Photography from local artist Marc Brannan will be featured at the West Plains Public Library, 750 W. Broadway through the end of June in a display made possible through a partnership between the library and West Plains Council on the Arts. Visitors may view the display during library hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
“Here at the library, our vision is that we are a space where all come to learn, create, discover and connect. There is no better way to accomplish that vision than displaying local pieces of art for the community to peruse and appreciate,” said library Manager Dr. Greg Carter. “We are always proud to partner with the Council on the Arts to bring the beauty of art to our patrons.”
Brannan grew up on the family farm near Willow Springs, and currently lives and works in West Plains.
He started playing with cameras and taking pictures at a very young age, he said, and loved playing in the old barn and enjoyed being outdoors as much as possible surrounded by nature. His parents nurtured his desire to travel and see new places, said Brannan, adding that his dad encouraged him to learn and enjoy history, especially the history of his family and where they came from.
“I have always enjoyed the stories of my mom attending one-room schools when she was a kid, and I think that is a big reason I seek them out to photograph today. There are less of them around every year, as a lot of them slowly fall into disrepair and collapse unless they have been cared for or restored over the years,” said Brannan. “I love incorporating them into my landscape photography as much as I can, especially as a way of preserving their history.”
“I have started to reach out with my photography and have started trying to capture more shots in other areas, as well as different states, both in nature and landscape scenes,” he added. “Lately I have focused more on reaching out to new parts of Missouri, and trying to show the viewer that there is so much more around us than we are used to seeing locally. The pictures that I have selected for this exhibition show a range of my photos that depict the history and outdoor settings that our area, as well as other parts of the country, are known for — whether historic or in the natural beauty that we might otherwise only see if you were to travel there and see for yourself.
A meet-the-artist event will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. April 23, hosted by the library. The public is invited to attend, meet the artist, and view and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Greg Carter at greg.carter@westplains.gov at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at Audrey.scott@zizzers.org.
