Writers & Artists Night

by Tiffany Lyle

Hollister, MO — One of the best moments for a writer, a poet, a singer, or an artist is when they get to share their own work with others. To see an audience strain for a better look, to try and hear the next word, for an audience to smile, laugh, cry at a story that’s familiar, relatable. That is pure gold.

The Writers and Artists Night at Vintage Paris, which took place on June 24, was a good example of people getting such an opportunity.

That particular evening was very humid, but despite the weather, the turnout was great. Over 140 attended and the small patio quickly became standing-room-only. The coffee and food was fantastic and the variety of talent was admirable with every new person presenting that night.

People like Aaron Smith, a singer and songwriter from Arkansas, took almost nine months to think up a way to portray his version of a story he heard from one of his clients at his workplace.

Smith works as an insurance agent and, with such a job, Smith gets to work with many people, and with many people come many stories.

“A lot of my clients have some pretty amazing stories,” Smith said.

One such story was a tale about a client’s grandfather. Smith said the tale itself is dark; the song a re-telling of a father’s thirst for revenge after his daughter is murdered. Smith’s hope was to be able to portray such a unique story through music.

“It’s a bigger story than the song,” Smith admitted.

This, among many other performances, were only a taste of what local and out-of-state writers, musicians and artists had to offer. Everything from a funny story about runaway lamb chops to a mysterious sounding song about the war, to a poem about the experience of a theater student  — there really seemed to be no limit to what these people could offer.

Dana Christoffersen, a local artist, was representing none other than our own StateoftheOzarks editor, Joshua Heston, at the event with his unique piece of art. Christoffersen said with an event like Writer’s and Artist’s night, he enjoys the different kind of experience it provides.

“It kind of has a feeling of spontaneity to it,” Christoffersen said. “You’re dealing with so many people and their different ways of expressing themselves either through art or even through just speaking, as far as talking about their writings.”

Christoffersen was right about the feeling of spontaneity that night. Person after person came up to the microphone to read, to sing, to perform and then to explain what was the inspiration, what was the meaning behind their work.

And though there were only a chosen few winners that night, from personal interviews and conversations, it seemed it was a win for everyone who put forth their creativity and got the opportunity to share that creativity with others.

Writer Tiffany Lyle served as our first State of the Ozark Intern (summer 2015) and graduated from College of the Ozarks with a degree in journalism.

Above, detail of Christine Riutzel’s award-winning painting inspired by Aaron Smith’s Ozark killin’ song The Ballad of Ab Clayborn.

The Award Winners

Artists:

First Place: Steffanie Blevins

Second Place: Helen Long

Third Place: Sophie Liffick

Writers:

First Place: Dave Loftin

Second Place: Dave Margolis

Third Place: Emma Breslow

Best Presentation:

Cory Krehbiel

Best Artist / Writer Collaboration:

Christine Riutzel and Aaron Smith

Many thanks Mike Weber (Swan Creek Crafts) for the black walnut spoons, Mike Malas (Windwood Farms) for the handmade goat milk soap, Brandy Green (potter and fine artist) for the handmade coffee mugs, Vintage Paris for the gift cards.

The Writers & Artists Night is a twice-a-year event hosted at Vintage Paris Coffee Shop in Hollister, Missouri, by State of the Ozarks. The June 2016 judging panel consisted of editor Joshua Heston, publisher Dale Grubaugh, fine artist Teresa Pellegrino (of Pellegrino School of Art & Music) and State of the Ozarks intern Gideon Pellegrino. Many thanks to Marty Schmitt of Art That Rocks! and Troy’s Framing Shop, Branson West.

Writer / Artist Pairings

Tom Koob & Karen Pugh
(James River Float Camps)

Blake Turner & Susan Sketers
(A Stray Plane On Sunday)

Blake Turner & Jackie Stoner
(The Next Bad Parachute May Be Your Own)

Gwen Simmons & Nancy Frew
(Is It Worth It?)

Estella Padgett & Val Medley
(My Mother’s Hands)

Will Brooks & Helen Long
(King of Dirt)

Vivian Hogue & Doris Young
(Memories of Hill Country)

Vivian Hogue & Yvette Ayres
(Four Women)

Sherry Dawes & Marj Peterson
(The Beach)

Tim Brucker & Nina Fournier
(Short)

Aaron Smith & Christine Riutzel
(Ballad of Ab Clayborn)

Jeana Scott & James Shipley
(I Looked Upon the Heavens)

Lindel Gore Sr. & Donna Gillespie
(The Master’s Lock & Key)

Dave Loftin & Marty Schmitt
(The Fugitive)

Dave Loftin & Steve Hadar
(Live & Let Live)

Davy Wilson & Shirley LaCore
(Tales from the Chair)

Avery Campbell & Michaela Kershaw
(My Own Little Heaven)

Charles Kompare & Hannah Willadsen
(Droglon)

Emma Breslow & Linda Dunlap
(Back Story)

Emma Breslow & Jan Rosenburg
(Seeing With Closed Eyes)

Emma Breslow & David Carver
(Stone Walls)

Michelle Waters & Dana Christoffersen
(On the River’s Edge)

Diana Newton & Anthony Hunter
(The Lightning Bugs of Fourth of July)

Richard Nelson & Tenille Blair-Neff
(Annie Over… Annie Over)

Cory Krehbiel & Sophie Liffick
(Unconditional)

Tiana Sage & Steffanie Blevins
(Pretty Bird)

Tiana Sage & Lydia Hoskins
(Storm Fairy Child)

Christine McClintic & Jesse Hebert
(In the Garden)

Writers

Paula Jacobson
(The Walk)

Theo Mason
(Jesus Died For Me)

Dave Margolis
(You Hope the Snow Hides the Shadows)

Robert Melford
(My Heavenly Home)