Artists

Meet the artists on display at the Art Collective gallery!

Living Lands Studio

 

Jessi Rieken
Wheel-Thrown, Functional Pottery

 

I am a local woman from Ava, that has been around the world, and chose to come back home. Our beautiful Ozarks and the creative artists that surround me are the inspiration behind my still growing business and pottery practice. Making art, friends, and memories with our community has been so gratifying. As I continue to explore the beauty of our natural landscape through my art, I am excited to support all the budding and veteran artists around me in continuing to learn and grow together.

Sweetwater Pottery

Susan Minyard
Functional Pottery

A little over forty years ago some friends and I decided to try to save the earth by buying as much of it as we could.  We found a wonderful old 500 acre farm that had been abandoned in 1946, before the use of pesticides.  We incorporated as Sweetwater Community Land Trust, dedicated to stewardship of the land. I opened the pottery in 1984, wondering if it was possible to make a living doing what I loved.

Imagine my surprise when I was successful!! 
I’ve  been traveling for years to sell my pottery and have loved the romance of the road but as I get older I want to stay home more and just make pots.  

Cat Track Studio

Mara Bosch
Paintings / Sculpture / Jewelry / Functional Fiber Arts

Mara is an artist deeply rooted in her love for our local landscape. Inspired by the rolling hills, deep hollows, and flowing creeks, she creates beauty in many media from her home and studio outside of Mansfield, MO.

Her focus on ecology and spirit reflect in her carefully crafted works you see here. Mara’s hope is that nature speaks to you through her pieces, that you notice and connect with the beauty of the land around you and the heart inside.

Cosmic Web Alchemy

Dez
Pinch Pot

We are dedicated to creating healing, beautiful, and one of a kind products using natural ingredients and elements sourced from the Ozarks that nourish the spirit, body, and mind. We are a community of artisans that deeply value the earth and our relationship in this cosmic world. We come from different backgrounds and have joined together to serve a greater vision, so we specialize in a variety of things. We create handmade ceramic pipes and other hand crafted pottery. 

Lichen Sticks

Christine Dickinson
Slab Construction / Ceramics

Lichen is my inspiration. Symbiotic colonies of fungus and algae. I lit off into the world a few years ago on a quest for personal growth. I was met and supported by loving allies… I could not have made that journey alone. These people recognized my spirit and my value. They acknowledged me as a contributor and co-conspirator in the greater scheme of their already beautiful lives. In welcoming me to their world, we’ve all been blessed by each other’s individual strengths. Together, we create something more beautiful than what we created alone. Our relationships are mutually beneficial and inspire us to expand. We take care of each other. 

I am an apprentice and a student, both of art and life. The women that showed up to support my growth are such gifts. These ceramics I craft are small, tangible bits of the magic they share with me. If my teachers are the fungus supporting my growth and I am the algae. Then I’m here, photosynthesizing. Turning light into energy for everyone’s best life. 

J. Fannen Art

Jennifer Fannen

Wildlife Painter

 
Jennifer Fannen was born and raised in Utah where she developed a deep love of nature. She spent her childhood exploring the mountains, forests, and deserts of the state, and her love of nature was instilled in her at a young age.
After graduating from high school, Jennifer met her husband and they moved to the Ozarks with their 3 son where she continues to live and work as an artist.  Jennifer and her family live on a farm in the Ozark Mountains and spend a lot of their free time exploring and enjoying the wildlife and natural wonders that surround them, and she brings her firsthand knowledge of nature into her paintings.
Jennifer is a representational wildlife and nature artist, and her paintings are known for their realism and attention to detail. She often paints animals in their natural habitats, and she captures the beauty and wonder of the natural world in her work. Jennifer’s paintings are realistic and expressive, and they capture the beauty and grace of her subjects. She is particularly skilled at depicting the interplay of light, shadow, and color, and her paintings often have a realistic quality that makes the viewer feel like they can step into the world she created.