A special exhibit at Terra Studios will include several Eureka Springs artists.
The grand unveiling of the Better World Mural is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. The mural will remain in place on the exterior of one of the larger buildings at Terra Studios. Many people know of Terra for their signature glass bluebirds, but the Better World Mural becomes part of a six-acre art park with sculptures and other installations.
Val Gonzalez, executive director at Terra, said, “We got the idea for this project at the Compassion Fayetteville dinner last year.” They saw how setting realistic goals “made a huge difference in tackling problems which once seemed too big.” Focusing on one area helps people find ways to make a difference, without feeling overwhelmed and helpless. “Sometimes people just give up,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve got to just pick one thing and do something.”
The United Nations has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and a variety of artists chose one of those goals as a theme for a panel four feet square. Valerie Hubbard Damon has long displayed her work at Terra, and she chose water and sanitation as a theme.
The theme has special significance for Valerie. “I’ve lived twenty-five years off grid, with solar electricity, a spring for water, and a composting toilet,” she said. On a topic “near and dear to my heart,” Valerie filled her panel with words and images “to bring awareness to the importance of keeping toxins out of our precious water supply.” Fracking, industrial waste, and other toxins pose increasing threats.
Valerie had to adjust her perspective for this project. She usually works on a page 11×14 inches, using watercolors and ultra-fine brushes. “Painting something so big, using outdoor paint, was a stretch,” she said, but she was pleased to take part in such an important exhibit. “Terra’s motto is ‘Creating a Better World Through Art,’” Valerie said, recommending a visit to the studio. “They have an absolutely magical gallery and grounds.”
Cathrin “Yodi” Yoder will soon have an exhibit at Terra of the pottery she makes with Sheri Cunningham. During a lunch meeting with Valerie and Val, she heard about this project. At that time, only one theme had not been selected. The concept of “Partnership” should tie the entire exhibit together. Yodi volunteered for that topic, and then compounded the challenge by taking on a partner to produce the panel.
“Drew Gentle and I collaborated on this,” Yodi said. It took some hard work to develop a concept, she said, and two artists working on one panel challenged their partnership. Drew’s studio sometimes stayed too cold to paint, and the two learned a lot about partnership while moving the panel back and forth between their studios.
Similar backgrounds made the project possible. “We both have animation in our background, and we wanted to incorporate movement into the design,” Yodi said. Drew said the project gave them a way to contribute toward positive change, and he looked forward to the unveiling, to see the various concepts come together.
The gallery at Terra Studios is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Their website, terrastudios.com, has more information on art classes and other special events at the studio. A suggested donation of a dollar helps support and maintain the park. Terra is southeast of Fayetteville, on Arkansas Hwy. 16 near Elkins.