August exhibits & programming at Spiva Center For The Arts
What do you think?
JOPLIN, MO—George A. Spiva Center for the Arts is proud to announce upcoming exhibits and programming for August.
Big Magic: A Community of Woodfired Potters | August 8 - October 11, 2026
Presented by Sharon & Lance Beshore
• Opening Reception: Friday, August 7, 5:30-7:30pm
o Free for Spiva members and exhibiting artists
Big Magic: A Community of Woodfired Potters celebrates the extraordinary collaboration behind one of ceramics’ most demanding and rewarding processes. Named for Big Magic, the 30-foot-long wood-fired kiln built by Danny Meisinger and Brian Horsch, the exhibition showcases work created through a week-long firing that depends on teamwork, trust, and dedication.
Press Play: Collage in Print| Exhibiting August 8 - October 11, 2026
• Opening Reception: Friday, August 7, 5:30-7:30pm
o Free for Spiva members and exhibiting artists
Press Play: Collage and Print is a juried exhibition that brings together the repetitive and transformative processes of printmaking with the expressive language of collage. Featuring works by artists from across the country, the exhibition explores how traditional printmaking techniques can be expanded through layering, assembling, and reimagining imagery into bold new visual experiences.
Uniquely You: A Tween Project | August 6 - August 29, 2026
• Opening Reception: Friday, August 7, 5:30-7:30pm
o Free for Spiva members and exhibiting artists
Kobie & Tyler Langford, of Be Still Photography, present a collection of images from area tweens, right in their element. Tweens are the most overlooked age group when it comes to photography, so this exhibit captures their vibrant personalities and highlights a few of the most interesting aspects of what makes up each of their unique characteristics – what makes them uniquely them!
Impressions: Prints from the Permanent Collection & Dr. Joe Pryor | August 8 - October 11, 2026
• Opening Reception: Friday, August 7, 5:30-7:30pm
o Free for Spiva members and exhibiting artists
In conjunction with Press Play: Collage and Print in the Beshore Gallery, Spiva Center for the Arts is presenting a complementary exhibition of fine art prints from its Permanent Collection, along with a selection of works generously loaned from the distinguished collection of Dr. Joe Pryor. While Press Play explores the contemporary intersection of collage and printmaking, this companion exhibition highlights the rich history and versatility of printmaking through original works created using techniques such as serigraphy, woodcut, and other traditional and contemporary processes. Featured artists include Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, and Calman Shemi.
SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING & EVENTS
Artist Talk with Danny Meisinger: Tales of Big Magic | August 8, 2026 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Enjoy an engaging Artist Talk with Danny Meisinger, exhibiting artist and one of the creators of Big Magic, which is a 30-foot-long wood-fired kiln built by Danny Meisinger and Brian Horsch. This talk offers a chance to hear directly from one of the exhibiting artists in a relaxed, conversational setting and gain deeper insight into the ideas and work behind the exhibition.
$10 Suggested Donation Second Sunday at Spiva | Galleries Open | August 9, 2026 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The galleries are open from 1-4pm each second Sunday of each month. We’re striving to make the arts more accessible, no matter your schedule!
Art & Wellness Day: Artist Trading Card RSVP | August 9, 2026 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join us for an afternoon of creativity, connection, and community! This month’s theme is Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), where participants can create small, original works of art to share and exchange.
Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) are miniature pieces of original art created for swapping, collecting, and trading. The only strict rule is their size: 2.5′′ × 3.5′′ (the exact same size as standard playing cards or baseball cards). From 1:00–2:45pm, our galleries will be open as a relaxed, drop-in studio space with materials provided—perfect for experimenting, making, and connecting with others. At 3:00pm, we’ll gather to trade cards and celebrate the creativity of our community. All skill levels are welcome—come create, relax, and connect!
Spiva Center for the Arts is inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex 212 W. 7th Street | Joplin, M0 64801 | (417) 623-0183 | Open Tue-Sat, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
