Chariton's great Art Attack of 2013

I had a great time Wednesday morning walking from store to store on the square to take a look at works in various media by almost 30 artists, a majority of whom are local although others live nearby and a few, with ties to Lucas County, live at a considerable distance.

Youth Division entries are for the most part displayed at the Chamber/Main Street office, where tour maps also are available. I really liked the felt-tip pen drawings that were among the displays there, including this one, "Sacred Guardian," by 10th grader Katelynn Stewart.

Actually, I only made it about half way around the 20 or so "Art Attack" sites, so will have to go back. The works will remain on display until Saturday and display venues will be open until 7 p.m. today to give visitors extra viewing time.

My favorite piece so far is a mixed media triptych by Ashley Bedford on display at Copy Plus. These are two parts of it here, but you really do need to see it all to fully appreciate it. Ashley, a Copy Plus graphics designer --- and Russell native I should point out --- also has three really intriguing ceramics pieces on display.

Be sure to vote for your favorite works as you tour --- People's Choice awards, and others, will be presented at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Freight House during the Lucas County Arts Council's annual Fall Arts Festival.

Art Attack is a project of Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street in partnership with the Arts Council with support from major donors --- Johnson Machine Works, Great Western Bank, Hy-Vee, Mosaic, Midwest Heritage Bank and several others. And of course by all the retail and professional people who are hosting displays.

You'll find Marybeth Heikes' highly polished watercolors (pardon the pesky fluorescent lighting) as well as Andrew Linderman's ceramics at Ben Franklin/Betty's Quilts & Gifts. Heikes paints professionally; Linderman teaches chemistry at Chariton High School on the side.

Here's the complete list of artists and locations: Jeanette McGee, Chariton Public Library: Meg Prange, Piper's; Andrew Linderman and Marybeth Heikes, Ben Franklin/Betty's; Jeri Reeve, II Pillars; Ashley Bedford, Copy Plus; the Dipsy Dabblers collective at Demichelis Law Firm; Steve Scott and Jacob Yeates at Chariton Vision Center; Cathy Donner at the Briar Patch; Tina Bingham, The Fifith Mile; Susan Baer, Dr. Rips' office; Beckie Prange, Euro Food; Roger Miller, Harbor House; Kathy Willitts, Connecticut Yankee Pedaller; Larry Squibb, Larrington Insurance; Iowa Art Quilters, The Sampler; Dillon Baker, Meyer Law Firm; Cathmar Prange, Teresa's Treasures; Miriam McDonough at Family Shoe; Ron Meyer at Papa Leo's; and youth entrants Sean Estes, Angela Kopytko, Katelynn Stewart, Makayla Fisher, Dylan Barnes, Megan Masters and Adam Wirth at Chariton Chamber/Main Street.

I was really intrigued, too, by Dillon Baker's furniture pieces, on display at Meyer Law Firm. I'd take the gleaming console home in a minute, but would have to think a while about the smaller bench/tables. Dillon writes that his furniture is "inspired by material and the symbiotic relationships that are created through contrast in line, shape, color and texture."

If you're interested in the arts, be sure to attend the Lucas County Arts Council's Fall Festival at the Freight House on Saturday. Hours for the show and sale will be 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It's a great event that always attracts many regional artists in a broad range of media.