Venue provides local artists with resources and a place to showcase their creations
AVA, MO. – The Ava Art Guild in Ava, Mo., has been a staple for artists both young and old since the late 1970s.
According to guild President Caryl Posada-Stillings, the original mission of the guild, at its inception in 1978, was to foster an appreciation of the fine arts and develop a network of artists for artists.
By 1982, the group had raised enough money through donations and fund-raising enterprises to purchase the building that houses the gallery.
Ava Art Guild is a 501c non-profit organization. Becoming a guild member is affordable (individual/adult is $12 annually), and members enjoy using the gallery as a venue to make their art available for purchase by the public. Members can also access the guild’s art books library.
The guild holds free workshops on the second Saturday of each month (March through November). Workshops vary by topic, but all are free to attend. Workshops are posted on the guild’s website.
In addition to providing local artists with resources and a place to show their creations, the guild holds a variety of shows throughout the year, all of which are free to attend. Attendees are welcome to shop at the gallery, and donations are always appreciated.
Artists wishing to exhibit their works at one of the several shows may be asked to pay a small entry fee ($3 for adults and $1.50 for kids), depending on the show. A complete schedule can be found on the gallery’s website (avaartguild.org) or Facebook page.
Membership in the Ava Art Guild has ebbed and flowed over the years. It nearly died out in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the number of members dwindled to about eight. Around 2008,there was a resurgence of interest in the Art Guild and the mission broadened to include more forms of art and crafts. The focus on artists as entrepreneurs attracted new members.
The COVID-19 pandemic knocked membership down. Artists were still making art, but no one was moving about to look at or buy it.
Membership is currently around 70 and is trending up, according to Caryl. The guild has a goal to reach 120 members.
There are six art shows planned for 2024. Starting with the Wearable Art Show in April, the season progresses with art for all tastes and ages at the Spring Art Show (May 22 -June 1). The Yard Art Show in July focuses on everything under the sun, from bat houses to barn quilts.
The annual quilt show begins Aug. 14, and the entry deadline is Aug. 13. There is no entry fee, and all forms of quilting are welcome.
The Fall Art Show kicks off in October, and the Red Dot Sale show follows, beginning on Nov. 13, just in time to grab some gifts for the art lovers in your life.
For more information on registering for art for one of the shows, contact Caryl Posada-Stillings at 417-893-9638 or Jo Ann Hereford at 417-683-2104.
