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Baskerville Productions
FEATURED MEMBERS
ARTISTS OF THE MONTH
Once a month the Mississippi Valley Art Guild selects one of its own and honors them as Artist of the Month. The honoree's creations are displayed at several facilities throughout the City. We are very proud of our talented, dedicated artisans and are delighted to promote their art in our community.
Greg Durham
The MVAG featured artist of the month of January is Greg Durham.
Durham from Chester is an experienced photographer who enjoys shooting wildlife & sporting events.
Several years ago he was fortunate to shoot photos in Northern Canada with the National Geographic’s Journeys program. The trip allowed him to to get close and personal to polar bears in their natural habitat. He’s also traveled to Alaska to photograph brown bears as well.
Durham is known for gifting sports photos to Coaches/High Schools in Perryville & in Chester. In fact he cherishes the “media excellence award” he received from the Chester H.S. for his media coverage of student athletes.
His photos are displayed @ Southern Illinois Eye Center, Buena Vista Bank, Reids’ Harvest House, the public Library, & St. Nicholas Landmark in Chester.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 pm on 611 State street in Chester.
Kerringtyn Malley
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Kerringtyn Malley is currently a senior at Chester High School and is the MVAG featured artist for the month of February. She is the daughter of Ty and Nikki Malley.
She has been accepted to both Savannah College of Art & Design and Columbia College in Chicago to obtain an art degree in illustration, Gaming Art & Digital Art.
Throughout her time at Chester H.S., she has won competitions for her artwork. During her Freshman, Sophomore, & Junior years, she was awarded the Southern Illinois School Press Association for
Illustration.
She has maintained High Honors throughout her high school career and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Her artwork is displayed in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, Buena Vista Bank, the public library, & Southern Illinois Eye Center.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month at 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
John Reith
John Reith from Chester Il is a photographer and the MVAG’s featured Artist of the month for March. He has been a guild member for several years and is an avid supporter of other local and regional artists. He draws inspiration from many forms and enjoys working with landscape/cityscape, industrial, and architecture subjects the most. His preferred medium is Mixed Media, taking his original works and manipulating them with post editing software or introducing other mediums such as paint and ink. His artworks are displayed in Chester at the Southern Illinois Eyecare, St Nicholas Landmark, Buena Vista Bank, the Public Library, and Reids’ Harvest House.
The guild meets the last Monday of each month at 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
Melanie Barker
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Melanie Barker of Ava is the Mississippi Valley Art Guild’s featured artist for April. Growing up as the daughter of an artist mother she was provided with plenty of art supplies and was enrolled in private art lessons at the age of 7. Through school she went on to participate in art contests, create personal cards, and illustrate for others. Though practiced in different art mediums, she has enjoyed acrylic painting the most. She loves the quick brush stroke and the depiction of light of her impressionistic style of painting. Barker accepted an art scholarship at Shawnee Jr College in Ullin then went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts Degree from SIUC, and graduated from SIUE with a Masters in Art Therapy. She became a Registered Art Therapist and recently retired from the St of IL/Chester Mental Health after 28 years of service. Even though she’s no longer employed in Chester she continues to be an active MVAG board member and is proud to be involved with the not-for-profit that provides networking, education, and support within the community. Her artwork is on display in Chester at Southern Illinois Eye care, St Nicholas Landmark, the public library, Reids’Harvest House, and Buena Vista Bank. The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 PM on 611 State Street in Chester.
Brenda S. Thompson
Brenda S Thompson of St. Mary, MO is the MVAG featured artist for May.
Brenda has always loved to draw and paint. Inspired by the rolling hills and countryside of Southeast Missouri where she grew up, Brenda began painting landscapes while in high school. In the 1980s she quilted and created fabric art, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that she started painting again, learning wet-on-wet oil painting techniques.
Being busy with her corporate career and raising a family, there was little time to dedicate to her art. In 1995, Brenda followed her corporate job to Texas. In 2015 after a long hiatus, she picked up a brush and began painting animals and landscapes with acrylic paint. In 2016, Brenda began to study watercolor painting and as a member of the Chisholm Trail Art Group, she received multiple awards for her art.
In 2017, Brenda returned to Missouri and soon joined the Ste. Genevieve Missouri Art Guild and the Mississippi Valley Art Guild in Chester. She enjoys being a member of active art groups that influence her to be more creative and to show her work which she displays at sponsored events throughout the year. Her art currently is exhibited at the guilds’ art centers and at the Guitar Shop at Hopi Lane in Perryville, Missouri.
Also, her artwork is featured in Chester at Southern Illinois Eye care, St Nicholas Landmark, the public library, Reids’Harvest House, and Buena Vista Bank.
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Frankie Eggemeyer Veath
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The M.V.A.G. featured Artist of the Month for June 2023 is Frankie Eggemeyer Veath of Chester. Frankie earned three Bachelors Degrees from SIU Carbondale (Science & Arts, Psychology, & Paralegal).
Frankie is one of the founding members of the Art Guild (non profit organization) & one of our oldest members. She started creating at a very young age & still passionate about art. Her favorite images to paint are historical pictures of Randolph County/Southern Illinois.
Her art is on display in Chester at Reids Harvest House, Public Library, Buena vista Bank, St Nicholas Landmark & Southern Illinois Eyecare. The guild meets the last Monday of each month @ 6 PM on 611 State Street.
Barbara A. Schrieber
The MVAG featured artist of the month for July is Barbara A. Schrieber. Barbara is a watercolor artist from Waterloo, Il. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education and Graphic Design. She also has a Master’s degree in Watercolor Painting from Eastern Illinois University. Barbara enjoys teaching children art classes, adult watercolor classes and drawing classes locally at Immanuel Lutheran Church located in Waterloo, Il. Barbara blends an unique style of vivid colors, freshness, and personal joy in her work. Some of her themes include nature, florals, and guardian angels. Barbara is married to Tom and has three children, daughter Joy, son Tim & wife Kelli, daughter Annie & husband August. She also owns a smart and feisty Goldendoodle named Banjo and a Siamese cat, Sawyer as well.
Her art is on display in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the public library, Buena Vista Bank, and Southern Illinois eye care.
Barbara McCormick
The MVAG featured artist of the month for August, 2023 is Barbara Mccormick.
Barb from Chester has been painting for over 30 years and enjoyed taking art lessons with her mother.
She is an active guild board member; scheduling art classes and leading the T.A.G. (Teen Art Guild).
Her art is on display in Chester at St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the Public Library, Buena Vista Bank, and Southern Illinois Eyecare.
Judy Nagel
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The MVAG artisan of the month for September is Judy Nagel.
Nagel from Kansas moved to Chester in 2005 after she married her husband, James Nagel from Red Bud.
Nagel always enjoys practicing painting and still considers herself a novice. Also, she loves creating beaded jewelry and most recently working with stained glass.
Nagel said, “I try to attend as many classes the guild offers and recommends everyone to do the same.”
During the summer months she loves visiting and spending time with her adult children and grandkids.
Her artwork is featured in Chester at the St Nicholas Landmark, Reids’ Harvest House, the public library, Southern Illinois Eye Center & Buena Vista Bank
