This week's featured artist is photographer Faith Bemis.
An award-winning photographer, Faith Bemiss, of Sedalia, began her career in 1994 by freelancing to national magazines. Bemiss, the past president of Sedalia Visual Art Association, is currently the arts and entertainment reporter at the Sedalia Democrat newspaper. While at the Democrat, she is responsible for capturing journalism photos, although she still specializes in fine art photography in her spare time that focuses on nature, landscapes and abstractions.
"Nature is inspiring by habit - spontaneous not rehearsed, sometimes demure, sometimes pretentious," Bemiss said. "I often find that it provides enough poetry, music, drama and soul-healing to last many lifetimes - being able to capture this art with my camera is, without question, a quest I feel I was born with."
Bemiss has not only won awards for her journalism photos with the Associated Press APME, the Kansas City Press Club and the Missouri Press Association, but she has garnered awards in national art shows for her fine artwork. A limited-edition print "Neon Diner," is in the collection of the Farmington Museum in Farmington, New Mexico, as well as the private collection of Michael and Ramelle Pulitzer, of Winston Salem, North Carolina.
"Fides est Victor #5" was purchased by Marsha Drennon, past president of State Fair Community College for the college's art collection. Other works are in private collections across the country.
Bemiss is also a poet and a member of SpoFest, a local group who offers opportunities for writers to read original works of prose and poetry several times a year. In 2009, she published "Toward the Sun," a book focusing on her original nature photography and original poetry.
For several years, Bemiss taught photography classes at State Fair Community College in the college's LearningForce Program. Classes included night sky photography and how to combine poetry with original photography.
Bemiss told "Birds & Blooms" magazine in an interview that her work defines her "as an artist/photographer and person. When I used film, I loved the thrill of getting my images back from processing. It was like opening a present, capturing a moment in time. Now with digital the 'present' is delivered much quicker, but there is still that thrill of capture and creativity that I miss if I'm unable pursue my craft."
For those who wish to pick up a camera and capture the world around them, Bemiss suggested they keep shooting. The more photos one takes the more they learn. Never be afraid to ask questions and read. As they say, "knowledge is power."
Bemiss currently has an exhibit at the Sedalia Municipal Building along with Warrensburg artist Gary Cadwallader. Her work in the exhibit features her photography plus original monotypes and a pastel painting.
Bemiss is a member of Sedalia Visual Art Association and a Best of Missouri Hands Juried member. To learn more about her work, visit www.faithbemissphotography.com; the Best of Missouri Hands website at bestofmissourihands.org/faithbemiss/; Facebook at Faith Bemiss Photography; or Sedalia Visual Art Association at sedaliavisualartassociation.org/Faith_Bemiss.html.
Mid-Missouri art exhibits, happenings
The Village Art Studio will host a variety of summer art camps for children ages 6 and older. Each sporting their own theme, the camps include "African Animal Safari" from June 3-7 and July 8-12, "Lakeside Summer" from June 17-21 and July 22-26, and a CreaTeen "Ole Mexico" art camp for children in middle and high school from June 24-28. All camps have daily sessions at 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. Village Arts Studio is located at 1502 E. High St., Suites 40 and 60. For more information, contact Ann DeRosier at 573-230-1414.
The Silver Smith's Design Company Tipton, designs and re-designs handmade clothes. They specialize in personalized jewelry, recently adding fork and spoon rings made of your antique silver or you may pick from their selection. SilverSmith's Design Company is located at 11272 U.S. 50 in Tipton and will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7-8. For more information, call 660-473-1750, email [email protected], or visit www.etsy.com/shop/THESILVERSMITHS, www.facebook.om/TheSilverSmiths or www.instagram.com/the_silvermsiths.
The "Life's a Beach" exhibit is scheduled through June 18 at Capital Arts Gallery, 1203 Missouri Blvd. This exhibit will feature people, places, and things in and around bodies of water. There will be a reception 1-4 p.m. June 9. For more information, call 573-635-8355 or visit www.capitalarts.org.
Rick Jey hosts two video programs, including "Spotlight On The Arts" that showcases a 30-minute, in-depth interview with one artist and "Mid-Missouri Art News" that presents two guests for 15 minutes each. Episodes are available on CenturyLink and Mediacom public access channels (check provider for broadcast times) or on YouTube by visiting the "JCTVAccess" channel.
The "Icon" exhibit is showing through June 14 at Columbia Art League, 207 S. Ninth St. in Columbia. The exhibit gives the artists a chance to explore their feelings about iconology and idolatry in modern society. Art in the Park is coming up on June 1-2. The gallery is open 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 573-443-8838 or visit columbiaartleague.org.
The Sedalia Visual Arts Association maintains a rotating art exhibit at The Sedalia City Hall in Sedalia Municipal Building, 200 S. Osage in Sedalia. They feature two new artists every two months, with the work of Gary Cadwallader and Faith Bemiss currently on display through June 15. Hours of operation are 8:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The association will have an exhibit Friday through Aug. 18 at Goddard Gallery in Daum Museum of Contemporary Art at State Fair College in Sedalia. A reception will be 6-8 p.m. June 27. The club meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the annex to Central Bank, 403 West Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia. For more information, call Hoover at 660-238-6242 or email [email protected], association secretary and treasurer Glenda Miller at 660-458-6575 or email at [email protected], or visit sedaliavisualartassociation.org. The club meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday at the annex to the Central Bank building, 403 West Broadway Blvd. They have different speakers each month except August when they are busy with the Missouri State Fair. Visitors are welcome.
Jimmy Mustion is a professional artist who is involved in area arts organizations and galleries.