Writer Artists Pairings, Writers Artists Night 2024

Best Writer: Jen Acker
Best Artist: Dustin Burkett
Best Presentation: Paul Hambrick
Best Craftsmanship: Gala Solari Keller
Best Collaboration: Dennis Gallemore with Janelle Patterson

2024 Judges Panel: AJ Fahr, Alena VanDyke-Hudson, Christine Riutzel, Jimmy Tucker, Mary Evelyn Tucker

Writer and Artist
1. Leah Riutzel (“For the Love of Rachel”) read by Joshua Heston, a tribute
2. Dave Loftin (“Legacy of an Ozarks Beekeeper) paired with Vashon Borich-Leach
3. Kandis Neumeier (“Again”) paired with Zach Fitz
4. Ralph Thomas (“The Echoes and the Draw of Shadow Park”) paired with Meike Aton
5. Jack Borich (“Lady & the Tiger”)
6. Darla Hicks (“The Mermaid’s Aunt”) paired Brittany Marie
7. Beth Schulz (“The Conversation with Dementia Has Ended”) paired with Savannah Richardson
8. Wendy Lapham (“Scavenge Some Fossils”)
9. Jennifer King (“The Lion King Legacy”) paired with Drew Bandy
10. Josh Huxtable (“Broken Hallelujah”) paired with Melissa Ryan
11. Paul Hambrick (“Witch’s Ride) paired with Gala Solari Keller
12. Sandy Grube (“A Psalm of Sandy”) paired with Jenny Judlin
13. Champion Herren (“A Tail of Tales”) paired with Kat Weltha
14. Cindy Thomas (“Fresh Hope in Kansas”) paired with Shelly Malicoat
15. Dennis Gallemore (“The Mittens”) paired with Janelle Patterson
16. Noah Bray (“The Smith and the Girl”) paired with Freeman Payne
17. Lyght Latham (“Mirror of My Gaze”) paired with Savannah Richardson
18. Cindy Lou Gildig (“CODE BLUE. LABOR AND DELIVERY. CODE BLUE.”)
19. Lauri Thompson (“It Was a Dark and Stormy Night”) paired with Kandis Neumeier
20. Jen Acker (“Locked Note (An Ode to Motherhood)”)
21. Marshall Howden (“Wise Gnomes of New America”) paired with Tasha Richardson
22. Joel Telschow (“Summer’s Night”) paired with Freeman Payne
23. Vashon Borich-Leach (“Beau & Petunia’s Great Escape”) paired with Dustin Burkett

 

Applications now open for Writers Artists Night 2025: 6-10PM, Saturday, August 9, 2025:

Writers Artists Night

IN A TIME OF repressed emotions and heavy social expectation, we are rarely provided healthy avenues of personal expression.

Writers Artists Night is an opportunity for people to exercise their creativity in collaboration with each other as a form of self-expression.

“Soul-baring,” “profound,” “cathartic,” and “healing” are just some of the words used to describe StateoftheOzarks’ longest-running art event.

How Writers Artists Night Works

As writers submit their original works to StateoftheOzarks, StateoftheOzarks pairs many of the written pieces with regional artists, asking each artist to create an original piece “inspired in some way” by the written word. This inspiration may be as literal or as figurative as the artist chooses.

Art is collected the week of the event. On the night of the event, writers and artists are invited to attend Writers Artists Night in Hollister where they will present their work as collaborative pairs before an appreciative audience.

Accepted pieces will be featured on the StateoftheOzarks Online Magazine over the next year and also published in a special book created for the event.

Written works are considered based heavily on the following criteria: clarity, contemplation, humor, word choice, emotional conveyance, and writing structure. The 1,200 word limit reflects the power of brevity established in great print publications of the mid-20th century.

Writers Artists Night

EVENT is free. Public is welcome. Remember to be respectful of presentations.

I appreciated every single person’s contribution to making the event a celebration of collaboration and personal uniqueness.” — Julie Zetina

“StateoftheOzarks Writers Artists Night is a highlight of the year for me. The artist gets to interpret the writing. And the best part is we get to present our creative endeavors before a live audience which makes us all stars for the evening!” — Mary Arneson

“It’s a great way to meet other local writers and artists. There is just so much talent around here!” — Lacey Finchum

Writers Artists Night 2023

Richard Crowder, Mirrors
Wendie Lapham, An Ozark Gal Goes Snorkeling
Beth Schulze, There Are Authors…
Alex Primm, Guns & Flowers
Jessica, Survival in a Nuclear Wasteland
Vashon Borich-Leach, The Review of Vincent Van Gogh
Lindel Gore, Rosebud Melody
Josh Huxtable, A New Love

Michael Lloyd Gregory, Well, I’ll Swan w artist Harrison Sifford
Michelle Waters, Choices w artist Lindel Gore
Randy Dietz, The New Camera, w artist Shirley LaCore
Jack Borich, Deux Ex Machina – Part 2, w artist Maura Metzger
Dennis Gallemore, The Canvas, w artist Mary Arneson
Cindy Thomas, A Snake, A Horse, and a Wise Dad w artist Jenny Judlin
Lyght Latham, Alone, w artist Savannah Richardson
Joel Telschow, Mt. Olivet, w artist Dustin Burkett
Michael Ewoldsen, The Green Knight, w artist Freeman Payne
Marshall Howden, The Emerald Fire, w artist Janelle Patterson
Paul Hambrick III, So Many Places w artist Vashon Borich-Leach

Writers Artists Night 2022 Winners:

Best Writer: Joel Telschow, The Journal of Jedidiah Bryson

Best Artist: Freeman Payne, inspired by On the Mississippi by Edwin Woolsey

Best Craftsman: Chris Boyd, inspired by The Gift by Michael Lloyd Gregory

Best Collaboration: Quynn Kent with Olivia Stephens, Baseball

2022 Writers Artists Night LINEUP

PART 1

1 Storytelling
by Erin Fox w/ Mary Arneson

2 Daddy and the PTA
by Cindy Thomas w/ Matt Farmer

3 Peaceful Waters
by Barbara Klein w/ Kim Cooper

4 When Andy Went Into the Earth
by Dale Lund w/ Anthony Hunter

5 Consider the Mosquito
by Beth Schulze

6 2018 Hawaiian Missile Threat
by Richard Crowder

7 Kentucky Enigma
by Edwin Woolsey w/ Freeman Payne

8 Jim’s Cow
by Dave Loftin w/ Freeman Payne

9 Ethereal Gift
by Laurie Lemke Thompson w/ Shelby Winzenried

10 To the Future
by Lindel Gore

11 The Story of Leo
by Vashon Borich-Leach w/ Mary Arneson

PART 2

12 Where Love Won’t Betray
by Katie & Joan Wright w/ Margaret Barnett

13 Avenge the Scarlett Forest
by Marshall Howden

14 I Will Sup with Him and He with Me
by Barbara Klein

15 Baseball
by Quynn Kent w/ Olivia Stephens

16 On the Mississippi
by Edwin Woolsey w/ Freeman Payne

17 Experience to Innocence
by Camarie Cirilla w/ Jenny Judlin

18 A Gift
by Michael Lloyd Gregory w/ Chris Boyd

19 The Adventure
by Dennis Gallemore w/ Luis Cortes

20 Deus Ex Machina
by Jack Borich w/ Savannah Richardson

21 When I Was Five
by Michelle Waters w/ Jessica Farmer

22 Time-less
by Lisa Livingston-Martin w/ Janelle Patterson

PART 3

23 From the Journal of Jedidiah Bryson
by Joel Telschow w/ Freeman Payne

24 Ethics of Thunder & Snow
by Anthony G. Cirilla w/ Meike Aton

25 Life Begins at 42
by Estella Eldringhoff w/ Shirley LaCore

26 Who’s Driving?
by Freeman Payne w/ Dustin Burkett

27 Fool
by Sean Neil Myers w/ Joy Noir Phillips

28 The Lonely Bard
by Lyght Latham w/ Savannah Richardson

29 Nephilim Beginnings
by Josh Huxtable w/ Darren Anstead

30 Altar at Table Rock
by Wendie Lapham w/ Richard K. Williams

31 Betty’s Story
by Tommy Emery w/ Randy Dietz

32 Fractures
by Rachel Riutzel w/ Kim Cooper

33 A Beast in the Wood
by Noah Bray w/ Nick Daliege

Immediately following the conclusion of presentations, our judging panel will convene. Awards will be presented shortly thereafter, concluding the evening.

2022 Judges

Hayden Head, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Josh Ong, Jimmy Tucker, and Jared Houle

Awards

Best Writer, Best Artist, Best Collaborative Pair, and Best Craftsmanship

2021 Writers Artists Night

1. Ode to a Water Lily
by Dave Loftin w/ Mary Arneson

2. The Old Man
by Josh Huxtable w/ Jessica Farmer

3. As You Perceive The Life of Human
by Kimberlin Skelly w/Kim Cooper

4. Chase Away the Rain
by Travis Hall w/ Savannah Richardson

5. Season’s Changing
by Michelle Waters w/ Freeman Payne

6. God’s Grace & Forgiveness
by Richard Crowder w/ Meike Aton

7. A Love Note
by Betsey Mae Graves w/ Julie Zetina

8. A Conversation with Dementia
by Beth Schulz w/ Freeman Payne

9. The Battle
by Jacqueline Faith w/ Meike Aton

10. The Old Phone
by Judy Doyle w/ Chris Boyd

11. A Thoughtful Drive
by Cindy Thomas w/ Brent Holland

12. Who’s Got Beef with Being a Sheep?
by Matt Farmer w/ Lacey Finchum

13. Moonshine
by Dennis Gallemore w/ Freeman Payne

14. Downing Street Legend
by Lindel Gore w/ Janelle Patterson

15. Wash Your Apples
by Tom Emery w/ Freeman Payne

16. On a Tuesday
by Emily Farrell w/ Shirley Lacore

17. Through Acres and Akers
by Damian Costello w/ Darren Anstead

18. My Mother’s Hands
by Estella Padgett w/ Jenny Judlin

19. The Rider
by Joel Telschow w/ Robert Bell

20. Brady’s Story
by Edwin Woolsey w/ Vashon Borich-Leach

21. Delight at 42
by Tenille Blair-Neff w/ Curtis Copeland

22. Through the Cracks
by Freeman Payne w/ Michael Faith

23. The Refugee
by Dalton Quick w/ Matt Farmer

24. Narda
by Georgia Griffith w/ Mickey Ragain

25. Contagion of Red
by Marshall Howden w/ Kaitlynn Robinson

2020 Writers Artists Night

Winners & Special Mentions:

Best Writer: Dalton Quick, Over the Scottish Sea
Special Mention: Rachel & Leah Riutzel, The System of Friction

Best Collaboration: Quynn Kent with Lydia Hoskins, The Water
Special Mention: Estella Padgett with Vashon Borich-Leach, What A Family Should Be
Special Mention: Vashon Borich-Leach with Jared Houle, The Crow

Best Presentation: Rachel & Leah Riutzel, The System of Friction
Special Mention: Freeman Payne with Dustin Burkett, To Hell and Back

Best Artist: Savannah Richardson with Phantom Pain by Anthony Cirilla
Special Mention: Kaitlynn Robinson with The Village Under the Scarlett Kings by Marshall Howden
Special Mention: Jared Houle with The Crow by Vashon Borich-Leach

7-10PM, Friday, JULY 17, 2020, Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Park, Hollister, MO

Artist and Writer Check-in: 6PM at the SOTO Headquarters Tent at the Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Park, 312 Esplanade Street, Hollister, MO 65672.

Event begins promptly at 7PM, weather permitting. Dress code is casual. Event is free and open to the public. We recommend bringing comfortable lawn chairs and/or blankets. Also bug spray. A number of folding chairs will also be available for use (first come, first served). The park is an ideal place to allow for “social distancing.”

Please see schedule below for order of presentation —

1 Margie Kay w Curtis Copeland
The Ozark Spooklights

2 Erin Fox w Jenny Judlin
I Walk These Hills and Wonder

3 Dennis Gallemore w Sophie McAdara
Jake Stanton Goes Home

4 Damian Costello w Jeffrey Nanney
Quicker Bicker

5 Lynnette Horn w Freeman
Mañana

6 Cassidy Hunter w Mickey Ragain
Civil War Era Romance

7 Josh Huxtable w Freeman
Cry of Her Heart

8 Jessica Farmer w Shelby Winzenreid
A Daisy Amongst the Roses

9 Lauri Lemke Thompson w Savannah Richardson
The Ant Chronicles

10 Dalton Quick w Lacey Finchum
Over the Scottish Sea

11 Marshall Howden w Kaitlynn Robinson
The Village Under the Scarlett Kings

12 Michelle Waters w Tammy Morton
Frost Flowers

13 Special Reading: Lisa Livingston-Martin w Borderlands

— Intermission —

14 Edwin Woolsey w Janelle Patterson
Springfield Bound

15 Rachel & Leah Riutzel w Kim Cooper
The System of Friction

16 Freeman w Dustin Burkett
To Hell and Back

17 Mona Menezes w Lynnette Horn
The Kitten Garden

18 Michelle Waters w Mary Arneson
Such A Gift

19 Josh Huxtable w James Beaumont
The Winds Blow

20 Estella Padgett w Vashon Borich-Leach
What A Family Should Be

21 Vashon Borich-Leach with Jared Houle
The Crow

22 Camarie Cirilla w Matt Farmer
Gatekeeper

23 Mary Arneson w Trygve Arneson
Into the Forest

24 Clint Unruh w Freeman
Death’s Lonely Journey

25 Quynn Kent w Lydia Hoskins
The Water

26 Edwin Woolsey w Chris Boyd
Leaving Hattie

27 Jenn Parks w Bob Bell and w Freeman
Charles Winslow’s Body

28 Anthony Cirilla w Savannah Richardson
Phantom Pain

Writers Artists Night 2019 Winners

Top Artist of the Evening — Mary Arneson, Country Rain

Top Writer of the Evening — Deborah Haggard, The Dust

Best Presentation of the Evening — Rachel Riutzel, Water to Red

Best Writer Artist Collaboration — Dennis Gallemore with Vashon Borich-Leach, The Awful Tower

1 Dave Loftin w Shelby Hutton Winzenried
December Afternoon Feeding the Hay

2 Betsey Mae Graves (in absentia) w Mary Arneson
Country Rain

3 AJ Blanton w Lillian Berry
Prologue to the Three Spheres

4 Michelle Waters w Heath Copper
Dr M

5 Candice Gage w Mikki Sale
Them Hills

6 Deborah Haggard w Savannah Richardson
The Dust

7 Kristina Gilbert w James Shipley
I Am

8 Anthony Cirilla w Janelle Pattterson
No Wine for Ismenos

9 Dustin Snavely w Chris Boyd
American Spirit

10 Paul Thompson w Azalie Baumann
The Watermelon Fairy

11 Jenn Parks w Melody Courley
Toes

12 Jody Godrey w Sarah Hebert
PTSD The Father of Many Diseases

• Joshua Heston
Kewpie

– Intermission –

13 Matt Farmer w Jenny Judlin
A Modern Marvel

14 Trygve Arneson w Savannah Crawford
The Other

15 Josh Huxtable w Heath Copper
Hey There, Grandpa

16 Dave Loftin w Katie Rodick
The Gate Test

17 Rachel Riutzel w Carla Davidson
Water to Red

18 Laurie Lemke Thompson w Mary Arneson
Layers

19 T’iana Sage w Kaitlynn Robinson
Cognizance

20 Ron Davidson w Shelby Moore
The Great Disconnect

21 Dalton Quick w Freeman
Beneath the Willow

22 Kim Danzer w Steffie B
Hush

23 Dennis Gallemore w Vashon Borich-Leach
The Awful Tower

24 Grace Gage w Shannon Bacon
Evadora’s Temptation

25 Lisa Martin with Lacey Finchum
Allegiances

26 Noah Bray w Heath Copper
Collided

 

For questions, email josh@stateoftheozarks.net