Springfield Art Museum

Bring your littlest artist to Pre-K Open Studios this Friday, July 31st at The Fairbanks Community Hub! These free drop-in sessions are led by teaching artists and are great hands-on experiences for artists ages 3-5 with their caregiver.

Learn more at sgfmuseum.org.

Pre-K Open Studios are generously supported in part by Great Southern Bank.

Earlier this month, Museum Educator Joshua Best and Gallery Service Associate Sarah Clark presented at the annual Springfield Regional Arts Integration Conference to more than 40 area educators, connecting art and science through their session “Art and Environmental Science: Social Practice and Local Environments.”

Participants explored how art can be a participatory process to create change, and then created prints inspired by a piece from the Museum's collection, Jacqueline Bishop’s "Sonatina," and the Museum’s Take-Home Project Bag "Show Me Stamps: Missouri Plant and Animal Prints,", which highlights native species and the positive impact of conservation efforts.

A big thank you to the Springfield Regional Arts Council and Springfield Public Schools for putting on this impactful conference each year and inviting Museum staff to present, with the support from the Missouri Arts Council.

You can read more on the Museum's blog: https://sgfmuseum.org/blog.aspx

Our hearts go out to Donna’s family as we remember her remarkable legacy with the Museum. Donna served as a dedicated docent and an engaged committee member, in addition to sharing her deep love of art. We are grateful for her passion and contributions to our community.

Donna Lou Olson - Springfield Daily Citizen died at the age of 89.

What a fun group! We had a great time showing the NAWIC regional chapter a behind-the-scenes look at the Springfield Art Museum's construction project.

ConDRAGulations to Crystal Methyd on winning RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 11!

Crystal has long been part of the Springfield Art Museum community, serving as a tableau stylist for 99x in 2018 and hosting that year’s official after‑party at the Outland Ballroom. She has also walked the runway at Art In Bloom. Her work is represented in the Museum’s permanent collection, which also includes a portrait of Crystal by local artist Trevor Doell.

In April 2023, the Museum proudly announced the acquisition of a garment Crystal created for episode 11 of Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. “The Color Purple Look” was inspired by Nick Cave’s Soundsuits, which Crystal viewed during our 2019 Nick Cave special exhibition. It was made by a local artist, inspired by a work they viewed at the Museum, and then shared with the world.

Image Credit: Harness/Methyd photographs inspiration "Soundsuits" at "Nick Cave" in 2019. Andie Bottrell, Designing Indie. Cody Harness/Crystal Methyd, "The Color Purple Look," 2020, Cotton, thread, press-on nails, and batting. Gift of the artist. Collection of the Springfield Art Museum.

Crystal Methyd

KSMU - Ozarks Public Radio Arts News spotlights the new publication "A History of the Springfield Art Museum," by Curator of Art, Sarah Buhr. Thank you KSMU and Jimmy Rea, and we hope you give it a listen!

New Book Chronicles the History of the Springfield Art Museum A new publication by Curator of Art Sarah Buhr traces the institution's evolution from its founding to its role today as a cultural cornerstone of the Ozarks.

Today is a great day to visit the Decorative Arts Trust's "Collecting250" site, featuring 250 objects that represents independence, identity, and community, and how objects can tell the story of America. The Springfield Art Museum is so proud to have its "robe l'Anglaise" added to the site!

--> https://collecting250.com/robe-a-langlaise/

The gown, made of silk and linen, was originally crafted on the East Coast in the 18th century, and altered over time to suit changing fashions and owners, before eventually finding a permanent home in Springfield, Missouri. Curator Sarah Buhr says "Every object in our collection has a story to tell. We are thrilled to be able to share this piece’s story with the Decorative Arts Trust and the broader online community.”

Happy Independence Day from your Springfield Art Museum!

In observance of the holiday, Museum offices are closed on Friday, July 3. Please have a safe and art-filled weekend!

Image Credit: Audrey Flack, "Fourth of July Still Life," 1975, serigraph on paper. Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence. Collection of the Springfield Art Museum.

Enjoying the view of “Sun Target II” by John Henry.

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