month for November.
Rachel resides in Chester but was born and raised in the Seattle, Washington area. She’s had an interest in art since Grade school. In H.S., in addition to her required classes she took some electives in animation. Rachel attended several Anime Cosplay Conventions in Washington (Seattle & Spokane) and in Portland, Oregon which inspired her love of drawing anime characters. Her current art medium of choice is digital art.
She also enjoys spending time with her family and church family.
Her art is featured in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Southern Illinois Eye care, the public library, Reids’ Harvest House, & Buena Vista Bank.
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Patsie Lindsey Hopkins
We are happy to announce our new MVAG member, Patsie Lindsey Hopkins is the January 2024 Artist of the month.
Patsie’s creative journey is rooted in her willingness to push past her fear of failure and in her ability to put in the required work.
Patsie was visited by a recruiter to attend Art Instructor School in Minneapolis as a result of her drawing of a pirate, or was it a turtle? But her dad wouldn’t let her go until she finished grade school. Her parents also hid the stamps to stop the inflow of magic rocks, sea monkeys, and the Bobby Sherman ultimate fan club experience. Canceling her Tiger Beat subscription was also considered. At a young age she knew how to get things done.
Creativity continued to be part of her daily life. Her mother taught her to sew, knit and finish many ceramic projects. She loved basket weaving and floral design.
Her desire to create followed her into adulthood and got lost in other obligations. Until recently she decided to follow her teacher, Denise Love on YouTube. Resulting in a large body of mixed media in ink, charcoal, acrylics, and metallic paints to name a few.
Patsie is a great example of pushing past what is holding you back to create meaningful art. She promotes art as a way to relieve stress and bring calm to her life and is surprised by the happiness it has given her.
Her abstracts are featured in Chester @ St Nicholas Landmark, Buena vista bank, the public library, Reids’ Harvest House, and Southern Illinois Eyecare.
Vickie Geisen
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We are happy to announce our new MVAG member, Vickie Geisen as the Artist of the Month for March, 2024. Vickie and her family moved to Chester in 1997 and have owned and operated Andy’s Auto Body for 20 plus years. During the beginning of the pandemic Vickie discovered painting. In 2021 she started dot painting or “pointillism”. During these couple of years she watched many you tube videos and practiced, practiced, practiced. While using acrylics paints and various sized tools, she has created her own patterns with the various dots. She said, “I have learned patience through the learning process.” Her mandalas are featured in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, Buena Vista Bank, the public library, and Sourhern Illinois Eyecare. The guild meets the last Monday of the month at 6 PM on 611 state street in Chester.
Rebecca Browning
The MVAG is happy to announce the April Artist of the Month for 2024 is Rebecca Browning. Rebecca has been a Chester resident for more than 25 years. She is a private music coach and retired public music teacher and who specializes in vocal, choral, piano and woodwind instruction. In 2010, fellow musician and artist, Caroline Welge Wiley, challenged her to explore visual arts. Rebecca is the owner and operator of "Creative Expressions by Becky Lane." Rebecca uses an eclectic style wth mixed media. Besides her paintings and portrait drawings, she annually produces tangled coloring book calendars and personalized, hand-drawn bullet journals.
Her artwork is on display in Chester @ Reids’ Harvest House, St Nicholas Landmark, Buena Vista Bank, the public library, & Southern Illinois Eyecare. The guild meets the last Monday of every month at 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
William Lang
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The MVAG Artist of the Month for May is William Lang of Chester.
Bill has been woodcarving since he was eight years old and intarsia woodwork for more than twenty years. Also, he is a musician and songwriter who can be heard jammin @ the MVAG center in Chester.
His beautiful work consists in the theme of animals/nature and can be viewed in Chester @ Buena Vista Bank, Southern Illinois Eyecare, St. Nicholas Landmark, the public library, & Reids’ Harvest House.
The guild meets the last Monday of the month at 6 Pm on 611 State street in Chester.
Congratulations Bill!
Chuck Cleary
The MVAG Artist of the Month for June is Chester native, Chuck Cleary.
Cleary is retired from Gilster Mary Lee after a 39 year career. In his new chapter, he loves drawing, being involved with the art guild, and having the opportunity to sell his art.
His favorite art media are graphite pencil and pen/ink which his skills were strengthened while attending art night classes at SWIC. His art theme of choice is exotic wildlife, western history, and sports. As a matter of fact, in the 1990’s he illustrated for the USA Boxing news.
His art is featured in Chester at Buena vista bank, the public library, the southern Illinois eyecare, Reids’ Harvest House, and St Nicholas Landmark.
D J Kennedy
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The MVAG featured artist of the month for July is DJ Kennedy. DJ is a local artist who practices in many different formats. He has been a metalsmith for over 25 years. Most of his earrings, letter openers, and writing instruments are hand sculpted and forged of silver, copper, brass, and gold.
He also is an avid painter and most local people have had their portrait drawn by him.
Two years ago he was Artist of the Month in Chester and his art exhibition @ the SIU University Museum was titled “Copious Creation, A Life Dedicated to Creativity.”
One can view his artwork in Chester @ the MVAG gallery, Buena Vista Bank, Reids’ Harvest House, the public library, St Nicholas Landmark, & Southern Illinois eye care.
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Grace Wahlman
Grace Wahlman of Chester is the MVAG featured artist for August. She began creating jewelry several years ago, mainly focusing on Picture Jasper stone necklaces and earrings. She sells them at the art gallery during special events and holidays. Wahlman also paints for relaxation.
Her paintings are featured at Buena Vista Bank, the public library, Southern Illinois eyecare, Reids’ Harvest House, & St Nicholas Landmark.
The guild meets the last Monday of the month at 6 pm on 611 state street in Chester.
Jeanne Phillips
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The MVAG Artist of the Month for September is Jeanne Phillips. Phillips resides in Perryville,Mo. and has been creating art with stained glass for over twenty years. She also creates with textiles and twisted wire tree sculptures. She enjoys being involved with the guild and instructing adult stained glass classes two times per month.
Her work is featured at Southern Illinois Eyecare Center, Buena Vista Bank, Reids’ Harvest House, and the public library. The guild meets the last Monday of each month at 6PM.
Terry Knaap
The MVAG featured Artist of the Month for October is Terry Knaap. Creativity often shows up at a very young age. For Terry it took form in her building fully furnished dollhouses out of gift boxes. Or, when she cut up her mother’s silk scarves to design wrap dresses for her Barbie dolls. Her creativity continued to develop over the years as she learned oil painting and macrame. The macrame jewelry was good enough that she was able to sell it to her classmates at school. She took additional art classes in high school and at 16 she started teaching dance and craft classes at the localCommunity Center. She continued pursuing her love of art at the University of South Alabama not far from where she grew up in Mobile, Alabama (she still has a hint of her southern accent when she speaks!) Terry grew up creating very detailed art and it wasn’t until she tried Alcohol Inks that she discovered the freedom to create more fluid abstract art. Terry says, “ Alcohol Inks give me a feeling of freedom as the inks move around on the substrate. It morphs into abstract designs with hidden shapes to uncover as you study the pieces”. Terry currently teaches Alcohol Inks to the teens and adults at MVAG, where it’s enthusiastically received.