|
||||
|
May 16, 2008
|
|
|||
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE First Lady Unveils "Painting Missouri" Art ExhibitJEFFERSON CITY - First Lady Melanie Blunt today unveiled Billyo O'Donnell's "Painting Missouri" art exhibit on display at the Governor's Mansion. "I am pleased to help unveil Mr. O'Donnell's beautiful paintings of Missouri counties and recognize Painting Missouri as the first art book of the State of Missouri," Mrs. Blunt said. "Painting Missouri is a wonderful combination of history and art." Mrs. Blunt serves as honorary chair of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, which sponsored the exhibit. The art exhibit offers samples of O'Donnell's paintings included in his book Painting Missouri, authored by Karen Glines. The book is a collection of scenes and seasons from all 114 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis, accompanied by essays by Glines providing historical information about the counties. O'Donnell, a native Missourian from Eureka, is well-known for his "en plein air" (painted in the open air) art and is the founder of the Artists Along the Katy Trail program. Glines is an award-winning journalist from Des Peres whose published works have appeared locally, nationally, and internationally. To learn more about Painting Missouri, visit www.paintingmissouri.com. Governor and First Lady Melanie Blunt are strong advocates for the arts in Missouri. As honorary chair of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, Mrs. Blunt has worked to promote arts across Missouri. Founded in 1980, Missouri Citizens for the Arts is the statewide organization that promotes Missouri's art industry to the public and private sectors. The non-partisan, grassroots organization supports the arts by addressing public issues affecting the whole industry. Missouri Citizens for the Arts seeks to secure a stable and growing base of public financial support for the arts and to ensure access to the arts for all Missourians. Gov. Blunt created the position of Missouri Poet Laureate to help promote the arts in Missouri and to encourage Missourians to learn more about the many cultural opportunities available in the state. Gov. Blunt recently appointed Walter Bargen as the state's first-ever Missouri Poet Laureate. The governor also directed that funds from the Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers Tax be distributed to cultural partners, including the Arts Council. Blunt's support for funding of the arts in Missouri already has led to a $7.2 million increase for the arts in his previous budgets and is ensuring that funds from the Athletes and Entertainers Tax are being spent on the purpose for which it was created. Since taking office, Gov. Blunt has significantly increased state funding for the Missouri Arts Council. In his Fiscal Year 2009 budget, Gov. Blunt has recommended $14.6 million total to support the Missouri Arts Council in his Fiscal Year 09 Budget, a significant $6.8 million increase over the previous year's funding and more than 20 times the Fiscal Year 06 amount. Additionally, Gov. Blunt recommended a $4.5 million increase for the other Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers tax cultural partners, including the Humanities Council, Public Broadcasting, Historic Preservation, and State Library Networking. If approved, the governor's budget will include a total increase of $11.3 million for all cultural partners in the Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers tax. ###
|
|||
