September Exhibits

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Post Art Library

September brings two new exhibits to the library! Paging through Penguins: A Penguin Books Gallery opens with an informal “tea talk” featuring collector Danya Walker on September 10th, and Ken Southwick’s stunning Paintings of the Ozarks series opens with a reception in the Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery the following week. Save the dates–details below!

Paging through Penguins: A Penguin Books Gallery | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 6:00-7:00pm | Post Reading Room

We’re welcoming a display of vintage Penguin paperbacks to the library and you’re invited! During this event, local collector Danya Walker will talk about her collection and introduce us to the wonderful world of Penguin Books.This is a FREE public event. Recommended for adults, but all ages welcome. Tea and light refreshments will be available while supplies last. Paging through Penguins us is on display though October 31st. Find it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1SVNqtpoya/.

Opening: Paintings of the Ozarks | Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 5:00-6:00pm | Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery

Join us in welcoming Paintings of the Ozarks, a series by local artist Ken Southwick, to the library’s Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery. Ken is an artist and illustrator living in Carthage, Missouri. Growing up, his father took him to every commercial cave in the region, and they canoed many rivers in his later years. These early experiences of the Ozarks have inspired him to paint for his entire career. Missouri Wildflowers, and paintings from his travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, are among his other series. Ken’s work is shown in galleries, fairs, and colleges throughout the Midwest. In 1994, he was invited to exhibit and lecture at the Central Institute of Fine Arts in East Beijing, China. He was an early adopter of computer illustration and spent his career giving demonstrations and seminars in the education system. His client list includes Marvel Comics, Hallmark Cards, Lee Jeans, and Leggett & Platt. Samples of his work can be seen at KenSouthwick.net. Paintings of the Ozarks will be exhibited through October 31st. Find it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BfmVNmK7j/.

We Are Here: A Black Heritage Exhibit & Closing Reception

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Post Art Library

We’re teaming up with Joplin’s Rock Center Coalition to co-host a closing reception for We Are Here, a Black Heritage exhibit on display in the Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library.

We Are Here is a celebration of Black culture and experience that spotlights the works of three artists: Joi Houston, David Joseph Allread, and Jerome Eldridge. As Houston’s work explores representations of Black women in spaces where they are often overlooked, Eldridge’s paintings reflect local Black culture and history, while Allread’s abstracts remind us that indeed there is light in the seemingly never-ending quest for balance and peace.

Visit the gallery on Thursday, March 5th between 5:30-7pm to meet the artists, hear about their works, and partake of light refreshments. This is a free, public event; all ages welcome.

Find it on the Library’s calendar: https://joplin.librarycalendar.com/event/we-are-here-closing-reception-20320.

Find it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Aw2LH3WBa/.

Joplin Sampler Coming Soon to Library

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Post Art Library

We’re glad to partner with the Four State Photography Enthusiasts (FSPE) to present Joplin Sampler in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library, September 11th-October 23rd.

No two people see the world in the same way. This exhibit showcases the diversity of styles and subjects as seen through the lenses of area photographers, enthusiasts and professionals alike, and features works by 20+ group members.

Please join us for a FREE, all-ages opening reception on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30-7pm in the gallery. Find the event on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/share/17PHV5HmCF/.

Art in the Library is curated by us, the Post Art Library. For more information, visit www.PostArtLibrary.org or call 417.623.7953 x1041.

Call for Entry: My Midwest

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Post Art Library

This year’s Joplin Reads Together title, The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal, is set in the Midwest. Encompassing a large area of the United States, this area includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. We invite you to celebrate this beloved region by creating and entering an original work of art inspired by YOUR experiences of the Midwest: What does the Midwest look or feel like to you? Show us! You do not need to read Stradal’s book, nor do you need a library card, to participate. Here’s how:

Starting February 10th, you may pick up a 12″x12″ canvas panel from the Library’s Reference Desk (while supplies last).
Create artwork on the canvas panel! Inks, markers, and paints work well, as do several other mediums. Artwork must be original and must not exceed 12″x12″ (or 12″x12″x12″ if 3D).
Please do not include your name on the artwork itself. Do not frame it or otherwise prepare it for display/hanging–we’ll take care of that!
Artwork must be returned to any public service desk inside the Library by 5pm on Sunday, March 16th. Late entries will NOT be accepted – no exceptions.
Artwork will be exhibited in the Library from Thursday, March 27th through Sunday, April 27th. Join us for a FREE reception on Thursday, March 27th from 5:30-7pm! Bring your family & friends!
Artwork must be picked up from the Library’s front desk Monday, April 28th through Sunday, May 4th. Artwork NOT picked up by 5pm on Sunday, May 4th will be recycled or otherwise disposed of – no exceptions.

***If you do not wish to use a canvas panel provided by the library, then you may submit your own completed artwork that does not exceed 12″x12″x12″ by 5pm, Sunday, March 16th.***

Download the My Midwest Entry Form

(Entry form must be submitted with artwork.)

Joplin Reads Together is an annual community read program brought to you by Joplin Public Library and partners. For more information about this year’s selection, including opportunities to win prizes, attend programming, and more, see the Joplin Reads Together webpage.

Miniature Paintings by Jesse McCormick

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Post Art Library

Join us for the opening of our first exhibit of 2025: Miniature Paintings by Jesse McCormick! This show brings together dozens of small-scale paintings that Jesse began painting in 2023. Like much of his work, these paintings emphasize people and animals, as well as elements of nature, while reimagining them into interacting symbols of abstract thought and emotion.

In describing his own experience, the artist says, “I move my inner vision out where others may see it and it may remain for a while. I paint people, nature, and light. I convert what seems to be chaos into a visionary experience. The magic of painting makes imagination visible.”

Jesse was born in Carthage, Missouri. Many of his artworks are in private collections, with some winning awards and prizes in various competitions. He studied engineering, music, writing, and art. Jesse enjoys working in the Tri-State area among its talented and personable artists and art enthusiasts alike.

Miniature Paintings is presented by us, the Post Art Library, and is on display in The Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library from Thursday, January 9th through Thursday, February 20th. Questions? Call us at 417-623-7953 x1041. Find it on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/share/128KrgXc12G/.

Repetition: Mixed Media Paintings by Amber Mintert

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Post Art Library

Repetition, an exhibit consisting of mixed media paintings by local artist Amber Mintert, is currently on display in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library.

Amber is currently an Associate Professor of Art at Missouri Southern State University, but her life in the world of art started well before now. She grew up primarily in Bentonville, Arkansas and Ozark, Missouri in a creative home. She and her sister were always encouraged to sing, dance, draw, and explore their world. Amber’s sister was the performer, and she was the artist. Amber started watercolor lessons at the age of five, and never looked back.

Since that time, she has spent time drawing and painting, but also enjoys textiles and sewing. Most of her work is influenced by textile design, stitching, and fabric. She creates patterns and images that incorporate these elements, including actual stitching, on some of her work.

As time has passed, the events of her life have influenced her work with symbols representing people and places that have become a part of her own tapestry. Even when those symbols are only recognizable by her, they are placed in compositions filled with the patterns of fabrics and textiles she creates. Some of her work is also made up of observations and objects she finds amusing and calming in compositions that provide whimsy or contemplation.

Her personal life includes her art-teacher husband Fred, her three children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. Her family is close, and this is her primary focus in life. She and her family live on a small farm raising goats and chickens, and they love to travel both stateside and internationally. She is also very involved in her church life and works with children and missions.

Repetition is on display through December 31, 2023. For more information, contact the Post Art Library at 417-623-7953 x1041.

Call for Entry!

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Post Art Library

Call for entry! We’re excited to partner with Joplin Public Library for their premier community read program, Joplin Reads Together, by co-hosting a call for entry for Lost & Found: Remarkably Bright Objects, a community-based art exhibition consisting of art created with found objects.

Guidelines/Eligibility: This call for entry is open to anyone ages 18+. Artwork must be original works of art that incorporate found objects. Open to all forms and mediums. 2D artwork may not exceed 16×20 inches and must be wired for hanging. If you’re interested in submitting a 3D piece, then contact Post Art Library director Jill Halbach prior to getting started. This is a familyfriendly show; no works of an explicit nature, please. Also, we will not accept copy works, such as those depicting licensed characters, photographs of public art, etc. This is a non-juried, community-based project.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CALL FOR ENTRY FORM

This exhibition coincides with Joplin Public Library’s premier community read program, Joplin Reads Together. The title they selected is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt. “Lost and found” is among the book’s themes and motifs. Although participation in the Joplin Reads Together program is encouraged, it’s not necessary for submitting an artwork to this call for entry.
This call for entry is open from March 1-31, 2023. Completed artworks may be dropped off in the library’s Makerspace during the Makerspace’s regular hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11am-8pm (staff break from 3-4pm) or Wednesdays & Fridays from 9am-5pm (staff break from 1-2pm). Other drop off times may be made by appointment only. Artwork will not be accepted without a completed and signed entry form. Artwork will not be accepted any later than March 31st–no exceptions!

Questions about the call for entry/exhibit may be directed to Post Art Library Director Jill Halbach at jill@postartlibrary.org or 417.623.7953 x1041. For more information about how to participate in Joplin Public Library’s Joplin Reads Together program, contact their Adult Programming Coordinator Sarah Turner-Hill at 417.623.7953 x1030 or visit Joplin Reads Together online.

JRAC Exhibit: The Eyes Have It

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Post Art Library

The artists of Joplin Regional Artists Coalition (JRAC) were asked to consider creating an original work of art concerned with and focused on the eye. For time eternal, artists have explored this theme–as symbol, allegory, and as thoughtful contemplation regarding the world around us. Encompassing a variety of mediums, JRAC’s talented members have once again shown us the vast array of viewpoints that art allows.

The Eyes Have It will be exhibited in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library November 1, 2022 – January 2, 2023.

1st Place, Midori No Honō by Emily Rose; 2nd Place, Seymour by Ginger Copeland

3rd Place, The King In All His Glory by Curt Penland

The Eyes Have It exhibit in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library.

Abstract Paintings by Lori Marble

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Post Art Library

Favorite Children’s Books Reimagined: What Do You See?, an exhibit featuring abstract paintings by Lori Marble, will soon be at the Library!

Remember your favorite books from childhood? Perhaps you even have one or two on your bookshelf today? Now, picture them reimagined as abstract paintings. Artist Lori Marble, the now adult child of a librarian, lovingly remembers the books that shaped her childhood.

She asked the librarians at Joplin Public and Post Art Libraries about their favorite children’s books, read them, and painted them in an abstract, mixed-media style. She paints in an ambidextrous fashion, laying down large swatches of bold color using a palette knife in her left hand, while incorporating bold brush strokes and subtle details with her right. Her love of symbolism and pattern is evident in each work on paper.

The display is purposely hung at a child’s eye-view and will prompt each viewer to ask “What do you see?” This exhibit is presented by the Post Art Library in The Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery inside Joplin Public Library. Free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Post Art Library Director Jill Sullivan at (417) 623-7953 x1041.

EXHIBIT INFO:

June 9 – August 31, 2022 | Opening reception: June 9, 2022, 6:30-7:30pm

Sculptures by Zach VanBecelaere

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Post Art Library

We’re glad to present Sculptures by Zach VanBecelaere in the Post Reading Room inside Joplin Public Library from Sunday, May 1^st – Thursday, June 30th.

Working primarily with steel and stainless steel, Zach VanBecelaere uses a variety of metalworking techniques to manipulate materials into new forms. He incorporates welding used for harsh texture, high mirror polished finishes, and patinated rusted finishes to create contrast and duality in his work. His work stems from a fascination with the natural processes of growth and decay while exploring the relationship between the two.

For more information, contact Post Art Library Director Jill Sullivan at 417-623-7953 x1041.

EXHIBIT INFO

Sunday, May 1st – Thursday, June 30th

The Thought Knot by Zach VanBecelaere (with PAL Director Jill Sullivan for scale).

Exhibits and Displays