Montminy Gallery

TREAT YOURSELF

Wondering how to get your hands on these tasty student creations? Half of the program’s budget comes from outside sales. What students make in class gets sent over to a chef to be standardized, fi nished and frozen for sale to the public. Visit www.caccculinary.com for more information.

The Montminy Gallery during this summer’s Small Art/Big Stories exhibit [PHOTO BY BETHANIE IRONS/COURTESY MONTMINY GALLERY]

CO M M U N I T Y V I S I O N Montminy Gallery artfully ties together past, present, future

BY LAUREN MIERS Columbia Daily Tribune

It would be easy to say the Montminy Gallery is an unexpected or hidden outlet for art in our city, mostly due to its location. But that isn’t the case. The Montminy, located at the Boone Historical Museum in south Columbia, challenges viewers to consider the intersection of curiosity and art, charting innovative territory for the future of arts in our city.

“Tracy Montminy’s wish for the gallery was that it would be a place that Boone County residents could show, promote and sell their work,” Montminy Gallery Director and Curator Kate Gray said. “That mission is the benchmark for all the shows.”

Established in 1993, the gallery was a gift from local artist and University of Missouri professor Tracy Montminy. Montminy and her husband Pierre were pillars in the Columbia arts community. After Pierre passed away, Tracy wanted to share their significant collection with Boone County. The result was the the area’s largest for-profit art gallery — and its vaults — attached to the Boone County Historical Museum.

Gallery director and curator Kate Gray flips through artwork in the vault at the Montminy Gallery at the Boone County Historical Society on Friday, April 12, 2019. [HUNTER DYKE/TRIBUNE]

Though the gallery is nestled at the back of the historical museum, history isn’t completely separated from the art: A stately grand piano commands a corner of the Montminy. As its former owner, Blind Boone, was a prominent figure in the community, his oak piano, a later addition to the space, sits as a centerpiece. Past meets present in the gallery, keeping close at mind where we’ve come from and how some of Columbia’s artistic seeds first blossomed.

As further reminder, large-scale works by the Montminys hang on either side of the hallway connecting the museum to the gallery. They act as a bridge, uniting art and history and reminding guests of the local artists that brought the gallery to life.

Intentional and spacious, the Montminy allows one artist to exhibit over 50 pieces on the wide white walls. Attendees are invited to peruse the open space and explore the gallery’s unique shape.

“It’s not like things are hidden, but you go on a journey as you walk through the different arms of the gallery,” said Kirsteen Buchanan, local designer and Stephens College professor. “It gives a sense of discovery.” Buchanan will display her work as part of the Small Art/Big Stories show this summer.

With history at its hip and Tracy’s mission in mind, the Montminy writes a unique narrative. Averaging around six exhibitions annually, the gallery features new and fresh work from underrepresented voices and not-for-profits alongside curated educational experiences.

In 2018, the Montminy exhibited shows like the What is Columbia?, a photography exhibition which invited 10 local photographers to answer that question through images; a show uniting local artists Kelly Coalier and David Spear; and the Access Arts: Building Community show, featuring works from the center’s students and instructors.

Local artist Jenny McGee displayed a collection of experimental abstract pieces in the Artist and Educator Women’s Collective show in early 2018. Her mixed-media work centered on courage, and McGee says the show made her feel honored, embraced and well-represented. She especially appreciated the attention to detail the Montminy took in displaying her work.

“It was overall just a positive, intimate and authentic experience in a gallery setting, which isn’t always the case,” McGee said. “Oftentimes there’s work on the walls, and you feel this disconnect of what was the artist’s intention for the work. In this exhibit the artist and viewer perspective and communication felt very clear.”

As part of the Artist and Educator Women’s Collective exhibition, the Montminy hosted a panel for the artists to discuss their work and converse with the audience. McGee said that experience brought connection with the crowd.

UPCOMING SHOWS

THROUGH JULY 28 Small Art/Big Stories, featuring 15 artists exhibiting works no larger than 8 by 10 inches

AUGUST 3 - SEPTEMBER 1 The Residence: Access Arts, including works from Access Arts Residents

SEPTEMBER 7 - NOVEMBER 3 A Relationship with Color, featuring work centered on color and communication from Jenn Wiggs, John Fennell and Scott Patrick Myers

NOVEMBER 8-10

Weavers and Spinners

Guild Show, showcasing work by the local artisans guild

NOVEMBER 23 - JANUARY 26, 2020 Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance, featuring artwork from alliance membership