Werner is Bella Vista’s first Artist of the Month
Jill Rumoshosky Werner is Bella Vista’s first Artist of the Month, and she was recognized with a ceremony at the History Museum on Saturday.
Werner’s work will be displayed at the history museum for a month, she said.
The Artist of The Month is a new program designed by a new committee. The Bella Vista Arts Council, an advisory board to the city council, was created in February 2016 to help promote the arts in Bella Vista. Since the council doesn’t know what will be in its budget, it chose a lowcost program to start, according to committee chairman Dave Barfield.
Not all Artists of the Month will have their work displayed at the musuem, Barfield said. Some art may be displayed at the library or city hall. As a former quilter, Werner uses different mediums and some are large.
Werner lived for many years in Wichita, Kan., and has shown her artwork in museums, art centers and galleries around the U.S. and
abroad. She has won national and international awards.
Werner’s art is conceptual and represents a visual dictionary. Each piece defines a word, communicating concepts with imagery rather than words. Bold, bright colors provide energy to the pieces, which are sculptural installations or wallhung art. Unusually proportioned quilts are used for the lines and surfaces, but other materials such as wood, foam and metal are also used. Her ideas come from a wide range of influences, including scientific imagery and the works of artists such as Eva Hesse and Robert Rauschenberg.
There are plenty of artists to consider for Artist of the month, Barfield said. He sees the program going for a long time.
The Arts Council is made up of three members: Dave Barfield, Janelle Redlacyvik and Terry Wilson. Their next project is entertainment before the city’s Independence Day celebration. So far, they have several food trucks and bands lined up.