vARTISTS continued from page 5 Jane Stimpson Jane Stimpson was born and raised on a farm south of Wagner, SD with her seven brothers and sisters. She always drew as a little girl, often drawing the models out of the catalogs they received in the mail. She laughs, “If I couldn’t find paper I would draw pictures in the dirt.” She didn’t have a chance to go to college, but in High School, she knew that she admired the work of Rembrandt. “I remember the first book I saw with Rembrandt’s painting and thought ‘That’s what I want to do,’” she explains. Though she didn’t have art teachers in school, she let her artistic talent out while drawing dissection diagrams in biology and scenery for school plays. Stimpson and husband Jim were away from Yankton for many years while he worked for an elevator. After he passed away she decided to come back to Yankton. Though she mainly paints portraits she will paint anything, now working on a 5 generation picture. She has previously done some book illustrations and she painted different wall murals for each wing of the Bethel Home in Madison, SD while she worked there. Connecting Artist Show Friday, May 6 will be a Gallery Reception from 5:00-7:00 PM with a Gallery Talk at 5:30 PM where members of Connecting Artists and Yankton Woodcarvers will be present to discuss their art. They believe that the community enjoys having artistic events. They explained to me the Yankton Area Arts booth at Riverboat Days in Yankton last year, which provided a free community painting activity. They set up a huge circular canvas where people could paint using the provided paints and brushes. Several people came back to paint again and many parents painted alongside their children. “Everybody had so much fun,” Koch said. Mace explained, “Our group is a supporting organization, supporting children’s art activities and community art activities. There is always going to be a need for this because children are going to need art.” Mathrole added to the importance of children in arts, “This is a very, very good thing for the community to be aware of, that there is a place that they can get their children involved.” The Connecting Artists would like to see their group grow, expanding to include a younger generation and a wider variety of presentations. Varying over time, Koch explained that art and its trends “are like fashion.” Not to exclude the many other talented and dedicated members of the Connecting Artists group, other members include: Chris Adam, Jane Bobzin, Nancy Clay, Karen Erickson, TJ Evans, Paul Harnes, Sue Hill, Roger Huntley, Jean Johnson, Pam Koch, Scott Luken, Rodney Mace, Fred Roper, Mary Roper, Benda Tjeerdsma and Charleen Ward. You can find out more information about the Connecting Artists group through the Yankton Area Arts center at G.A.R. Hall, on their ‘Connecting Artists’ Facebook page, or by attending one of their monthly meetings. After looking at some of the pictures created by some of the group’s talented members, it became clear to me that life without art would Current zentangle art by Jean Johnson, one of the founding members be pretty dull and boring. It’s great to know that we have people in our community with the passion to keep art alive around us. vBy Julie Eickhoff check out... hervoiceonline.com Floors & More (formerly Floor To Ceiling) Your Total Home Design Center Interest Free Financing 1205 Broadway Ave., Yankton • 665-9728 ry window, Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-3 for eve Style son. a om, every se 10% Off Your Entire every ro Shutters • Blinds • Shades 8vHERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2016 Hunter Douglas Purchase Call Today For A Complimentary Consultation with Kara