April Business Spotlight: Muskogee Art Guild

Current President: Mrs. Becky Lucht.

• This is Becky’s fifth year as president, and she loves helping with the evolution of the Guild into a more community-minded organization. She retired from marketing and advertising at the Muskogee Phoenix, and is now primarily a scratchboard and animal artist (see beckylucht.com for examples), and she is an avid equestrian.
• The Guild is an all-volunteer organization with nearly 100 members, run by a board of directors. Our board includes Julie Ledbetter, VP; Terri Postlethwaite, Secretary; Wren Stratton, Treasurer.; DeAnn McDaniel, Exhibit Chair; Kay Goad, Workshop Chair; Darlene LaCrone, Membership Chair; Jim Eaton and Jennifer Moore, Members at Large.

Tell us about your organization? – We are a 501(c)3 corporation with the mission to promote art appreciation and education in the Muskogee area. We do this through sponsoring art instruction and workshops for members, and the public, providing a studio workspace for members in which to create, sponsor a children’s art camp, provide fun art sessions for beginners, programs that introduce members to a variety of art-related events and activities, camaraderie with other artists, art shows and sales of original art to the public. We also participate in and support community events.

How long have you been operating in Muskogee? – Since 1936! It was established by some like-minded folks who met in each other’s homes to study art and improve their own art skills. Today we are incorporated, have our own studio space, and do our best to interact with the community.

To my knowledge, we are the only nonprofit art organization in town. We are all about education of our members and trying to make the world more colorful. We bring in accomplished artists several times per year to provide instruction in the various media. We also sponsor a large open judged show and members’ show annually as well as hanging art in our studio to showcase our members and provide an opportunity for them to sell their art.

What other community organizations/clubs does your organization participate? – We work with the Parks Department every year to help distribute and promote the annual azalea banners which are displayed during the festival and then auctioned to support the Parks Department’s programs. Last fall, we had an open-air show at the Localmotion Arts Festival complete with art for sale and children’s mural painting activities.

We usually participate in Main Street Muskogee’s Boonanza with kids’ activities, we painted a mural in a meeting room for the Masonic Lodge, are painting guitars for use in a therapeutic pilot program for women veterans in conjunction with the VA, we paint banners for the sponsors of the annual regional spelling bee and will be a part of the Downtown Sip and Shop First Thursday activities beginning in May.

What is new with your organization? – We are really excited about our new studio in the north side of the historic Hoopes Hardware building, located at 106 S. Main. Our grand opening on April 7^th (the Black & White Blast-off) will feature art for sale, food, drink and a fun meet-the-artists evening. It will also be our official ribbon cutting with the Chamber members. We are anxious to collaborate with organizations and causes around town, not only to promote our art, but to help make Muskogee a more colorful destination for citizens and visitors! Check us out at www.muskogeeartguild.org or find us on Facebook!

What’s your favorite part of doing business in Muskogee? – Friendly people, the size of the town which allows us to feel like we can make a difference, and the amazing talent that exists here in all the areas of the arts. We look forward to collaborating with other arts organizations to enhance the quality of life here.