(From Neosho Arts Council)This summer area residents have the opportunity to view a work of art that’s not always on public display. Sherry Pettey’s painting Heritage normally hangs inside the library of Benton Elementary School in Neosho but due to renovations, the work is currently available for viewing at Southwest Missouri Bank (Neosho North) for the next three months.
“This is a great chance to view this work of art in a more accessible venue,” said Sarah Serio, president of the Neosho Arts Council that helped facilitate this special exhibition.
“We hope the community will take this chance to stop by the bank and get to view this work up close before it returns to the school this fall,” Serio said.
The Neosho Arts Council has created a special reference brochure for the public to help guide them through the different elements of the painting and give some historical information and context.
Heritage is a 9 foot by 7 foot acrylic painting on three joined panels that was commissioned in 2006 by the Newton County Tourism Council. It was painted in a style that resembles the work of famed regionalist painter and Neosho native, Thomas Hart Benton.
Benton, who was born in Neosho in 1889, is the most prominent figure of the painting. Many element of this work can be traced back to his paintings according the Neosho Arts Council.
“Benton was known to have a life-long interest in trains and they are featured in many of his works,” Serio said. A steam engine train is featured in the background of Pettey’s painting.
“Another example of Benton’s influence on this work is the depiction of the working class of the early 20th century,” Serio said. “A man plowing a field with a mule is seen in the piece.”
The painting has a focus on the history of Neosho and Newton County. The work includes nods to Neosho’s annual Dogwood Tour, the city’s moniker as “The Flower Box City,” and to the lead and zinc mining that took place across the county.
“One of the more unique additions to this piece is a depiction of the Benton birthplace,” Serio added. The two story home is obstructed in the painting by several trees. This was intentional as the only know image of the home was taken by Kathleen Dougan in 1917 as it was burning down.
Other notable additions include George Washington Carver, the original Neosho National Fish Hatchery building, and workers picking strawberries.
In 1897 Neosho saw the arrival of the strawberry industry. They would become the area’s major crop until drought and labor shortages of the 1930’s diminished the industry.
“Strawberries were an integral part of Neosho’s early 1900’s,” Serio explains. “The State Horticultural Society held its Strawberry Congress in Neosho in 1913 and 1914 and local festivals were held annually in celebration of the crop.”
Pettey also included a scene representing the many couples that spent time in the area during World War II when Camp Crowder was in operation just south of Neosho. Camp Crowder was established in 1941 and served as a U.S. Army Signal Corps replacement training center, an Army Service Forces training center and an officer candidate preparatory school, the first of its kind at any military installation. The 42,000 acre post also served as an infantry replacement center and had a prisoner of war camp.
Southwest Missouri Bank located at 110 North Neosho Blvd, is open to the public Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm and Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Learn more by visiting neoshoarts.net or following @NeoshoArts on Facebook and Instagram.
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